By: Tami Pyles
Back to school time is here, and that means it is also time
to pack lunches. I have had a love-hate
relationship with lunch packing over the years.
I love it because I can control what my kids eat and can include lots of
healthy options. I hate it because,
well, I have to pack it! Here are a few tips for making lunch packing a little
easier.
Have a Plan
When you pack your lunch, it is easy to get in a rut and
have the same thing over and over. To
combat this mundane mealtime habit, my daughter and I sit down and brainstorm a
list of what she would like for lunches and snacks. We use the internet for inspiration as we
create the list- there are lots of great sites out there that offer healthy lunch
ideas. We write it all down from simple
snacks like what fruit she wants to fun meals like turkey and cheese
kabobs. We hang this list on the
refrigerator and reference it when planning for lunches. It is great to get the ideas on paper early
and then all year you have a go-to list when you need some new ideas to keep
lunch fun and interesting.
Equipped to Eat
Having the right supplies can make all of the
difference. It is worth the investment
to get a great lunchbox that can withstand the wear and tear of packing. Other items to consider are reusable
containers (not only is this an earth friendly option but you will spend a
fortune on plastic bags, packing lunch every day), a good quality water bottle,
and a thermos for taking hot items like soup and pasta.
Prep Now, Pack Later
Pre-packaged convenience foods are not always the healthiest
choice. Pre-making healthier options can help alleviate the need to grab the
highly processed and nutritionally void snacks and cakes. Make things like muffins
and granola bars in multiple batches and freeze them for later use. One day of baking can yield a month’s worth
of snacks and lunch box staples. One of
my absolute favorite make-ahead snacks are granola bars. Here is the recipe
I use from Weelicious. They are super
easy to make and freeze well.
Consider lunch when making other meals. Can you make extra of a dish and use the
left-overs for lunches? Double up a
dinner recipe or make breakfast with lunch in mind. We typically make waffles or pancakes on the
weekends and I always make extras. I use
left overs not only for quick weekday breakfasts, but also a fun
breakfast-for-lunch option. I take
leftover waffles and cut them into strips and send in yogurt for dipping along
with some fruit.
Happy packing!
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