When it comes to feeding your kids delicious and nutritious lunches, falling into a rut can be easy—especially if you’re tasked with making lunches for two or more kids. Kathy Buckworth stopped by to share some of her suggestions, along with easy lunch options if you’ve run out of ideas.
Kathy says it’s important to set up a full pantry so your child can go through and pick what they want. Having options will ensure kids are eating what you send along with them each day, and will allow you to set up healthy choices for them to pick from.
Kids are capable of making their own lunches, Kathy says. Pre-chopped and pre-packaged healthy foods can make it easier for those grab-and-go days.
Rather than routine white bread, use this as your opportunity to get creative. Explore different types of bread: there’s a wide selection on the market today, from multigrain breads and whole-grain breads to raisin breads and whole-wheat wraps. Give your child a selection, and they can fill their sandwiches with healthy spreads, meats, and cheeses—again, giving them options.
Kids love to dip their food, Kathy says. Have a selection of pre-chopped carrots, cucumbers, fruits, raisin bread, and separate them into little resealable plastic storage bags. Then, you can purchase some low-fat dips, portioning them into plastic containers for an easy and portable lunch solution.
If you’re worried about lunches that need to stay cold—like sushi—a great trick is to freeze your juice boxes. These makeshift ice packs allow you to keep your entire lunch at the appropriate temperature for a few hours.
Don’t underestimate the power of leftovers, Kathy says. This is a great way to be economical and reuse leftover meats like chicken breast. Put it in a wrap, add some lettuce, dressing, served with some carrots and dip, and you have a nutritious lunch.
Lastly, when you order takeout, save all of your plastic utensils and condiment packets. These are great for when you need throwaway utensils and easy condiments to go with lunches.
What other ideas do you have when it comes to easy lunches? Leave them in the comments below!