Based on conversations I’ve been having with other moms, preparing healthy school lunches seems to have a lot in common with New Year’s resolutions; making them is the easy part. Being consistent about packing lunches day in and day out is not.
That said, how have you been doing? Still packing healthy lunches? Just packing them once or twice a week? Running out of recipe ideas?
Get Back on Track!
To help you get back on track, I’ve created 10 kid-tested healthy lunch menus to try. Feel free to substitute your child’s favorite cheese or fruit, but always include some raw veggies with dip and white milk. And including a small cookie, a mini chocolate bar or a few chocolate kisses is a nice way to round out the meal.
1. Omelet
Egg omelet made with mozzarella cheese on whole wheat spread with a touch of lite mayonnaise and served with a side “salad” of mixed strawberries and blueberries
2. Cheese
Mild Cheddar cheese, sliced avocado and sprouts on multi-grain bread and served with a sliced plum
3. Ham and More!
Honey Maple Ham, thinly sliced apple, butter head lettuce, honey mustard dressing on whole wheat served with side of watermelon cubes
4. Cream Cheese
Low fat cream cheese on a wheat bagel and topped with smoked salmon; serve with a sliced peach
5. Turkey
Turkey, mild cheddar cheese, tomato slices and mixed greens wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla and served with side of pineapple chunks
6. Chicken
Chicken salad made with low fat mayonnaise and celery and served in a whole wheat pita half with a side of grapes
7. Leftovers!
Leftover, roasted vegetables in a whole wheat pita spread with hummus and served with a side of sliced oranges
8. More Leftovers!
Leftover chicken parmesan on a submarine roll served with a Fuji apple
9. Almond Butter
Almond butter & strawberry jam or honey on cinnamon raisin toast served with sliced melon
10. Tuna
Tuna salad made with lite mayonnaise, lettuce on whole wheat bread and served with raspberries
