As a mom, and co-author of the book Better Food for Kids: Your Essential Guide to Nutrition for All Children from Age 2 to 10, finding easy ways for kids to eat well is a huge part of my life.
Now that summer's almost over, I'm thinking about my kids going back to school. For kids, back to school means no more late night movies or sleepovers mid week, and back to early morning rises. For parents- OK, usually moms- it means finding the right combo of snacks and lunch that will actually make it into their children's growing bodies, and not back on the kitchen counter.
I'm keeping in mind my kids are getting older- now 11 and 10 years - and that their choices of foods may be changing, and expanding. I've got some time yet before I have to have the fridge/freezer and cupboards stocked up with the essentials for lunch bags and quick snacks.
Here are some of my lunch ideas that have worked this summer while the kids were at day camps, and that didn't return untouched last school year.
 Turkey, cheese and avocado sandwiches on whole grain bread
parmesan quinoa
whole eggs with fresh bread on the side
tuna melt wraps- prepared in the morning and kept hot in the thermos
homemade roasted vegetable soup or black bean soup
leftovers that included BBQ chicken leg, steak and potatoes
thin crust pizzas (cut in bite size pieces)
left over linguine with home made meat sauce.
Snacks of fresh fruit and berries, and cut up carrots, cucumbers and peppers are always a hit. The extra trip to the local market is essential in order to have freshest produce for the whole family.
I love to hear what foods other kids bring for lunch and stay open to new ideas and suggestions that the kids may have. I will make sure that they start preparing at least one lunch a week- hoping that they pick the foods that will get them through their day.
Keeping it green is important philosophy at most schools and homes these days. That means green lunches- packing an eco friendly lunch means no more baggies or plastic wraps. I use reusable containers which can be used to store sandwiches and snack foods. Stainless steel thermoses are a must for hot lunch items like soups and leftover dinner dishes. The stainless steel cutlery is still holding out that I bought on sale at a grocery store last year, and amazingly, none were lost during the school year.
My plan is to have all school bags, new shoes and rain boots bought before that September day. One new lunch bag will be purchased- somehow it went missing over the summer. While I may suggest a no return policy to my kids, I realize that some lunch breaks are far too short, and talking can become much more exciting than eating. Still, I'm hopeful for the empty lunch bag at the end of the day, and being greeted with “great lunch mom, thanks”!
Most parents understand the importance of providing their children with nutritious, well-balanced meals, yet they sometimes need help and guidance in order to prepare healthy dishes when their children are between the critical ages of two and ten years old. In these early years children can develop the positive attitudes toward good nutrition that will allow them to lead to a healthy lifestyle as adults.
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This new edition of Better Food for Kids: Your Essential Guide to Nutrition for All Children from Age 2 to 10 features both professional advice and delicious recipes that are thoroughly tested and analyzed, this guide is a comprehensive resource for parents.
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