As the new school year approaches, it’s back to the grind for children who bring their lunches. While your traditional fare can seem ho-hum, the following unique lunch tips can open the door to some new and healthy food choices.
Make Food Fun
Foods that look aesthetically pleasing are more fun to eat for children. Anyone can make a sandwich and cut it in half. However, cookie cutters are ideal when it comes to forming them into creative shapes and designs. Grocery stores are also making healthy foods easily accessible for children. From hummus and veggie packs to sliced fruits and cheese and cracker containers, your child will have a variety of nutritious options to choose from.
Think Beyond the Sandwich
Packing a sandwich for lunch everyday can become tiresome. You can think beyond the typical lunch fare by opening your child to the world of fun and healthy snack choices. A hard-boiled egg, whole-grain crackers, sliced apples, carrot sticks, and string cheese can give your child the required nutrients. While this is a nice assortment of healthy options, you can shake up your snack choices by substituting sliced chicken breast, olives, nuts, and pears.
Warm the Tummy
You don’t have to be limited to cold food choices when it comes to brown bagging your lunch. A thermos can keep foods such as soup, whole-grain pasta, brown rice, and macaroni and cheese hot until it’s time for your child to eat lunch at school. This is also a great way to get rid of delicious leftovers from the previous evening’s meal.
Get Involved
If your child is a picky eater, you may want to get them involved in packing their lunch. This includes shopping for the items at the grocery store and preparing the foods for their lunchbox. While your child may gravitate toward cookies, chips, and processed foods, you need to set the parameters by giving them healthy food options to choose from.
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