by Coach Debbie

 

MOOOOOOOMMMMMMM, WHAT’S IN MY LUNCHBOX TODAY?

 

Gone are the days of swapping Oreos for Oatmeal Cream Pies.  Today’s kids are healthy, thanks to you.  What in the world are you going to give those critters to eat in the cafeteria?  Remember that repeated exposure to foods creates a taste for those items.  A kid (or mom) who hates kale at first taste may grow to love it by the tenth time.  You kept feeding that newborn peas so same principal here.  Go for a “take it or leave it” approach and offer healthy foods at home so that it’s no different at school.  You know your kids best; they may not like pears but happily eat strawberries.  There is no need for junk food!

My kids began packing their lunch boxes at age 5.  I spent a couple of afternoons showing them and supervising.  Stop doing every single thing for them.  I made a sign on the fridge of everything to include with both words and pictures (protein, fruit, veggies, water, and a carb).  Oh, and keep portions realistic; I eat lunch at my kid’s school often enough to know that most students eat very little and throw away a lot of food.

Make things appealing.  Let them pick out their lunch box and storage containers.  Put food in muffin tin liners, wrap ham around a pickle, or stack veggies on toothpicks. 

 

Here are some ideas! 

 

PACKED LUNCH IDEAS FOR KIDS

 

PROTEINS and FATS:

Nut Butter

Tuna

Guacamole

Sliced lunch meat

Nuts

Pepperoni slices

Protein muffin

Sushi

Egg cups

“Sandwiches” (instead of bread: cucumber slices, lettuce wraps, halved bell peppers or big mushrooms)

Homemade protein energy balls

Salad with meat

Chicken salad

Hardboiled egg

Bacon

Leftovers

 

 

FRUITS:

Fresh

Frozen

Single serving cups (with no added sugar)

Dried

Homemade fruit leather

 

 

VEGGIES:

Celery

Carrots

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Salad

Cucumbers

Cherry tomatoes

Pickles

Snow peas / sugar snap peas

Fresh green beans

 

 

CARBS and DESSERTS:

Hummus

Gluten-free crackers (on occasion)

Paleo bread (on occasion)

Dark chocolate

Rice and beans

Homemade trail mix

Dehydrated veggie “chips”

 

Okay, let's hear from you!  What's going in their lunchbox this year?