Packing a lunchbox every day can become a task that you do over and over again. Sometimes when you are in a hurry it is easy to grab some packaged snacks.. You do not have to put packaged food in a lunchbox to make it easy. The goal is not to make everything from scratch but to put together some foods that are good for you and that your kids will actually eat. A good lunchbox has foods that your kids like foods that’re good for them and foods that are easy to take with them. Packing a lunchbox is about finding a balance, between foods that’re familiar foods that are nutritious and foods that are convenient.
I think the easiest way to make lunches is to have a small things instead of one big thing. Kids like to have a lot of foods to eat. You can think of a lunchbox like a plate with a few snacks on it. You can put some protein in the lunchbox like chicken or cheese and some fruit or vegetables and a carb like bread or crackers. This way of making lunches is fun for kids. It does not make them feel like they have to eat everything on their plate. The lunchbox is like a snack board with a little bit of everything, like protein and fruit or vegetables and a carb.
Protein is a part of a meal. You can have things like cheese cubes or boiled eggs. Hummus and yogurt are good too. Some people like nut butter sandwiches or leftover chicken. The thing about protein is that it does not have to be, like the food you eat for dinner. Protein just has to be something you can recognize and eat when it is cold. Protein is important to have in your meal because it gives you energy from the protein.
When it comes to carbohydrates it is best to stick with whole foods. Whole grain wraps are an option and so are pasta salads, rice balls or mini sandwiches because carbohydrates like these hold up well in containers. Carbohydrates such as these travel better than breads and carbohydrates like delicate breads do crumble easily but carbohydrates, like whole grain wraps and mini sandwiches do not crumble as easily. Fruit is really the sweet thing you can have. Things like berries, apples that are sliced up grapes, melon or oranges that are cut into segments are all great because they are sweet, without having any sugar added to them. If you cut up some fruit and put it in a container where everyone can see it people are more likely to eat the fruit.
Vegetables are great when they are easy to eat. If you have carrots or cucumbers or bell peppers or cherry tomatoes with a little dip vegetables seem like something you want to eat not something you have to eat. When you cut them up into pieces it is easier to try them. Eating vegetables is more fun when they are in pieces like the vegetables I mentioned vegetables such, as carrots or cucumbers or bell peppers or cherry tomatoes. Leftovers are really great for lunchboxes. You can use portions of the dinner you had the night before like pasta or roasted vegetables or even quesadillas or rice bowls and take them to school or work the next day. This way you only have to cook one time. You can pack lunch twice which is a big time saver. Cooking once and packing twice for your lunchbox like, with leftovers is a good idea.
Making things at home does not have to be complicated. You can make muffins with oats and bananas or yogurt parfaits or even just popcorn that you season a little bit at home. These homemade alternatives, like muffins made from oats and bananas or yogurt parfaits or popcorn can replace the snacks that come in packages without making things too hard. Containers really do make a difference in how successful our meals are. I mean have you seen those Bento-style boxes? They are great because they keep all the foods separated and they look really nice too.
When it comes to kids they are more likely to eat their lunches if they look neat and have a lot of color. Containers like Bento-style boxes are very good at making lunches look organized and colorful which is why kids, like them. I think that rotation is really important because it prevents boredom. When you repeat the main things for lunch but you change one or two things that keeps lunch pretty predictable but it is not dull. I like it when things are familiar because that builds comfort.. When you add something new that is what builds interest, in the meal like a little surprise. Rotation of food items is what makes lunch exciting so rotation of the core lunch items is a good thing.
Getting ready ahead of time is really important. If you wash the fruit and cut the vegetables and divide the snacks into portions at the start of the week it makes packing easier every day. When the food is easy to grab you are more likely to stick to your plan. Accessibility of the food determines how consistent you are, with packing the food. Packing food is easier when the fruit and vegetables are already prepared.
The important thing is that lunchboxes should be like real life. It is okay to have packaged items because they do not ruin the healthy habits that we are trying to teach. Our goal, with lunchboxes is to have a foundation not to have a lot of strict rules that we have to follow all the time. Lunchboxes should have a baseline of healthy food but lunchboxes should also be flexible and allow for occasional treats.
Kids eat a lot better when the food they have is something they are used to and they get to share it with others. When you pack their lunch try to make it similar to what you eat at home. This helps them feel good, about the food they are eating. Whole foods are great because they do not need a lot of stuff to make them special. They are already good just the way they are. All whole foods need is to be presented in a way. A lunchbox without processed junk isn’t about restriction. It’s about simple, recognizable food packed with intention. When meals feel approachable and repeatable, healthy lunches stop being a chore and become routine.
