While you may consider breakfast the most important meal of the day, lunch plays an equally important role when it comes to your child's health and learning. Sending your kids to school with a healthy lunch makes you feel good as a parent, and sets your children up for healthy eating habits they can carry into adulthood.
Sandwiches
Sandwiches may be a traditional lunch meal, but you can use different types of meats and breads to add variety. No matter what you send to school with your children, ask them to help you decide what goes in the lunch box. Your kids may be more likely to eat it if they help prepare it. A healthy lunch meal may include a whole wheat pita stuffed with hummus, lettuce, tomatoes and sprouts, with a piece of fruit and a container of milk or yogurt. Have your child purchase milk or yogurt at school to prevent spoiling. If sending your child to school with a meat sandwich, such as turkey or ham, be sure to use a well-insulated lunch box and pack it with an ice pack to keep it cool. Some schools also allow children to keep their lunches refrigerated.
Soup and Salad
Soup and salad make a filling and nutritious lunch for your child. Use a good thermos for the soup to keep it hot. If your child complains that the soup was not hot enough, you may want to consider investing in a better thermos. A great lunch idea may include a thermos of chicken noodle soup with a garden salad topped with diced cheese, some whole grain crackers and canned fruit packed in juice, with a container of milk purchased at school. You can also try a cold pasta salad to mix it up.
Leftovers
Leftovers also make healthy lunches for your kids. Most leftovers can be eaten cold. But if leftovers need to eaten hot, be sure to use the right type of container to keep it at the right temperature until lunch time. Try packing some leftover chicken with a side of vegetables and starch. Add some fruit to round out the meal. You can also pack some leftover take out, such as a slice of pizza with a small salad and some grapes.
Breakfast for Lunch
Changing it up a bit and having breakfast for lunch can make it lunch fun for your child. A simple and healthy breakfast-lunch meal may include a bowl of your child's favorite cereal with a banana and milk. You can also try a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese, an orange and a cup of yogurt. Or, why not some whole wheat blueberry pancakes topped with raspberries and syrup, with some milk to drink.
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