Back to school means back to early mornings, homework time, and lunch packing. The school year is a busy time for parents and kids, which can lead to stress and feeling short on time. While it may be easier to have your kids grab a slice of pizza in the school cafeteria, it’s important to carve out a few minutes to put together a wholesome lunch for your kids – and yourself!
Make lunch packing a family activity. Have kids accompany you to the grocery store and choose items they’d like to try. At home, let them help pack their lunches. By having kids be the helpers, they will be more likely to eat what’s in their lunchbox. Have them pick the grain, veggie, fruit and protein. Add in white, low-fat milk, water, or seltzer water to drink. Bon appetite! A yummy, healthy lunch is ready to go!
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Ideas for Healthy Lunches
Make lunch fun this school year by trying a few of these cool lunch combos:
Main dish: Tortilla wrap filled with hummus, deli meat, tofu and veggies.
Sides: Fresh fruit, string cheese and veggies
Main dish: Tortilla wrap with nut butter (try almond or cashew) and sliced fruit (bananas, strawberries, etc.)
Sides: Raw veggies (carrot sticks, sliced peppers, cucumber)
Main dish: Make-your-own Lunchable! Combine whole grain crackers, sliced cheese and deli meat
Sides: Raw veggies with a dip, watermelon or strawberries
Main dish: Make-your-own sandwich. Have kids pick the protein (nut butter, hummus, deli meat, rotisserie chicken) and the toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado).
Sides: Celery and low-fat cream cheese and fresh fruit
Main dish: Tortellini salad with chopped veggies (tomato, zucchini, green pepper)
Sides: Edamame, apple slices, fruit leather, and string cheese
Main dish: Soup in a thermos
Sides: Raw veggies and dip, fruit salad, and whole grain crackers
Main dish: Quesadillas with rotisserie chicken or pulled pork and cheese
Sides: Raw veggies and melon balls
Main dish: Nacho day! Stack whole grain tortilla chips with salsa, shredded cheese, black beans, olives, and shredded lettuce
Sides: Fresh fruit and carrot sticks
You can also celebrate special holidays by incorporating themes with lunch. For Valentine’s Day, use red lunch items such as fresh red pepper strips, tomato slices, red apple slices, or strawberries. On Halloween, don’t pack lots of candy. Instead, wrap deli meat around string cheese for mummy bites. Or add black and orange treats like black olives or roasted yams.
Make sandwiches fun by utilizing different shapes and sizes of cookie cutters, or switch them up by using mini pita bread.
Store your goodies in reusable plastic Tupperware, and carry it all in a colorful, insulated lunch bag.
Packing lunch won’t feel like such a chore. By working together with your kids, you’ll be making healthy choices and happy memories!
About UPMC
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, UPMC is a world-renowned health care provider and insurer. We operate 40 hospitals and 800 doctors’ offices and outpatient centers, with locations throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, and internationally. We employ 4,900 physicians, and we are leaders in clinical care, groundbreaking research, and treatment breakthroughs. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as one of the nation’s best hospitals in many specialties and ranks UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh on its Honor Roll of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals. We are dedicated to providing Life Changing Medicine to our communities.