Guide to Easy School Lunches 

Believe it or not, making healthy school lunches does not have be difficult. If you start with your shopping list and stack your kitchen cupboards, your fridge and pantry with the right items, it will be much easier to prepare every day healthy lunches for your children.

Here is a simple guide of suggestions what to have on hand:

For Your Pantry:

• Whole grain breads
• Ready to eat cereals
• Whole grain crackers
• Canned and dried fruits
• Canned tuna or salmon
• Canned legumes – i.e. chick peas, black beans, baked beans in tomato sauce
• Seeds and nuts or pre-mixed trail mix

For Your Fridge:

• Yogurt, yogurt drinks, plain yogurt for dips
• Cheese – block or cheese strings, cottage cheese cups, cream cheese
• Milk (small cartons)
• Fresh fruits and vegetables

For Your Freezer:

• Whole grain pita and tortillas (they will defrost quickly in your microwave)
• Frozen fruits for smoothies
• Leftovers like chilli, lasagna and soups in single servings containers
• Juice boxes (they will keep the food cool and defrost by the time your child is ready to drink them)

For Your Cupboard:

• Reusable containers and cutlery
• Small plastic bags
• Thermos
• Cloth or paper napkins
• Lunch boxes or bags

And remember – setting aside short period of time in the evening to pack lunches and snacks avoids early morning rush!

For creative school lunch tips and suggested menus, check out:

How to Make Healthy School Lunches

Hope you found this information helpful, please send in your comments, suggestions and experiences, your input is always welcomed and much appreciated