With school about to start here and with us now having three kids to pack school lunches for 5 days a week, having a list of easy lunch ideas is crucial to help get through the hustle and bustle of those mornings!
I have spent some time updating my School Lunch Ideas for Kids printable filled with lots of ideas to mix things up. I’ve also included a blank lunch box printable so you can add your own lunch ideas your kids will love. Print it out and keep it handy so you can have fun lunch ideas to make easily!
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I have also created a bonus Healthy Eating Tips for Kids printable for you! We like to have a well-balanced lunch box for our kids which includes lots of fruits and vegetables, a little grain, protein, a healthy snack, and water is always the drink of choice for us.
Packing healthy school lunches have been a habit since our kids went to pre-school where they only allowed healthy, low-sugar foods and water to drink. However, my son is now asking for a treat in his lunch box (he is going into grade 4), so I have included some treat options on the printable. I will now surprise him with a treat maybe once a week, such as a Bear Claw cookie or some homemade chocolate banana bread - everything in moderation, right?
I hope to inspire you with some easy and healthy lunch ideas while also encouraging kids to make healthy choices. You can even choose to let your child do the picking and packing!
Remember, use these ideas as inspiration and modify as needed. If your kids don’t like ham, use pepperoni or chicken instead! If they hate melons but love apples, feel free to change it up! It’s all about packing what your kids like so they are sure to eat it.
Here are some ideas on helping you create healthy lunches for your kids for school!
Having the right supplies and having them easily accessible will make things so much easier when packing lunches! We use a pull-out basket in our cupboard and keep our insulated lunch kits and containers in it.
Lunch Box Supply Kit:
- Insulated lunch kit
- Reusable water bottle
- Freezer ice packs
- Divided containers
- Reusable snack bags
- Reusable food pouches (we use these ones)
- Insulated Thermos food jar
- Reusable utensils
- Hand wipes &/or napkins
School Lunch Packing Tips:
- Taking the time to pack lunches the night before will minimize the morning rush and ensure healthy options are chosen. (Setting up the table for breakfast helps, too!)
- Freeze your baking so you always have a stash of homemade goods to add to their lunches! Try this chocolate banana bread recipe or these healthy breakfast cookies - great to grab and go in the morning!
- You can choose to freeze their water bottles the night before so they double as ice packs. Or you can also freeze smoothies in a reusable squeeze tube!
- Offer a variety of foods throughout the week and involve the kids in the packing process! They’ll learn about healthy eating and be more likely to eat the foods they chose.
- Include food from each of the food groups for a balanced meal. A lunch for kids that includes a carbohydrate (fruit, bread, crackers...) , protein (milk, cheese, yogurt, lean meat, beans…), and some fat (nuts, peanut butter, meat, some dairy…) provide children sustained energy and making sure they are well-nourished and energized for learning.
- To keep apples from browning, simply dip the slices in lemon juice before packing them into the lunch. The mild acidity of the juice keeps them from browning.
What are some of your kids' favorite school lunches? How do you pack lunches in your house? I'd love it if you shared some of your ideas as well!
Leave me a note in the comments or visit me on Facebook @ellabelladesignsbyann or Instagram @ellabella.designs.
For more easy school lunch box ideas for kids, make sure to visit my Pinterest board! Download these lunch box ideas today!
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© Ellabella Designs 2018
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