It’s back to school time, and your kids are already talking about how cafeteria food is not to their liking but how they don’t want a daily PB&J either. It’s the perfect time to get creative with school lunches, and you can easily come up with a plan that doesn’t break the bank or require you to shell out hundreds of dollars a month in Lunchables.
DIY Lunchables
Making your own specialty lunchable is healthier for your kid, and lets you customize (have a kid that only wants a particular lunchable for the brand of mini candy bar, and the rest goes in the trash? We have a fix for that!)
Start with your child’s preferred protein – cut lunch meat and cheese into a neat stack of shapes, create fancy peanut butter and jelly rollups with crustless bread, a boiled egg, or precooked homemade chicken strips you’ve chilled overnight.
Add crackers or triscuits, a handful of sliced fruit such as peaches or strawberries, a healthy veggie like pitted olives or cherry tomatoes, and dipping sauces like cream cheese or ranch dressing. Finish the box with a healthy drink like 100% fruit juice, and your own treat like a homemade cookie or granola bar.
Salad Cup
Is your teen in the rabbit food only phase? This healthy attractive school lunch is easy to make; just invest in simple plastic cups with lids and plastic forks, and create a layered salad out of cucumber slices, fresh frilly lettuce, sliced baby radishes and cherry tomatoes, carrots, peppers, and chunks of boiled egg. Snap the lid on, stick the fork in, and throw a couple of dressing packets sourced from the takeout condiment drawer in their bag for a healthy school lunch they will love.
Pasta Salad
Is your child a budding gourmet? This pasta salad is quick and easy, and open to endless variation. Start by cooking shell pasta just al dente, rinsing in cold water, and tossing in a little olive oil to prevent sticking. Chill on a cookie sheet lined and covered with plastic wrap.
When it’s chilled, toss with small chopped veggies of whatever kind your child likes best – tiny broccoli florets, chopped spinach, peppers, etc – and mix in some cubed ham and cheese cubes. Drizzle a little dressing on top, sprinkle with parmesan, and toss for a delicious pasta salad they’ll have friends begging to steal a bite of.
These healthy school lunches will make your kid feel more alert and able to focus as the afternoon wears on, and they’ll appreciate the thought and effort that went into ensuring they have a great day at school. Whether you have kindergarteners or teens, you can always find great recipe ideas on our Pinterest board!
These healthy living tips are brought to you by The OFFICIAL Real Estate Agent Directory ®.
