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Lunchbox Magic — Creating Meals Kids Will Love

Sep 30, 2024 | Tips and Tricks

As a busy mom, your days are packed with a whirlwind of activities, from managing household chores to juggling work responsibilities. Amidst all of this, ensuring that your kids eat nutritious meals can often feel like an overwhelming challenge. We’ve gathered tips for creating healthy, delicious lunches that your kids will love — and that will give you peace-of-mind knowing they’re getting the nourishment they need.

Read on for creative, easy-to-prepare lunch ideas that are not only healthy but also kid-approved. Say goodbye to half-eaten sandwiches and hello to empty lunch boxes!

The Power of Presentation — Making Food Fun

Kids eat with their eyes first, just like adults. The way food is presented can significantly impact whether your child will actually eat what you’ve packed. Here are a few tips to make lunch visually appealing:

  • Use Bento Boxes – Bento boxes are compartmentalized lunch containers that allow you to separate different food items. This not only keeps the food fresh but also makes it more exciting for kids to explore what’s inside. You can create a colorful array of fruits, veggies, proteins, and grains that turn a simple meal into a mini feast.
  • Creative Shapes and Sizes – Invest in cookie cutters to transform sandwiches, cheese, and fruits into fun shapes like stars, hearts, or animals. You can also use a vegetable peeler to create ribbon-like strips of carrots or cucumbers, making veggies more enticing.
  • Colorful Ingredients – A colorful lunch is more likely to catch your child’s attention. Incorporate a variety of naturally colorful foods like red bell peppers, purple grapes, green broccoli, and orange sweet potatoes. The more colors, the better!
  • Skewer Magic – Skewers or toothpicks can be used to create mini kebabs with fruits, veggies, cheese, and lean meats. They’re fun to eat and easy to assemble. Keep in mind, skewers may have pointy tips. so consider using paper lollipop sticks for younger kiddos.

Nutritious and Delicious — Balancing Health with Taste

Making lunches visually appealing is important — and the real magic happens when those lunches are also packed with nutrients. Here’s how to strike the perfect balance between health and taste:

  • Whole Grains – Swap out white bread and crackers for whole-grain alternatives. Whole grains provide more fiber, which helps keep your child fuller for longer. Consider whole-wheat wraps, brown rice, or quinoa as the base for lunchbox meals.
  • Healthy Fats – Include healthy fats like avocado slices, canned salmon or tuna, nut butter (if your school allows), or a small portion of nuts and seeds. These fats are crucial for brain development, as well as absorption of nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K — and will help keep your child satisfied throughout the day.
  • Fruits and Veggies – Make fruits and veggies the star of the lunchbox. Include a variety of options and try to incorporate at least one serving of both fruits and veggies. Fresh, seasonal produce is always the best choice, but dried fruits can be good alternatives.
  • Protein-Packed Option – Protein is essential for your child’s growth and development. Consider packing protein-rich foods like hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken strips, or turkey or ham roll-ups. For plant-based options, try including a small container of hummus, beans, lentils, or quinoa salads with whole-grain crackers.

Sneaky Nutrition — Hiding the Healthy Stuff

Of course, we want kids to love their veggies. But if you have a picky eater who simply refuses, getting them to eat their veggies can be a challenge. With a little creativity, you can sneak nutritious ingredients into their favorite foods without them even noticing:

  • Veggie-Packed Muffins – Bake muffins with hidden veggies like zucchini, carrots, or sweet potatoes. These muffins can be sweetened naturally with fruits like bananas or applesauce, making them a healthy and tasty option for snack time. For example, try our Healthy Morning Glory Muffins and orApplesauce Carrot Cake Muffins
  • Sauce it Up – Add pureed veggies to sauces, soups, or dips. They won’t be able to see the veggies — and that means they’ll be more likely to eat it all without a fuss.

Make Treats Count

We’ve all heard stories about kids who only eat the sweet treats out of their lunchboxes and avoid or throw away everything else. That’s why it is super important to make every treat pack an extra punch of nutrition. Here are a few great options:

Involve Your Kids — Let Them Help

Getting your kids involved in the lunch-making process can not only save you time but also make them more excited to eat what’s packed. Here’s how you can include them:

  • Meal Prep Together – Set aside some time on the weekend to meal prep together. Let your kids help with washing fruits and veggies, assembling sandwiches, or mixing ingredients for a snack. This not only teaches them valuable cooking skills but also makes them more invested in their meals.
  • A Lunchbox Station in Your Fridge – Teach kids the elements of a healthy lunch so they can put it together themselves. Always include a fruit, veggie, protein, whole grain item, and a nutritious treat. Keep pre-cut veggies, washed fruit like apples or clementines, whole grain crackers, even premade deli rolls, hummus cups, and pre-portioned chicken or egg salad on an accessible shelf in the fridge. Kids learn about nutrition and have lunches filled with their favorites.

Keep it Simple — Quick and Easy Recipes

As a busy mom, you don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen every morning. That’s why it’s important to have a go-to list of quick and easy lunch recipes that you can whip up in no time:

  • Versatile Pinwheels and Roll-Ups – Roll ups come in many versions and are easy to prep ahead of time. Try x, y, or z. 
  • DIY Sandwich Kits – That lunchbox station we mentioned before is an easy way to get lunches packed quickly.Try such kid-pleasing favorites as Tahini Chicken Salad, Healthy Coronation Salad, Southern Tuna Salad, or Lemon Dill Egg Salad. making the salad at the start of the week and pre-portioning in little containers or bags so that kids can make their wraps or sandwiches themselves.  Try x, y, or Z
  • Leftovers for Lunch – Make extra for dinner and it’s easy to have the next day’s lunches ready to go!

Make it Interactive — Lunchbox Notes and Surprises

Sometimes, a little surprise can go a long way in making lunch fun. Consider adding a personal touch to your child’s lunchbox:

  • Lunchbox Notes – Write a short, encouraging note or draw a silly doodle on a sticky note and slip it into their lunchbox. It’s a small gesture that can brighten their day and make them look forward to lunch.
  • Surprise Treats – Include a small treat like a homemade cookie or a piece of dark chocolate. Balance is key, and a little sweet surprise can make lunchtime extra special.
  • Themed Lunches – Create themed lunches around your child’s favorite characters, holidays, or activities. For example, a “teddy bear picnic” theme could include sandwiches cut into bear shapes, a small container of honey for dipping apple slices, and a few teddy graham crackers as a treat.

Plan Ahead — Save Time and Reduce Stress

Preparation is key to ensuring healthy lunches happen even on the busiest days. These strategies will help you stay organized:

  • Weekly Menu Planning – Take some time at the beginning of the week to plan out the lunches for each day. This can save you from the morning scramble and ensure you have all the ingredients you need on hand.
  • Batch Cooking – Prepare larger batches of certain foods that can be used for the next few days, like grilled chicken, roasted veggies, or a big pot of quinoa. These can be mixed and matched in different ways to keep lunches varied yet easy to prepare.
  • Pack the Night Before – Whenever possible, pack lunches the night before. This can save precious time in the morning and start your day with less stress.

Takeaway

Packing healthy lunches for your kids doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With a little creativity, some strategic planning, and a dash of fun, you can turn lunchtime into an exciting and nutritious part of your child’s day. Remember, the goal is to create balanced meals your kids will love to eat and will fuel them through their busy school days. So, embrace the magic of lunchbox preparation and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing your child is set for the best lunch — and school day — ever.

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