Many children prefer to carry their lunch to school rather than eat the offered meal. With some thought, sack lunches can be nutritious and help your child stay focused through the afternoon. It is important to pack foods your child will actually eat, particularly if he is a finicky eater. You may want to try new lunch ideas at home first, to make sure the food will be eaten rather than discarded. Healthy snacks can also be added to the lunch sack.
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Try a twist on the traditional peanut butter sandwich by adding banana slices, a teaspoon of honey, dried cranberries or crushed pecans. Use whole grain bread and two tablespoons of peanut butter. Add veggie sticks, such as baby carrots or celery sticks, a thermos of skim milk and a small bunch of grapes.
Chef's Salad
Create a chef's salad by adding frozen chicken strips and a sliced boiled egg to romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and shredded mozzarella cheese. Add ranch dressing on the side, whole wheat crackers, a bottle of water and a box of raisins. The chicken strips will thaw by lunchtime and be ready to eat.
Fruit Salad
Create a colorful fruit salad main dish by combining diced apple, orange slices, banana circles, purple grapes and walnuts with two tablespoons of whipped cream or one tablespoon of fruit juice. Add a low-fat granola bar and a thermos of skim milk to complete this nutritious lunch.
Turkey Wrap
Using a whole wheat wrap, add frozen turkey slices, shredded cheddar cheese, tomato, spinach leaves and a teaspoon of ranch dressing. Add a container of almonds and a square of dark chocolate. MSNBC suggests you have your child try a thermos of vanilla-flavored rice milk for added nutrition and variety.
Tomato Soup
Add piping hot, low-sodium tomato soup to a thermos for a cold-weather treat. A small container of oyster crackers adds crunch to the soup. A banana and a bottle of water can round out this healthy lunch.
Snack Ideas
Snacks can be fun as well as nutrient-packed. Consider a bag of popcorn or a cut-up melon, suggests the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County. Other good ideas include cereal bars, cheese sticks and strawberries. You can create a homemade trail mix by mixing wheat squares cereal, raisins, peanuts, dark chocolate candy and sunflower seeds. A container of yogurt that has been frozen makes a welcome snack.
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