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Do you need ideas for school lunches? If you're packing a school lunch for your child, you want to make sure it's healthy, stays safe to eat until lunch time, and that your child will eat it. This page will help you learn how to make school lunches that your kids will enjoy, and that you will feel good about.
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Introduction
School cafeterias are required by law to serve well balanced meals. Not all students find them appealing, however, and the cost of buying lunch can quickly add up. There are numerous benefits to "brown bagging" it: you can include foods your child will enjoy, save money, and ensure they have a nutritious meal as well. -
Step 1: What Does Your Child Like to Eat?
Sit down with your child, or children, and compile a list of their favorite foods. Make sure that they list foods from each food group, including vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Your child will be more likely to eat heir lunch if they have had some input into its contents. Older children may want to help prepare their lunch, although you'll want to check to make sure that they are not just including 4 packages of Twinkies and nothing else. -
Step 2: School Lunch Nutrition
The USDA has developed guidelines for the National School Lunch program that you can use as a basis for planning what to include in your school lunches.http://ceplacer.ucdavis.edu/Custom_Program969/USDA_National_School_Lunch_Requirements.htm Each lunch needs to include:- 1 serving of meat or meat alternatives
- 2 oz lean meat, poultry, or fish
- 2 oz cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup cooked dry beans or peas
- 4 Tbs. peanut butter or other nut or seed butters
- 8 oz yogurt
- 1 serving of grains or breads
- 1 slice bread, or 1 biscuit, roll, or muffin
- 1 oz cold cereal
- ½ cup cooked cereal
- ½ cup cooked pasta
- 2 servings of fruits or vegetables
- 3/4 cup fruit or vegetable
- 3/4 cup fruit or vegetable juice
- 1 serving of milk
Step 3: School Lunch Tips
- Keep hot foods hot in a thermos and cold foods cold in insulated bags.
- Consider allowing your child to purchase milk, rather than send a beverage from home.
- Freeze juice boxes over night. They will work as an ice pack and thaw during the morning to be ready to drink with lunch.
- Be creative. Use cookie cutters to turn a sandwich into several mini-sandwiches in interesting shapes.
- Snacks such as trail mix, ants on a log, or cheese sticks can sneak extra nutrition into a school lunch.
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- 1 serving of meat or meat alternatives
