Packing Healthy Lunches
Parents have become busier and busier between work and PTA meetings, so many have started foregoing time-consuming activities like packing lunches. However, while giving your children lunch money may be a time saver, do you really think they're loading up a tray full of vegetables?
Sending your kids with homemade meals may seem a bit old school, but it's actually a great way to save money while instilling good eating habits. Plus, with a few helpful hints, you can send your children to school with nutritious meals that you can pre-make and put together in a matter of minutes.
The Importance of a Healthy Meal at School
As you'll learn in any class on cooking or nutrition, food is fuel for your body, and it's important to put quality goods in there. Carbs and fats might be part of a well-rounded diet, but you can't live your entire life off of cheese pizza - you need a solid mix of vitamins and nutrients from fruits and veggies. Lunch is especially important because it gets you through the afternoon; if you eat heavy, non-nutritious food mid-day, then you'll likely end up half-asleep at your desk.
However, as any parent knows, getting your young ones to eat well can be a difficult task - especially when they're free to pick from unhealthy options like fried chicken and brownies. Providing your kids with a delicious and nutritious lunch is, therefore, a great way to get them to eat mindfully without leering over their shoulders.
Tips for Packing Healthy Lunches
While you don't need to have formal training to put together a solid healthy lunch, a bit of knowledge goes a long way when preparing meals that are both nutritious and enjoyable.
- Keep it Simple
You don't have to go all-out to make a quality sack lunch. Simple dishes like hummus and pita, sandwiches, and sliced fruit will delight your kids for minimal effort.
- Learn What They Like
Finding out what your children like to eat is the key to packing nutritious meals that they won't toss in the trash. If your child loves ranch dressing, for example, you can pack them veggies with ranch dip - an easy and tasty option.
- Variety is the Spice of Life
If send your kid to class with a PB&J all the time, they're going to get bored quickly and start begging you for lunch money, but you also don't have the time to come up with new recipes 24/7. Find a few foods that you can rotate through over the week to keep meals interesting without losing your mind.
- Up Your Game With a Cooking Class
Cooking classes are a great way to expand your recipe book, and there are even many geared toward helping parents like you come up with better options. You'll also master handy techniques that will help you prepare your meals faster.
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