Healthy School Lunches
Easy & Fun Recipes to Keep Them Satisfied
It's September and healthy school lunches can become an important focus for many parents this time of year.
We know that when kids eat healthy not only can we help prevent health issues such as child obesity and type 2 diabetes, but we can energize their lives through good nutrition.
We also know that eating healthy helps improve children's behavior and concentration.
Though sometimes with all our best intentions getting some kids to eat healthy can be a real challenge.
Here are some helpful tips when packing healthy school lunches:
If possible try to make meals fun and creative which make them more appetizing to eat.
If age appropriate, get the kids to help with their lunches. Studies have shown that when kids are included in meal preparation, such as shopping, planning, and how foods are prepared they are more excited to eat those meals because they were a part of the process.
If mornings are hectic then prepare as much of the meals as possible the night before.
Try to plan out most of the grocery list and the lunches during the weekend. This can be a definite time saver during a busy week.
Make sure to include plenty of healthy items to the grocery list. Items such as tuna, peanut butter, eggs, fresh fruit, veggies, yogurt, legumes, cold cuts that are not processed, breads, bagels, wraps and pita pockets.
When purchasing bread, bagels, wraps or pita pockets, buy the whole grain kind if possible which is healthier than white.
In each lunch try to include a protein, fruit and a vegetable.
Dips for veggies can be low calorie such as hummus or yogurt. Or create your own brand such as honey mustard.
Avocados and nuts contain healthy fats and are always a welcomed addition to any meal. You can even use a avocado spread instead of butter or mayonnasie.
Kids also love using their fingers or eating finger foods. Things such as grapes, melons that are cubed, apple wedges, oranges that are peeled and sectioned, vegetable slices, grape tomatoes, mini meat balls, wraps, chicken fingers are just a few suggestions.
How to choose cold cuts for healthy school lunches:
The less processed the healthier the cold cuts. That's why deli meats such as turkey breast, chicken breast, ham, lean salami, roast beef and corn beef are considered good choices.
They provide protein and contain less fat, calories and preservatives than processed meats such as bologna.
Consuming more calories than the kids can burn off can result in weight gain and possibly child obesity over time.
Ideas for sandwiches, wraps or pita pockets:
Tuna salad
Egg salad
Salmon salad
Your choice of deli meats with cheese, lettuce and tomotoes
Hummus and crunchy vegetables (works great in a pita pocket)
Chicken Salad Wrap
Brown rice, beans & salsa in a wrap or pocket
Peanut butter has always been part of making healthy school lunches, so if peanut butter is not banned at your child school than these traditional sandwiches work well too.
PB & Jelly
PB & Jam
PB & Honey
PB & Banana Slices
PB & Apple Slices (& Cinnamon)
Other Lunch Ideas:
Fun pasta such as Bow Tie Pasta Salad with veggies
Mini meatballs (kids love these hot or cold) with salad or veggies
Brown rice with roasted veggies and lettuce in a pita or wrap
Roast Beef, cheese, lettuce, avocado or mayo in a pita pocket or wrap.
Sushi - try carrot, cucumber, avocado wrapped in rice
BLT (bacon, lettuce & tomato) is good with all types of breads.
Breakfast Bagel with scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon and tomato
Celery stuffed with egg salad
Egg salad with corn chips
Veggies & Salads:
Mini carrots & dip
Veggie snacks with hummus dip or dip
Homemade coleslaw
Black Bean Salad
Fennel Salad
Fruit Suggestions:
Of course this list can be endless but here are a few suggestions:
The finger fruits are most popular when making healthy school lunches, such as:
Watermelon cubes
Grapes
Oranges (peeled and sectioned)
Sliced pears
Sliced bananas
Pineapple chunks
Apple slices
Use honey water to prevent apple slices from turning brown. Here is a short video from America's Test Kitchen that shows you how. Watch the video here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-WDRPmUw10)
Snacks:
Cheese chunks or slices
Nuts (if allowed) such as almonds, cashews etc.
Raisons
Yogurt
Homemade trail mix
Fig cookies
Homemade popcorn without artificial flavorings
Try to avoid processed foods which contain sugar, fats and empty calories. Items such as potato chips, cookies and sugary pop.
Drinks For Kids:
We could write a book on this subject so we will try and keep it short.
(Please don't shoot the messenger).
For Healthy School Lunches Try to Avoid:
Store bought beverages as they are loaded with sugar (yes, even fruit juices that are made with 100% fruit). Most of the nutrition has been destroyed during the processing they receive in the factories, leaving you with a sugary beverage that offers little nutrition.
Most zero calorie drinks should also be avoided as they are filled with sweeteners and food coloring, both which should be which both should be eliminated when it comes to our children's menu planning.
Food coloring has been known to cause hyperactivity in children and sweeteners have been tested long enough to truly know their long term effects.
Healthy Drinks:
Water. Yes water is a wonderful beverage.
Blend fresh fruit in a blender and mix with water or soda. There are a million combinations and hopefully the kids will like a few of them. (strawberries, lemon juice, honey and water).
Water mixed with the right amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey makes the perfect lemonade. This beverage is so easy to make and you can make a batch of it before hand that can last a few days.
What about Milk?
(Again, please don't shoot the messenger.)
This topic is very personnel, so here is more information if you're interested in this subject. Is Milk Bad For You?
Conclusion:
Studies through the years have definitely proven that children who purchase their lunch from the cafeteria compared to those who brown bag it were more likely to become overweight or obese.
Child obesity has become a huge problem also causing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol issues.
Warnings:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, for children under the age of 4 - cut food into small pieces and avoid nuts and seed, whole grapes, anything that can be a choking hazard.
Check out these useful links from our recipe section to help create healthy school lunches for the kids and the whole family.
Wishing you health and happiness
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