While buying a lunch from a school cafeteria is an easy option for both parents and children, the nutritional value of the food items a child can choose from is not always of a high quality. Packing a healthy school lunch at home is a great way to make sure children are getting the best foods to fuel their brains and bodies. There are number of both traditional as well as unique ideas for a school lunches that kids will love.
Traditional School Lunch Ideas
Many younger children enjoy the taste of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. A healthy way to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich kids will love is to use natural peanut butter that is free of added sugars, all fruit spreads, and whole wheat bread. Including a piece of fruit, some raw vegetables, and a container of milk will create a well-balanced lunch to fuel a child all afternoon.
Pack Low-Fat School Lunches
Kids Health emphasizes the importance of finding low-fat alternatives to some popular lunches for kids. Bologna and salami can be replaced with turkey breast or ham. Mayonnaise or Miracle-Whip can be used to add flavor to sandwiches as long as light versions are used. Choosing baked chips over regular potato chips cut fat, but an even better option would be to eliminate chips altogether and include whole grain crackers or air popped popcorn.
Cut Down on Sugar in a Child's Lunch for School
Parents need to read the labels of juice drinks and fruit packs marketed towards kids. Some brands of juices are 100% juice, but some may contain more sugar than anything else. Mini cans of fruit should be in fruit juice. Fruits in syrups have a high sugar content. Children should be encouraged to drink milk as a mid-day beverage rather than soda, sports drinks, or fruit drinks.
Non-Traditional Brown Bag Lunches
The same sandwich day after day can become boring to a child. The best way to prevent this from happening is to make lunches interesting. For instance, instead of a regular tuna salad sandwich, an onion bagel or a croissant can be used in place of bread. Greek wraps with chicken and feta cheese are easy to make and easy to pack in a lunch box or bag. Parents should work with their child's likes and dislikes to create a simply, yet tasty school lunch.
Pack Nutrition in Dessert
Children often enjoy a sweet treat with their school lunches. This does not mean a parent should pack cookies or cake in every lunch, though doing so occasionally is fine. Dried fruit can taste as sweet as some fruit snacks and is much more nutrient dense. Candy can be added to a trail mix that includes nuts and seeds.
Packing a lunch for school does not have to be boring and with a little creativity and a lot of love a packed school lunch can be something a child looks forward to eating.
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