Daily Tactics Guru is very thrilled to share our tips for packing back-to-school lunches because we are really passionate about health and nutrition. So, here We’ve put together the top tips for sending your kids back-to-school with healthy school lunches.
Find a Good Purpose
No arguments that the sole purpose here is sending your child to school with a fresh and healthy meal. A meal that will really excite them and they will actually eat while remaining in budget. So the significant point here is to pack a lunch which has fresh, in-season fruits and veggies. Foods that contain a lot of preservatives and other undesirable ingredients must be avoided. As these prepackaged and processed food may come out to produce adverse effects on your child’s health.
Set yourself up for Success
I suggest to start planning at night itself. It will save you from the pressure during the busy morning hours. If you don’t already, I suggest to start meal planning dinners. It lets you incorporate leftovers into school lunches for little to no extra cost. And thus proves economical for the family budget.
Get creative with what you’ve got! If you make chicken fajitas one night, pack chicken quesadillas for lunch the next day. Another tip: if your budget is a factor, plan the meal with what’s on sale that week in the store. If you find something is half off, buy some extra and keep it in the freezer.
Have Fun & use Variety
You will be amazed by the creativity level of some moms. But if you don’t have the time to dedicate to creating a great theme, that’s totally okay. Kids are easy; all you need to do is give them some fun for lunch. Use a huge lot of colors in the dish with seasonal fruit and vegetables. They, otherwise, will almost always be the most inexpensive choices in the supermarkets. Give them fun shapes. Add in fancy accessories like food picks. You don’t need to be a professional for your kids to want to eat lunch. These come at very little cost and you get a very high impact.
As far as the containers, Use a variety there too. It keeps the fun going. And you don’t have to spend much.
You’re really only limited by your imagination.
Below is a good go-to list of lunch ideas for beginners. I’m always adding to it and watching it evolve; these are just the basics:
- Baby Bell Cheese Wheels: They keep well because of the wax coating and they are “real” cheese.
- Homemade Muffins: You can prefer Banana Muffins or any kind you can bake from home.
- Nuts: Nuts are great.
- Hard-Boiled Egg: A few farm fresh eggs a week after school snacks.
- Fruits & Veggies: Organic & seasonal. Melon balls, cuties (mini tangerines), carrots, celery, cucumbers, peas, apples (dip in pineapple juice to keep fresh), blueberries, grapes, orange slices, pineapple or strawberries. You can also cut bananas in half and leave the peel on. The list is endless.
- Rice: Make rice balls with a side of soy sauce with a leftover.
- Popcorn: Buy them in bulk and then pop yourself and add toppings such as lime and sea salt.
- Rice Noodles: There are a lot of unhealthy noodles out there. However, rice noodles seem to be the best choice to come across.
- Baked Potato: Salt & pepper and maybe some cheese on theirs, so this is an option.
- Tortillas Sands: Homemade tortillas and make sandwiches with them. Cream cheese with salami is the top runners around here.
- Tortellini Noodles: These are good finer foods; pack a side of red sauce.
- Homemade Pizza: You can make flatbread pizza or homemade “chicken wing” pizza. Margherita pizza is also a big hit.
- Fried Rice: Spanish rice works also.
- Sausage: Link sausage (or sliced) works great with cheese and rice.
Bonus Recipe
Last but not least is my all-time favorite after school lunches recipe! You can make these, one for each school day, all at once at the beginning of the week.
Mason Jar Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits
- 8-12 oz mason jar
- 1/2 cup of plain, non-fat yogurt (preferably organic; Vons has a great one)
- One Handful Fresh, In-season Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.)
- 1 Handful Granola (I like Bare Naked)
- A Packet of All-Natural Organic Stevia Sweetener (optional)
Add your yogurt to the bottom of your mason jar. Then layer on your fresh berries. Top with granola and sweetener (optional). Also, top with your lid and refrigerate.
This is a super easy, super yummy after-school snack kids go bananas over. Set a spot aside in your fridge, most often a drawer. And fill with cut veggies and fruits in baggies. The kids will take a baggie and parfait as soon as they make it in the door!
If you liked the article, kindly share it with your friends and family. Share your opinions with us through comments. We would feel highly obliged for your feedback.
Do not forget to read other articles on Daily Tactics Guru.
Stay safe and Stay happy..