Whether your kiddos will be eating lunch at school or at your kitchen table this year, these tips will help you learn how to pack a healthy lunchbox in just minutes.
UPDATED: I originally wrote this blog post in 2013. SEVEN years ago! I swear, time flies!!! If you had told me seven years ago (let alone seven months ago) that I may or may not be packing a lunchbox for school because my children may or may not be eating with me every day for the next year, I would have not believed you!
But here we are so let’s decide to make the best of it. Whether your little darlings will be eating at school or at your kitchen table, these lunchtime tips can be applied to either situation.
Trying to pack a healthy lunchbox day in and day out can be tough. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to throw in the towel or been at a loss for a new idea. However, I’ve committed to Ellie and Frances that when I pack their lunches (they now love hot lunch at the school too) it is going to be nutritious, tasty and fun. And while yes, with every meal I hope the girls will scarf down each little carrot or bell pepper strip first, the reality is there are days when they don’t eat those at all. However, I believe that continued exposure (aka repetition aka it is totally cool to pack the same lunch multiple days in a row) with a healthy balance of new foods will keep lunches exciting every time your child opens the box (or bag)
I’ve compiled all of my lunchbox, advice, recipes, shopping tips, videos and more into one place for you called my Healthy Lunchbox Headquarters. Check it out and let me know your thoughts. While you search around the headquarters, keep these 5 important tips in mind to help you plan simple and quick lunchbox meals.
Don’t get discouraged if the raw baby carrots you pack for lunch day-in and day-out continue to be sent home untouched. Studies have found that children are more likely to eat their vegetables when offered with a dip so try packing the guacamole or hummus alongside raw veggies and see what happens. Also, consider your preparation method. Is your child more likely to eat grilled or roasted veggies versus raw? Try preparing foods like spaghetti sauce and meatloaf with shredded or diced carrots, onions, peppers and celery mixed in and send leftovers in the lunchbox.
Staying hydrated throughout the day is critical to maintaining concentration and energy levels. If you’re worried about your child not drinking enough water at school, make sure to include water-packed foods in the lunchbox. You can also start the morning by offering oatmeal or ready-to-eat cereal made milk and topped with fruit.
Sandwiches with lean, low-sodium deli meat are an easy way to boost protein in the lunchbox. I especially love these Cheesy Roast Beef Pinwheels. But if you need to break out of the sandwich rut then consider some of these protein-rich foods to keep your child feeling satisfied all afternoon.
The three nutrients fiber, protein, and healthy fat have the “staying power” to keep your child feeling energized throughout the day and boost their daily nutrient quotient. When packing a lunchbox, choose foods that hit these target nutrients.
Just because you’re packing a nutritious lunch doesn’t mean you can’t offer healthier alternatives to the sweet or salty treats your child craves. Consider making some of the traditional favorites yourself so you can oversee the ingredient list and remember to keep portions in check.
The lunchboxes I use for most of my posts are Bentgo Kids. I like them because they’re leakproof and the perfect size for my little girls (they recommend ages 3-7). Many parents have asked before if they would work for older kids and I would say it likely depends on the appetite but I pack my lunch in there and always have plenty of food.
We also love the Planetbox Rover boxes for the times when we need to hold more food. Both are easy to pack, easy to store, and most important to this mama, dishwasher safe!
To find the full collection of my favorite lunchbox gear, check out my SHOP PAGE!
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With over 125 healthy lunchboxes for kids, this is the ULTIMATE GUIDE to your lunchbox packing needs. Whether you want gluten-free, gluten-packed, vegetarian, meat-lovers, vegan, kosher, dairy-free, dairy-loaded, snack box, and sandwich-free ideas, you’re sure to find multiple boxes to help with your planning.