Kid Lunch Box Ideas
- Choose foods your child enjoys.sandwiches image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
Packing your child's lunch can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be a chore. To ensure the lunch you prepare doesn't come back untouched, make sure it includes items your child likes. Equally important to food your child will eat is including healthy foods he enjoys. It's also fun to throw in a few surprises like a rare treat or love note from Mom or Dad. - Use cookie cutters for more than just cookies.heart cookie cutter image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
An easy way add a new twist on an old favorite is to use cookie cutters. Make your child's favorite sandwich, then use a cookie cutter to cut out fun shapes your child will enjoy. Save the scraps for your own lunch or send the frame for your child as a snack or as lunch on another day. Also, if your child doesn't like sandwich crusts, this is an easy way to solve that problem. - Another way to spice up a sandwich is to make it using a tortilla rather than bread. Choose a whole-wheat tortilla and add peanut butter and jelly, hummus and veggies, lunch meat and cheese or another sandwich favorite, and roll it up. Cut it in half, and package in foil or plastic wrap to help keep it rolled.
- Offer colorful options.vegetables image by cherie from Fotolia.com
Make vegetables more appealing by sending a dip along side them. You don't have to stick with just ranch or peanut butter, either. Try healthy, tasty options like hummus, guacamole, yogurt or marinara sauce. If you're tired of just carrots and celery, try other colorful vegetable options such as red, yellow or green peppers; cucumbers; broccoli; or cherry tomatoes. - Add occasional treats.chocolate cookie. image by Saskia Massink from Fotolia.com
Remember that just because it's a treat doesn't mean it can't be healthy. Fruit is a great option for a sweet treat. Take it up a notch by adding a dipping sauce like honey-flavored yogurt. Dried fruit such as raisins or apricots is a treat option that also provides fiber for your child. On occasion pack a treat such as a bite-sized candy bar, Jell-o or pudding pack, or a cookie. - Allowing your child to have input on grocery shopping and packing his lunch may not guarantee that his lunch box will come home empty, but it will definitely help. Getting your child involved in the shopping and packing experience will educate your child on healthy options and allow him to make choices about what goes in his lunch box. If choosing the entire meal seems overwhelming for your child, give him two options for each portion of the meal and let him decide.
