Got any for me? ‘Cause I’m dyin here. No I don’t want my kids buying school lunch every day because I think I can do better, but then, I realize just how dang hard it is to do better! Back in my own bagel days I thought it was perfectly fine to pack a bagel with cream cheese one day and butter the next, and, <– see look, variety! I had no pangs of guilt over that but now that I’m trying to go toward the paleo-ish route with all their meals, packing a different type of nitrate free deli meat everyday seems like way-overkill. And the fruit and veggies? Carrots, cucumbers, or peppers, grapes, strawberries and bananas seem repetitive. I’m already in a school lunch rut and I’ve only packed lunch 3 times.
You know you are deep in mommy-land when you lose even a little sleep over “what to pack for lunch.”
I know there are bigger things to worry about, but this one is up there, and it never goes away! This year I’ve set myself up to pack lunch for 3 kids 4 times a week. And the fifth day everyone’s having pizza so there’s extra pressure to make the from-home lunches healthy. So here comes a brainstorm, or rather, tips on how to pack healthy school lunches that maybe might will get eaten, at least by someone at your kids’ school if not by them personally.
1. The rule of 3 things:
Focus on 3 things in each lunch – I focus on 3 different foods that each are primarily carbs, fat, or protein. As long as the carb isn’t chips, the protein isn’t in powder form, and the fat isn’t cheesecake, you’re on your way to a good meal.
2. Have them pick the fruits/veggies at the store:
My pickiest daughter likes to feel in control of her life (don’t we all?) and she feels a great deal of loyalty toward any food she personally chose at the store. Just make sure you stick to the produce section, or hit up a farmers market in nicer weather, to ensure a healthy pick. And no pangs of guilt if they keep picking and eating the same ones every week – you’ve found a winner.
3. Think Dip:
If a dip can function as one of the 3 things, like hummus, mayo or guacamole (my kids wouldn’t do guac, but I wish someone would make it for me) that makes it a bit more likely that it might get eaten. This works best with cut raw veggies, but also with sliced or cubed deli meat and hard boiled eggs. Or even if they eat it with their finger, a spoon, a fork, does any of it matter if it gets eaten?
4. Give them the leftovers:
Just like you shove leftovers at your husband before he heads out, you can do this with your kids too. This one is only a good tip if they liked the meal the first time around. I’m all for repeating things that work for me, so if my kids like a particular dinner, it will show up in their lunch at some point too. Meatballs are a winner here.
5. Get an ice pack:
If you don’t already have something to keep their lunch cool, definitely do this – it expands the list of items you can send in their lunch that will survive and thrive. Plus, it makes their lunch look more appetizing when the cheese stick doesn’t go the glue route.
6. Make some stuff on Sunday:
Make time on Sunday to make bigger batches of foods you can send with them all week. Chicken salad, egg salad (or a bunch of hard boiled eggs) or tuna salad, a healthy muffin, cookie or pancake recipe (store in the fridge and pack in their lunch), and cut up veggies and fruit ahead of time.
7. Ask them everyday what they did and didn’t like:
This seems a little obvious, but I used to forget to do this, and, if whatever is unfinished or uneaten is getting thrown out, you’re not getting the info you need on what’s working. This way you will also know right away when they get sick of a favorite food. One of the first kid truths I learned is that they get sick of their favorites faster than you can scream “BUT YOU LOVED THAT YESTERDAY!”
8. Roll up your protein!
Kids seem to like meat and cheese in roll form, because it’s just more fun! Generally though, consider shapes when it comes to kids. If it’s something they wouldn’t normally even take a bit of, a fun shape just might convince them to take that first bite.
9. Not too many choices:
If they open their lunch and there are 5 things to eat, even if the portions are small they’ll feel overwhelmed and eat less overall. Stick to just 3 things (and one can be a dip) or even 2 if it’s something they love and the portion is big. My oldest will often eat chicken salad and carrot sticks or hot dog bites and strawberries and feel fine with that.
10. Stick to go-to’s over variety:
If your kids are happy eating almost the same things every day for lunch, let them do it. If they are healthy foods, there’s no need to switch it up. Most adults tend to eat similar stuff for lunch everyday (have you seen my insta?) so kids should stick to the tried and true if they’re inclined as well. You can always mix up their snacks and dinners so they don’t eat a 2 lbs bag of grapes on the daily.
Now go on, stop procrastinating and pack the lunches already! I’ll still be here when you’re done, promise.
Does packing your kids’ lunches stress you out? Have more tips to share or favorite foods to pack?Put it all in the comments!
Looooveee it! I’m definitely sharing this on facebook and pinning 🙂 My son is still at home, but I am constantly dreading the future when he will be eating food with other kids and families. He likes healthy foods now, but really, once he sees other kiddos eating white bread sandwiches for all meals, pizza and french fries, I’m not sure that my paleo alternatives will be able to compete.
I really like the idea of having the kids pick out produce at the store. We go to the market as much as possible, and even though my son is only two, he definitely loves helping to pick out our fruits and veg, and then actually eats it … before I’ve even had a chance to finish paying, he’s already peeling a banana or munching on some berries.
I think these are great tips in general for feeding kiddos healthy meals 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, glad you liked this and thanks for sharing! My kids definitely don’t eat paleo on playdates, at parties, etc and I don’t pressure them to, but it just makes me want to be a bit more careful when I do have control over what they eat. Dinner is the easiest there but a healthy lunch helps too.
We do the same here…make 4 days and buy 5 days. I let them buy an extra day a month IF they don’t give me a hard time about daily lunches.
I also agree and do all of your tips. Now my 9 year old likes to pack his own lunch and he is doing a great job – fruit, veg, carb, protein, fat.
