School Meals for Kids

As a parent I know that lunch box meals are a particular challenge in the healthy food department. The lunch box should have one complex carbohydrates, calcium, protein, fruit, and a veggie, but does the child really eat this way? Sometimes they will, other times the lunch comes right back home. So I want to offer some creative ways of mixing it up, and give them a nutritious lunch.

Try and use whole grain bread, and not white. Try avoiding processed meats and any sugary food. Jam and marshmallow spread out, and peanut butter and fresh meat in. Tuna and egg salad is another great choice. For calcium, cheese is the best way to go. If you have any leftover meatloaf, try making a wrap out of it. Add some lettuce and tomato, if you can get away with it.

I find cutting up fresh fruit into bite size pieces gets eaten more often then sending it whole. Adding a yogurt dip with it makes it disappear even better. Tasty dips are a great way to encourage children to eat fresh fruit as well as fresh veggies. Carrots, and cucumbers, even cherry tomatoes are great dippers. If you child is old enough sun flower seeds is another snack option.

For drinks the goal is to decrease the sugar content and to increase the vitamin content. So investing in a thermos is a good start. Send milk, or flavored seltzer. Chill the thermos in the fridge or lay it on its side in your freezer, and in the morning fill it the rest of the way up with your drink choice.