Ideas About What To Put Into Your Kids Lunch

1. Sandwiches:

• Peanut butter and jelly (if your school allows it)

• Turkey and cheese

• Ham and Swiss

• Veggie and hummus

• Tuna salad

• Chicken salad

1. Wraps:

• Turkey and avocado

• Veggie and cream cheese

• Chicken Caesar

• BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato)

1. Quesadillas:

• Cheese and black bean

• Chicken and cheese

• Spinach and cheese

• Ham and cheese

1. Pasta Salad:

• Pasta with veggies (e.g., bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes)

• Pasta with chicken or tuna

• Pasta with pesto or marinara sauce

1. Sushi Rolls:

• California rolls (avocado, cucumber, crab stick)

• Veggie rolls (cucumber, carrot, avocado)

• Teriyaki chicken rolls

1. Mini Pizzas:

• English muffin pizzas

• Pita bread pizzas

• Tortilla pizzas

1. Homemade Lunchables:

• Crackers, cheese slices, and turkey or ham

• Crackers, hummus, and sliced veggies

• Crackers, pepperoni slices, and cheese cubes

• Nachos and a side of salsa

1. Healthy Snacks:

• Fresh fruit (e.g., apple slices, grapes, berries, orange segments)

• Veggie sticks (e.g., carrots, celery, bell peppers) with dip

• Yogurt cups or pouches

• Cheese sticks or cheese cubes

• Trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit

• Whole grain crackers or rice cakes

• Salad and dressing

1. Dips and Spreads:

• Hummus with pita chips or veggie sticks

• Guacamole with tortilla chips or veggie sticks

• Nut butter with apple slices or crackers

• Greek yogurt with fruit or granola

1. Treats:

• Homemade muffins or mini cupcakes

• Granola bars or energy balls

• Dark chocolate squares

• Fruit leather or dried fruit

• Popcorn or pretzels

1. Drinks:

• Water bottles or reusable water bottles

• 100% fruit juice boxes or pouches

• Milk boxes or cartons (dairy or non-dairy)

• Flavored milk straws for adding flavor to plain milk
  

Remember to consider your child's preferences and any dietary restrictions when packing their lunch. Packing a variety of colorful and nutritious options ensures they have a balanced and enjoyable meal to fuel their day.

Don't feel like you have to do this alone. If they are old enough to go to school, they are old enough to take on some of the responsibility in packing the lunch. (I usually make the sandwhich portion or get one of the older kids to when they are bored)

We have always had an organized system for school lunches. Right now we have two big cupboards underneath our kitchen island, in the past we used an ikea drawer system. You can separate different drawers or containers with items. Example: granola bars, fruit cups, puddings, crackers, juice boxes, random snacks, etc. Our kids know they need several items in their lunches each day and because they make their own lunches, I give a little inspection before they go to school. They need the main item (sandwhich or nachos and dip or a wrap, etc.) Then a drink (juice box and /or water bottle), a bread or cracker item, a fruit, sometimes a vegetable, a snack, etc. I count the items and it should be between 6-8 items. I would rather they bring items home uneaten (not allowed to be the main item) than have them complain that they are hungry.

In the past I have had teachers comment on the lunches I send (they may be looking) and I have had my kids tell the teacher they are hungry and take some of the teachers lunch! The time my foster kid told the teacher they were hungry, they had several items in their lunch they ignored. I think I am especially diligent with the lunches to protect myself because that is all it takes for a teacher to call their social worker and tell them that a foster child said they were hungry. I have even taken photos of their lunches at times before school because one of the foster kids ate the whole lunch at first break and then complained to the teacher that they had no lunch and they were hungry. It could be a serious issue, so we really try to pack that lunch with lots of nutritious foods and snacks.

We have a bucket for lunch bags/boxes, a bucket for water bottles, a container of straws and plastic/wooden utensils. The more organized and stocked up you are, the more independent the kids can be. The lunch snacks are for school and not for home. That is another thing for another post...