Packing lunches your children will eat doesn’t require a culinary degree or lots of time, just some planning and a little creativity.
Healthy Meals Your Kids Will Love
Busy parents who are successful getting their children to eat nutritiously are those who approach mealtime as great adventure -- one where there are exciting foods to discover and fun to be had! Also involve your children in meal preparation, and you’ll be surprised by their excitement, when it’s time to eat what they’ve made.
Here are some lunchbox ideas that are so delicious, it’s hard to believe they’re healthy!
| 1 |
Make sandwiches fun to eat by varying the bread.Try whole grain wraps, mini-bagels, English Muffins, pita pockets, strawberry or raisin bread and multi-grain rolls. |
| 2 |
Reinvent yesterday’s dinner…By putting meatballs into a pita pocket; turning leftover pasta into macaroni salad with vegetables; layering sliced grilled chicken breast on a bun with low-fat mayo, lettuce and tomato, or packing a slice of Raspberry Ham Fritatta. |
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Pack a Tupperware.For a colorful and healthy lunch try our Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad. It's great for busy parents as it can be packed and refrigerated in containers the night before. |
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Luncheon meat, tuna fish and egg salad are each great sources of protein.Just use reduced-fat mayo to lighten-up the sandwich. |
| 5 |
Add more nutrition…Make peanut butter sandwiches even more nutritious by adding sliced strawberries. |
| 6 |
Create lunch kabobs…By skewering cubes of cooked chicken, cheese, cooked russet potatoes and strawberries. Pack with a low-fat ranch dip. |
| 7 |
When the weather is chilly…Pour chicken noodle or broccoli cheese soup into a thermos and accompany with Healthy Blueberry Bran Muffin or Raspberry Orange Muffins. |