If you’re a parent, you know the struggle. You want your children to eat healthy foods – voluntarily, if possible. So, what does it take to achieve that? Mostly, it’s providing food options that are a combination of healthy and tasty – with bright and appealing presentation playing a starring role.
As you plan your child’s school lunches, make sure to focus on key nutrients that growing minds and bodies need, including
Protein – to fill bellies and help prevent junk food cravings later
Grains – for energy and focus
Dairy – contributes to healthy bones and overall development
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables – excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals
By doing this, your school lunches provide what they need to concentrate and focus on the rest of the school day. The cherry on top? You’re helping them develop good eating habits that will last a lifetime.
Here are some fun, kid-friendly school lunch options to consider:
Mains
Sandwich or tortilla wrap – using hummus or smashed avocado (instead of mayo)
Chicken/turkey meatballs
Pasta salad
Chicken noodle soup
Create a “power bowl” with rice/pasta, protein, veggies, nuts & avocado
Vegetables
Use skewers, shredders, or a crinkle-cut knife to make eating veggies fun!
Choose whatever your child likes best: broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, carrots, snap peas, etc.
Make cucumber “sandwiches”: cucumber slices with cream cheese (mixed with everything bagel seasoning) between them
Crinkle-cut bell peppers as “fries”
Provide a veggie dip: ranch, hummus, yogurt, peanut butter
Fruits
Popular choices include grapes, blueberries, cherries (pitted, if you like), bananas, strawberries, oranges, apples, cherry tomatoes, and applesauce
Snacks
Hard-boiled egg, cut in half
Use fun-shaped cookie cutters on cheese & salami; serve with crackers
Cheese sticks or rounds
Nuts, Chex Mix, pretzel sticks, animal crackers
Let your child’s palate be the guide to a healthy school lunch combo that makes you both happy.
For personalized help devising a school lunch food plan that works best for you and the whole family, consult registered dietitian Jamie Schlifstein in Boca Raton, Florida, at (561) 558-7786. As a mom herself, Jamie can help make sure you’re feeding your kids in the best way possible.