Packing the kids’ lunches for school means you know which nutritious foods they are eating.
Here are some creative ideas to keep kids happy and healthy at lunchtime:
Make a smarter sandwich
While some kids prefer the same thing every day, others may be happy with a slight switch to their sandwich.
Use different breads, like 100 per cent whole-wheat tortilla wraps or whole-wheat pita pockets.
In addition to lettuce and tomato, try shredded carrot or zucchini and sliced apple or pear with a chicken sandwich.
Try avocado or hummus as a swap for cheese or mayo.
Use leftover grilled chicken in your sandwich as a switch for lunch meat.
Love those leftovers
Think about using the leftovers from a family favourite dinner for a next day lunch.
Use a thermos to keep foods hot or cold until the lunch bell rings.
Some ideas include:
- Soups such as tomato, vegetable or bean.
- Whole-wheat spaghetti with tomato, pesto or marinara sauce.
- Bean casserole or beans and rice.
These foods sometimes have a lot of sodium, so make them homemade with little or no salt, or compare nutrition facts of similar products and choose the ones with less sodium.
Let them dunk
Sometimes it’s alright to let your kids play with their food, especially when they are getting extra nutrition.
Try packing one of these fun dunks with dippers:
- Apple and pear slices to dip into low-fat plain yogurt or peanut butter.
- Carrot, celery and sweet pepper strips to dip into hummus, fresh salsa or homemade bean dip.
When kids help pack their lunch, they’re more likely to eat that lunch. On nights you have a bit more time, have them choose which piece of fruit or what type of whole grain bread they want and let them assemble their lunch. Make this a weekly routine, it’s another great way to spend family time together.
- Information obtained from www.heart.org
