How To Make Healthy School Lunches 

Making healthy school lunch can be hard at times – what your child eats at school directly affects his or her level of energy and the ability to learn. Getting together healthy lunch day after day can be quite a task. Even though my children are way past their school years, I do remember dealing with this issue and learning as I went along.

If your child is an active participant in sports, you have even more to consider. I am going to keep adding to the school lunch topic on this website – hopefully, it will give you the assistance you need and it will make your daily tasks easier!

Think Salads!

Maybe you are one of the lucky parents whose children attend a school with a cafeteria that serves fresh salads daily. In that case, your job is to encourage your child to try it. It may be a good idea to start packing salads regularly. In that case, you will need to make sure that the salad includes foods your child likes. That means suggesting items that can make a salad and

That means suggesting items that can make a salad and listen to your child’s ideas as well. Try things like cheese, cucumbers or even bacon bits – you may be surprised at what kids can come up with!

Make Clean Sandwiches

Here is what the word “clean” means: start with whole grain bread, use natural nut butter with strawberries instead of the traditional peanut butter and jelly. If your school allows peanut butter sandwiches at all – you will need to check for that, as many schools now ask for parents not to send anything with nuts for their children’s lunches.

Another clean lunch you can try is making wraps with chicken strips and greens and add yogurt for an after lunch snack. As you start thinking “clean”, the ideas will just keep coming!

Get Rid of the Juice

Yes – juices are definitely better than sodas, but a lot of them are still very high in sugar and calories.

Try skipping the juice boxes and replace them with water. If there is a problem with that, try filling a bottle with one part juice and two parts water.

Get Smart with Snacks

No chips please – you can give your child healthier snacks! Try servings of crunchy whole-grain cereals or granola with dried fruit.

If chips are demanded, make your own. It is not difficult – just get some corn or flour tortillas, bake them and season them yourself. If chips are an absolute must, at least get the low-fat ones!

Fake a Cool Lunch

Let’s think that your child sees another eating pizza for lunch and now wants that as well.

Yes, you can create a pizza for lunch – get a whole-grain bagel, spread some vegetable marina sauce on sprinkle with low-fat cheese. Think about adding a low-fat brownie as a treat – that will make the pizza eating child watch in envy!

Think Leftovers

So you go to the trouble of making healthy dinners each day – why not make a little extra and use it for next day’s lunch?

For example: if you had chicken, brown rice and asparagus for dinner, pack it into a wrap – your child will love it!

Satisfy the Sweet Tooth

All kids have it so you need to address it. Instead of cookies that can be full of sugar (unless you made them yourself and know what’s in them), think about filling a little container with strawberries.

You can even sprinkle a little sugar on them for the extra sweet treat. Since I mentioned making your own – there are thousands of recipes for homemade fruit squares or little muffins you can make in no time!

For more help with your children’s school lunches, check out:

Guide to Healthy School Lunches

Hope this information was helpful to you – please send in your comments, suggestions, and experiences, your input is always welcomed and very much appreciated!