Pack a better lunch for your kids

Jul 30, 2012 1:00 PM by Sarah W. Caron

Posted in Parenting / Age by Age / School Age Kids

school lunch

Wrap up these healthy lunch ideas

School will be starting before you know it. Are you ready for all the lunch packing that will come with it? These ideas for packing healthy, nutritious lunches (and what to carry them in!) will come in handy.

Packing school lunches can seem fun at first. But soon after the start of the year, it becomes a bear. Before that happens, start using these easy ideas to pack your kids simply delicious lunches that are healthy too.

Rachel Berman, Director of Nutrition for CalorieCount.com, a free health and wellness website with more than 4 million members, suggests these mega meals for better lunches for the kids:

Deli pita

Use a half of whole-wheat pita bread or hamburger buns.
Add deli sliced meat (turkey breast is a good option)
Slice a tomato, cucumbers, bell peppers, etc., and place on the buns/in the pita.

Why it's healthy: "Choosing whole wheat (vs. white) provides more nutrients since the bran and germ weren’t stripped during processing, and nutrients weren’t lost along with them. Fiber is plentiful, which is good for digestive health," says Berman. The deli slices also provide protein and the vegetables come with lots of nutrients too, she says.

Try this Chicken pita salad recipe >>

Pockets

Spread a ripe avocado into the inside of a split whole-wheat pita bread.
Grill (or cook in the oven if grilling isn’t available) chicken breast or meat cut into strips (like shawarma style)
Cut carrots, bell peppers and other veggies into strips and place into the pita with the chicken.

Why it's healthy: "Chicken has a variety of vitamins/minerals (tryptophan: increases brain serotonin, helps us sleep better…niacin: good for the skin, helps in the conversion of food to energy…phosphorus: for bones and teeth...selenium: an antioxidant...vitamin B6: metabolizing protein)," says Berman. The fiber-rich avocado and nutrient-rich veggies round this out too.

Fruit wraps

Use a whole-wheat tortilla or a whole-wheat pita split in half.
Spread peanut butter (or any type of nut butter) on the tortilla/pita.
Slice various fruits like bananas and strawberries and place on top, and then wrap the tortilla/pita.
Can be packed with carrot sticks

Why it's healthy: "Peanut butter provides protein and fiber [and] contains Vitamin E as an antioxidant, and many minerals, including iron (hemoglobin formation) and calcium (healthy bones)," says Berman. As for the fruit, it's a "good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber (strawberries and bananas provide insoluble fiber). Good source of antioxidants and phytochemicals," says Berman.

Cute lunchboxes to pack it all in

What will your kids be carrying their lunches in? The classic paper bag is fine and easy. But having your own lunch box can make the lunches even more fun for kids. These cute lunch boxes are perfect for back to school.

Hey, Beaba

Looking for something that can be tossed about, stuffed into backpacks and lockers and still protect its contents? Try the Beaba Lunch Box Sorbet. It can hold a complete lunch within its convenient compartments.

Laptop for lunch

Want something sturdy that is also easy to carry? The Laptop Lunches Bento 2.0 is the best of both worlds. It has a hard-sized internal container and a soft sided carrier with handles. Your kids will love the variety that it packs.

Double decker

The L.L. Bean Double Decker Lunchbox is so convenient, with its room for both a lunch kept cold and all the accoutrements needed to consume it. The handy top handle and flat bottom ensure that it's also kept upright too (reduced spillage!).

Lunch bunch

Looking for something with a sweet sophistication for your teen? Try the Vera Bradley Lunch Bunch Rosy Posies, which will fit a thermos and whatever else she needs. And if you need to borrow it? Well, this is one lunch box you won't mind carrying.

More on school lunches

School lunch and snacks
5 Creative school lunches
What's wrong with school meals?

Tags: back to school back to school recipes school lunches

Comments

Comments on "Pack a better lunch for your kids"

I am all about healthy lunches! I pack my husband and kids lunch everyday and make sure it includes a healthy sandwich or pita, fruit or veggies of some sort, and then either chips or cookies for dessert. I like the double decker lunch boxes, too. Even if you don't have a cold item, it can be good to put the sandwich in there so it doesn't squish.