Kids Lunch Box Ideas

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Why is a healthy lunch box important?

Children need a wide variety of foods to achieve a well balanced diet, which isn’t limited to only what they eat at home.  A healthy lunch when they are in school is important to keep their energy levels high and their mind alert during a busy school day.  Check out our lunch box menu ideas, you’ll find that packing a healthy lunch is easy! We leave you here with Kids Lunch Box Ideas for more tips!

Helga

Best Foods to Include in Children’s Lunch Boxes

Start off with something from the bread group, get your child involved and get them to help you choose the filling he or she prefers, which will make them likelier to eat what you send them.  Add some fruits and veggies they can snack on, and finish off with some dairy. Add a cereal bar if you child is very active.  Try to vary their lunch box daily so they don’t get bored.

• Fruit:  Fresh Fruit or Dried Fruit.
  • Tip: Pack fruit that is easy to eat, such as berries, melon balls or grapes.  You can also try a small container with mixed fruit salad.
• Vegetables:  Veggie sticks with some dressing  they can dip into, such as low fat ranch.   Small container of mixed veggies
• Dairy:   String cheese, cubed cheese, small cheese packages, and yogurt cups.  Small container of reduced fat milk beverage (long life type)
• Beads:  Whole grain sandwich bread, bagel, flour tortilla, English muffin, whole grain crackers, pita bread.
• Fillings:  Cheese, tuna, turkey ham, baked black beans, peanut butter, lettuce, avocado, tomato.
  • Tip: Place sliced tomato between meat, cheese or lettuce, not next to the bread. This will keep it from getting soggy.
  • Tip: If adding avocado, drizzle with a little lemon to prevent it from turning brown
• Cereal Bars: Low fat, high fiber breakfast bars or a small container with high fiber cereal they can snack on, or high fiber oatmeal cookies

What are the best beverages to include?

Water and reduced fat dairy beverage is best.  A small tetra pack of fruit juice is also good. You can freeze them, and by the time they get to it will have thawed and it keeps the rest of the food cold.

Keeping food safe to eat

Choose an insulated lunch box or one with a frozen pack or frozen bottle to keep food cool.
If you prepare their lunch the night before, keep it in the refrigerator. Perishable food such as meats, egg and dairy should be consumed more or less within 4 hours.

Sources: Nestle, Fresh for Kids, Parenting, Kraft Foods, Netmums, Martha Stewart.

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