Advice from Christine Garboski
I hear your concern. Packing nutritious lunches that get eaten can be challenging, even if you don’t have picky eaters. Be sure to ask your kids for their input before loading their lunch boxes. And don’t pack too much. At the beginning of each school year, parents are often reminded of this (or at least this is the case with our school). And I couldn’t agree with you more, it is smart to pack what you can the night before. I am a bit non-traditional when it comes to packing school lunches. My goal is for my kids to eat a little protein, some whole grains, a vegetable and a fruit (and it does not need to come in the form of a sandwich).
Here are some ideas that work with my kids (seven year old triplets):
• If your kids like sandwiches, instead of sliced bread, try a whole-grain roll (think Subway), whole wheat crackers, pita bread, bagel or a tortilla.
• Sometimes kids like to make their own sandwiches or wraps. Pack the bread (or whatever you decide to use for the sandwich) and fillings (lean cold cuts, grilled chicken breast, thinly sliced vegetables, lowfat cream cheese, etc.) separately and let your kids build their own sandwiches, or eat the ingredients separately. I have one child that does not like her bread cold, so that is why I started packing the ingredients separately (and it works beautifully!).
• If you have a non-sandwich eater like I do, think about packing cheese with whole-wheat crackers or rice cakes, along with a small single-serve package of lowfat yogurt or cottage cheese, carrot or celery sticks and a few grapes or a couple slices of apple.
• Baby carrots, celery sticks or apple slices with healthy dips (like hummus or yogurt/fruit dips) are also a great options to accompany a sandwich.
• Whole-grain cooked pasta with marinara sauce (or a little olive oil or butter), whole-wheat tortellini tossed with a little pesto or olive oil, nutritious soup or chili are also good choices. Be sure to use an insulated thermos so contents stay warm. For best results, rinse out the thermos with very hot water to heat it before filling. The same rule applies for cold pasta salads or couscous salads, dips, etc. Rinse it out with ice water to chill the thermos before filling.
If you haven’t already done so, you might want to read this article “Think Outside The Lunch Box” for more tips: http://www.nestlefamily.com/HealthyKids/Nutrition/Default.aspx?ArticleId=1081624E-07B1-4725-A4FD-B9036714F967.
I hope these ideas are helpful, and hears to a happy, healthy school year!
Chris