That’s awesome that he can pack his lunch! Something to consider for next year with my oldest. Must be a great feeling to see your child making healthy food choices 🙂
Seems like you have it pretty well figured out–what are you asking our help for!? I never had to pack my lunch for school, but when we went to day camp, it was very much a similar idea–main, side, fruit, drink, and that was great for us and it is something that has stuck with me through the years!
Haha like a lot of things in my life, the appearances don’t always reflect the stress that goes into it! Packing lunches has gotten easier, but it’s still tough trying to give three kids with varying tastes healthy stuff everyday. All my tips I’ve come to the hard way 🙂
We packed lunches (and by ‘we’ I do mean both of us at this point, though before we moved to NY my commute meant me leaving before everyone was awake) … but by the time they hit high school it didn’t make sense anymore. They now have four choices including sandwiches, salad bad and two hot entrees.
But this weekend with their 13 hour marching band day, they had to pack two full meals, drinks and snacks (and we still gave them $5 each) and it was a reminder of the challenges! They each ended up with some leftovers,fruit, carrots, sandwich, crackers, and a pre-pack dessert. A couple of water bottles and a soda to round it out. Perfect? Not really … but it works. 🙂
Packing food is a mine-field. Because the thing to remember? What is packed is NOT necessarily what is eaten. There is always swapping that goes on, and if you make them nervous (we eat paleo now) then they will often not tell you. I remember a kid who had no sweets of any type allowed at home, whenever there was an event where juice or cake or cookies were served … he was out of control. The parents never said anything explicit, but he told us that he ‘wasn’t supposed to’ … oh dear. We knew from then on out to keep an eye.
Good luck with the lunch packing! I confess I am much happier just adding to their account every month at this point! 🙂
I am thinking in a couple of years my girls at least will be able to do their own lunches 🙂 I agree with you about avoiding food “rules” like “no sweets” and so far my kids have no qualms accepting snacks at playdates and parties, but they also genuinely enjoy healthy stuff like fruit, veggies, and meat. Also full-fat dairy is still a big part of their diets (the two younger) so that opens up the option of yogurt and cheese. I definitely think by high school they will be in charge of their own food!
I need an ice pack more than anything! However they are so heavy 🙁 Conflicted.
They are heavy and I avoided for a while but since I pack dairy often it’s worth it.
Great tips! I have a hard time figuring out what to make myself for lunch so I couldn’t imagine planning for kids’ lunches. I know that what I like might change from day to day, too! But leftovers are a great option for lunch…and I have started to figure out some ways to be more creative with leftovers!
I am big on leftovers! Although lately we haven’t had a lot since everyone’s been eating more. But whether it’s putting them in breakfast, reheating with lunch or eating as a snack (what I do) it’s nice to put them to good use 🙂
These are great tips for adults, too! 🙂 I remember packing my lunch as a kid, I loved the feeling of being all grown up! For some reason I was obsessed with making a carrot/raisin salad EVERY single day for years. I would get up, shred a carrot, throw a certain number of raisins in, and take this mixture in my little bowl. I also took plain turkey meat, and a juice box. I ate that all throughout junior high, so weird! But it was heaven compared to bringing what my great-grandmother made for me before that all during elementary school – home made Chinese food… um, not so great when you’re a kid, lol.
Homemade Chinese food, interesting and sounds yummy but probably not great kid food! Can’t wait till my kids take over their own lunch packing 🙂
Yep, this is a big deal at my house. My kids are little and can be picky in their own ways. At this point, most fruits and veggies would go un-eaten, but I do try to pack at least one, plus a snack and something sweet, in addition to the sandwich or whatever they’re getting as the main part of lunch. Need to work on this, for sure.
It’s tough – I used to just want them to eat – no matter what it was – and put too many prepackaged snacks in their lunch. But with all the snacks they get outside of what I give them, it adds up so I try to just stick to healthy basics, and, if they don’t eat it I figure they’ll be hungry enough to eat something healthy later on. I’ve had to be really deliberate and consistent with it.
it totally is about finger food and rolling up the protein. I agree! but not gonna lie, i loved pizza day! haha
So true! I wouldn’t deprive them of pizza and ice cream day!
These are great tips for kids or adults! I grew up living on bagels and cream cheese for lunches too. Not so healthy!
True it does work for us grow ups! And much better for us than hitting a drive through 🙂
Great tips! I actually hate packing lunches for my husband and I. HATE IT…I don’t know why…but you’re right, I. DO pack just about the same things every day! It’s just easier when you think of what to pack bc you have the go to stuff!! And yes it stresses me out. Goood lord, whatever will I do when I have babies?! LOL!!!
Hey if you know you like it and you’ll eat it that’s good enough right? You’ll be a great mom for sure, I could totally see you putting cute notes in the lunch boxes too 🙂
True true true!
Not gonna lie—I sometimes put notes in my husbands lunch box…I admit it…:)
Even though I have no kids to pack school lunches I am always packing lunches for myself for work since I travel all the time. Always try to make things healthy.
Packing for ourselves can be a challenge too! But so much better than grabbing fast food 🙂
I like how you suggested to roll up their meat because kids like to eat these things in roll form. I pack a lunch for my son every day and wanted to give him a more healthy variety. Thanks for the tips on packing healthy school lunches.
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Hello. I am very grateful to you for such valuable advice. I admit, when I was in school, my lunches were not the healthiest. Now I want to switch to a healthy diet. True, I have so many written assignments that I do not have time to do anything. The fact is that writing assignments are not easy for me. That is why I often use assignment help https://www.brillassignment.co.uk/ Initially, this company attracted me because they offer a discount on the first order. It’s cool because I can save money. But the main thing is that these are writers with work experience, higher education and brilliant writing skills. I have repeatedly convinced of their professionalism.
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