Back To School Lunches

We all want to feed our kids well balanced meals and snacks. Studies show its good for their focus and ability to learn in school! But well balanced meals aren’t always easy for a busy mom, especially if you have picky eaters. Sometimes you have to strategize…

1)    Focus of fruits and veggies first when packing a lunch. Don’t give up on fruit/veg even if your child refuses to touch it. It takes more than 20 introductions to a food for a child to ‘like’ or accept it. Rotate in some berries, carrots, tomatoes, oranges, grapes. Organic is preferred, especially if it is one of the ‘dirty dozen’ but don’t beat yourself up if it’s not! You can use a cookie cutter to make cute shapes with cucumbers or bell peppers. Serve with a guacamole, bean dip, or hummus.

2)    Breakfast in less than 5 minutes. Pancakes are a crowd pleaser in the morning. And they’re actually manageable if you make a large batch on Sunday. Freeze. Then reheat in the toaster each morning. A recipe with bananas, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin puree is even better! And a great way to sneak in those fruits and veggies…

3)    Variety is key. Sandwiches can get boring if its turkey and cheese every day. Mix it up by trying tuna fish, hummus wraps, almond butter and banana. Or you can leave out the sandwich all together and serve whole wheat crackers/cheese, hard boiled eggs, leftover veggie pizza, or whole grain pasta salad for variety!

4)     Reusable lunch bags are so cute these days. The ‘Plantbox’ lunch bag keeps food cold and you won’t have to use ziplock baggies! I love a good bento box that has a hot container for pasta or leftovers, as well as regular containers for pouches, fruit, and little snacks.