It’s almost time to kick off another school year. Make sure the kids in your life start off the school year on the right foot with healthy and safe lunches.
Many school lunch periods are busy and too short. Kids don’t have a lot of time to eat and they want to hang out with their friends. Try to keep this in mind while packing a lunch. Pack foods that are nutritious but can be eaten fairly quickly – think sandwiches or wraps instead of salads or soups. Help them out by pre-cutting fruits and vegetables. Also, if you have a child who will be at school for the first time, practice eating lunch out of a lunchbox. Make sure they can open any containers you plan on sending with them.
Try to pack something from each of the food groups in your kid’s lunch. Involving your child in the packing process will make them more likely to eat their whole lunch. Examples of kid friendly fruits and vegetables include berries, pre-cut vegetables with dip, and fruit salad.
Keep food safety in mind while packing lunch. The USDA gives the following tips for keep your kid’s lunch safe. Keep in mind that these tips apply to lunch you bring to work as well. :
Do you have a favorite school lunch meal? Submit your recipe and we’ll post it on Click ‘N Cook!
Written by Rachel Caty, MPH, RDN, LDN