Home

Other Articles

Back to School Lunch Box Solutions  I Just recently had a Facebook pal plead for help for lunch suggestions because they felt like they were “poisoning their kids”.  I assumed they were referring to the processed foods that most supermarkets promote as lunch box solutions.  I’ve seen most supermarkets post an entire advertisement page of suggestions like Pogo sticks, Kraft packages of processed cheese and crackers, or salami, etc.  Strange, that not one apple or even a baby carrot was promoted on this page…really?  And the really strange thing is that it’s just as easy to pack an apple as it is to grab one of the processed packages. Last year, my oldest son would tell me that one of his buddies in class would always ask him for his apple or pear in exchange for a bear paw or some other junk food snack.  Apparently his lunch box was always filled with ‘junk’ food.  So I just started packing extra fruit and veggies for him to share.  I do allow my kids to enjoy some ‘junk’ food in very limited amounts but I found that when I packed them in their snacks or lunches I would loose track of just how much they’ve had each day…out of sight, out of mind I guess.  So I made a deal with my kids that they could enjoy a ‘junk’ snack when they are home but the ‘lunch box’ would remain real food. So for all those parents struggling for easy ideas…here is my lunch box solutions: Always have plenty of fruit and veggies available to choose from and let your kids choose which one to pack.  If it’s their choice then they are more likely to actually eat it. Buy a large sealable container that has dividers in it and make your own veggie platter to store in the refrigerator.  Have that platter full all the time so that it’s easy to quickly grab a hand full of fresh veggies to pack in lunches. Plan your snack, lunch and dinner menu at the beginning of the week so that you can prepare and coordinate in advance.  If we are having chicken for dinner then I plan chicken cesar salad for lunches the next day.  Coordinate dinner ‘left overs’ to become lunch or snacks for the next day. Have a good thermos bowl for hot meals on cold winter days. Always send your kids to school with water.  Remember:  juice is a sugary snack! Choose fresh breads, unsalted crackers or chips and low sodium dips.  All the suggestions below are found in the Favorite Recipes link on the home page. Snacks Always include fresh fruit or veggies Lunches Always include veggies Fresh bread, cheese slices Chicken cesar salad (dressing on the side) Unsalted nacho chips and fresh salsa Chicken fingers with plum sauce and diced veggies Ginger or Oatmeal cookies – see recipes Chili Yogurt or Yop drinks Homemade soups with crusty bread Fresh large pretzel – wipe off the salt Stir fry Home made ‘baked’ sweet potato fries Grilled cheese sandwich (with real cheddar) Pita bread and hummus or favorite dip Chicken skewers with Tzatziki sauce Plain yogurt mixed with raw oatmeal & fresh fruit Pesto Pasta – try gluten free corn noodles Plain popcorn – Add your own butter and salt Nacho chips & Mexican dip Plain rice crackers or chips Bean Medley salad  Feel free to send me an email with your own lunch box solutions that I can post on Facebook or on wholehealth4life.ca