Packed lunches can seem boring to kids, so why not perk them up a bit by going a step further with what you send them off to school with? Here you’ll find a selection of different recipes and ideas to help you add variety to the lunchboxes.
Kids should look forward to opening their lunchboxes at school every day.
They shouldn’t be bored, or disappointed with what they’re given. While you can’t give into all your child’s demands because you’d end up giving them 15 chocolate bars for lunch, you can at least add some variety and excitement to their lunchtimes.
It’s easy to do, and can really make a difference to your child’s attitude to packed lunches. If it’s done right, they won’t be sitting at the table longing for pizza and chips, they’ll be showing off to their friends what amazing lunches they get to eat!
Although it might require a little extra effort on your part to prepare the food, it really is worth it, as it instills a positive attitude towards a packed lunch, rather than them being jealous of any of their friends who have school dinners. Making your child a healthy lunch doesn’t have to be boring, you don’t have to cut up 5 sticks of celery and give them a bottle of water, you can do just about anything.
What is also good about this method is that it can get your child or children involved with the preparation themselves. Ask them what food they like (reasonable, non-chocolatey answers please!) and add that to their lunchbox. It can be fun, and it will be so rewarding to see an empty lunchbox when they come home from school every day.
Here are a few tips to help you add spark to your child’s lunch!
Homemade ‘Lunchables’
While hugely popular, and not exactly massively unhealthy, Lunchables can be very easily replaced. They contain very basic ingredients, and are not the most well-made item in terms of nutritional value. Making your own version of these lunchables is surprisingly easy, and gives you an opportuntiy for your child or children to join in with making their packed lunches.
Here are some tips for your homemade Lunchable:
Take suggestions (reasonable ones!) from your kids. What do they like to eat at home? If elements of their favourite meals can be made into Lunchable-sized portions, then go for it. If they have a favourite sandwich, separate the ingredients in the lunchbox, and let them build their lunch themselves. It brightens up lunchtime and adds a bit of fun to the packed lunch.
Fruit is a great addition to any lunchbox, but it can be difficult to get kids to eat it. Try cutting it into shapes, or segments, to make it look more appealing. Sectioning the lunchbox off, like a Lunchable, sounds basic but it just adds a bit of variety and difference.
When it comes to dessert, don’t be afraid to give them a chocolate bar, but yoghurt is a fantastic option too. With so many varieties and flavours, your kids won’t get bored and you will always have a different option to choose from.
A bit of interactivity and creativity can work wonders!
For dessert, granola and yoghurt pots are a fantastic alternative to a chocolate bar. You can make your own, or you can buy them in pretty much any supermarket.
To make your own, all you need is:
• A box of granola (e.g. Jordan’s Crunch)
• Natural yoghurt, flavoured or plain
• A selection of fresh fruit (strawberries are the usual choice, but most fruits work well in this dessert)
• A small pot (size of a jam jar)
• A hungry child
These desserts are very easy to make. Chop up the fruit into easily manageable pieces. If your child has a favourite, use that, but don’t be afraid to use this to introduce your child to other fruits. Using multiple different fruits at a time is also a great idea.
Put the chopped fruit in the jar or pot first, then pour over the yoghurt. The fruit and yoghurt combined should fill about 3/4 of a pot. Natural yoghurt is great, but it can be a bit boring to kids, so perhaps try flavoured yoghurt when first introducing this dessert.
Once you’ve done that, put on the granola as a topping, then put a lid on the pot. Keep refrigerated until the morning, wrap in clingfilm to prevent any spillages and voila, your child has a ready made, tasty and healthy dessert!
The beauty of this dessert is that you can always change it up, so don’t be afraid to try new things, especially if it introduces your child or children to healthy desserts.
Frozen fruit is another great snack option, although it works best in Summer as a cool (literally) treat for lunch in the sun. It couldn’t be simpler to make, simply cut the fruit into snack size pieces, or shapes if you’re feeling a bit crazy, freeze them in the freezer (obviously), and you’re done! Put them in a tupperware box or sealable bag and you’ve got the perfect summer snack.
This does work all year round, it’s not just a snack for Summer, but for a bit of variety and to ensure your kids don’t get bored, keep switching around the fruits that you use, keeping it seasonal. It’s a great way to introduce your kids to new fruits, is one of the easiest snacks to make, and most of all, is very healthy. Once you’ve established your child(s) favourite fruits, use them more often to encourage a preference for fruit.
For an after school snack, add ice cream, because kids love ice cream!
There are so many different websites that are packed with these healthy lunch tips. A quick search of ‘healthy lunchbox ideas’ yields thousands of results, and there are some great ideas. Here are five of the best:
• http://www.netmums.com/family-food/food-for-kids/lunchbox-ideas
• http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/favourites/lunchbox/
• http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/prevention/tips-for-parents/healthy-lunchboxes.aspx
•http://health.marksandspencer.com/healthy-eating/healthy-eating-for-kids/healthy-lunch-box-ideas
One Comment
This blog post made me hungry!