For many families, packed lunches allow parents to provide a balanced, healthy mid-day meal for even the pickiest of eaters while sticking to a budget. While some kids have no problem having peanut butter and jelly day after day, most need a change of pace every once in a while. Change it up with these easy school lunch ideas guaranteed to breathe new life into lunch time!
Cold lunches offer a lot of flexibility and personalization, but it’s still important to meet your scholars’ nutritional needs. Parents can use the USDA’s school nutrition guidelines to ensure their kids get the fruit, veggies, grains, and proteins they need to learn and play at full speed.
For kids K-5, that means:
For grades 6-12, that means:
Of course, you don’t have to fit those nutritional requirements into a brown paper bag (or a very cool Peppa Pig lunchbox), but they should inform you what you pack your child for lunch most days of the week.
Freshen up the lunch box with these fun, easy lunch options that are also budget-friendly!
Also known as banana sushi, banana roll-ups are simple to make yet enticingly exotic!
Spread peanut butter (or almond butter) onto a tortilla, place a banana on one side, and roll it up. When sliced into several pieces, it looks just like sushi! A small dab of honey or cinnamon adds a little extra flavor, too.
These are an excellent way to turn leftovers into lunch. Mix rice with veggies (we sometimes add chicken, too), a little seasoning, and roll into balls. You can refrigerate these overnight to have them ready for the morning!
So easy and so customizable!
Start by stirring rolled oats, milk (dairy or a non-dairy alternative), and chia seeds (if you want) into a mason jar. Make sure you give your oats at least 4-5 hours; some prefer up to 8 hours. Pack your favorite additions separately and let your child toss them in right before they eat. Our favorite add-ons for overnight oats are blueberries, strawberries, cinnamon, honey, even pumpkin spice during the holidays.
While rice balls and overnight oats may not be on your kids’ everyday menu, mix in other traditional brown bag lunches to diversify their nutrient intake and ensure they eat a healthy meal every day.
Max’s Service has helped northern Michigan families prepare healthy meals at home for generations with quality appliances and reliable repair services. We carry a wide selection of home appliances from leading brands right here in our Traverse City showroom. Make every meal easier with the right appliances; stop in and see us or get in touch to start shopping from home!
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