Whether you're looking to prepare school lunches to save money, or control what your child consumes while at school, you want to make sure that the foods you include are nutritious as well as tasty. This page will help you learn how to pack school lunches that your kids will actually eat, rather than trade or throw out.
Introduction
- Although school cafeterias are required to serve nutritious balanced meals, children frequently toss the vegetables and eat the starches. As a child hits middle school, the portions may be too small, so they wind up buying two lunches, sometimes paying up to $6 a day. Sending a lunch from home can save money and provide a good meal for your child.
Step 1: Supplies Needed for School Lunches
- There are a few supplies you'll need to keep on hand to send lunch from home with your child.
- Insulated lunch box or cloth bag
- Disposable bags for field trip lunches
- Short thermos for soups, stew and other hot foods
- Drink thermos
- Plastic bags
- Assorted small containers
- Ice packs
- Napkins
Step 2: School Lunch Tips
Work with your child to develop a list of foods they will eat.
Freeze juice boxes over night. They will work as an ice pack to keep the rest of the food cold until lunch time.
Include a short note to your child with the lunch. A quick "hope you're having a good day" or "good luck on the science test this afternoon" will let them know you're thinking of them.
Use cookie cutters to turn a sandwich into several mini-sandwiches.
Snacks such as trail mix, peanut balls, or apples stuffed with peanut butter and raisins can sneak extra nutrition into a school lunch.
Step 3: School Lunch Recipes and Ideas
FamilyFun: School Lunches and Snacks
Amazing Moms: School Lunch Recipes
Kaboose: Easy Lunch Recipes for School
In a Vegetarian Kitchen: School Lunch Recipes and Tips
