Making a nutritious lunch that your child enjoys does not have to be complicated. Simple foods with touches of mystery and surprise will inspire and spice up lunchtime. Remember that nutrition is the goal.
The “Happy Meal” and “Lunchables” are loaded with fats, trans-fats, sugar, preservatives, food coloring and other additives and are not recommended. Below are some tips that translate into interesting, yet healthy, lunch box fare.
Let your child help plan and prepare his/her lunch. As you are planning and packing, use this time as a valuable opportunity to teach about nutrition. Your child may also enjoy shopping for lunch fixings.
Use small portions of a variety of foods. A small sandwich with a little leftover pasta, some fresh fruit and, perhaps, cut veggies with dip, are more likely to be consumed than a huge sandwich.
Offer a variety of whole wheat or other whole grains when selecting breads, tortilla wraps, pitas, rolls and crackers. Use cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into different shapes. There really is no law that says you have to eat the crusts! Try unusual fruits like kiwi, ugly fruit, blueberries, and raspberries.
Send dinner leftovers occasionally, especially when it is a particular favorite of your child. Hot soup in a thermos is great on a chilly day.
Children enjoy opening a variety of little containers that you place in their lunchboxes. Shop for these with your child and buy some of the cute small containers that are available.
While you and your child are making his/her lunch, why not make a healthy lunch for yourself and take it to work with you?
A healthy lunch ensures that your child will have the energy to concentrate, focus and be ready to learn throughout the school day.