Healthy suggestions for packed lunches

It’s easy to get into a rut when preparing packed lunches.

My five-year-old brought this to my attention this week when she said (with hands on hips):

"PLEASE stop giving me ham sandwiches for lunch!"

Er, OK.

My usual lunch box repertoire includes a ham sandwich, an apple or grapes, and a Frube.

Poor girl.

To remedy this, I went in search of some ideas for healthy alternatives, and here are some of the things I found to put variety (and vitamins!) into your child's lunchbox.

• Cut fruit. Try apples, pears, melons or kiwi. You can squeeze a little lemon juice on apples and pears to keep them from turning brown.
• Cut fruit in jelly. If you were five, wouldn't you think this looked scrummy?
• Pasta salad.
• Sandwiches in different types of bread, such as rolls, bagels, or foccocia. If you really want to get creative try these.
• Fruit loaf with philly.
• Different types of wraps.
• Layered salad.
• Lunch kabobs: alternate cubes of cheese, chicken and cucumber on a stick.
• Ritz crackers with ham and cheese, or chicken and cheese.
• Peanut butter apples (unless your school has a "no nuts" policy).
• Make your own pizza -- half a bagel with tomato ketchup and shredded cheese in separate containers. Come to think of it, this is a stupid idea, it is a dinner lady nightmare. Try it at home instead.
• Snack mixes, such as pretzels, dried fruit, and nuts.
• Dips -- humus and breadsticks, carrots or other cut veg.
• Smoothies (the packaged kind).
• Pasta with tomato sauce (not ketchup!) Cook pasta the night before and mix with your favourite topping. Put into a plastic container.  Don't forget the fork.
• Pasta with anything else.  If you children prefer plain pasta or with a little butter or oil, again, quick and easy.  A little grated cheese on top can be popular.
• Tunafish salad.  Tuna with mayonaisse and celery is a favourite.  The children prefer it in a plastic container with a fork as it otherwise makes bread soggy in a sandwich.   
• Chicken or Pork Escalopes. Make extra for dinner, and have it cold for lunch or a snack. 
• Veggies, such as red peppers, green peppers, carrots, celery, etc. If you can occasionally cut the vegetables in different ways or shapes this can make the appeal factor significantly higher. 
• Toasted pine nuts, raisins, seed mixes, small nuts
• A slice of banana bread, muffin, biscuit or a cupcake (easy for the home baker, they get a treat and you get it out of the house).
• Cereal bars (Charlene would not approve, but they are slightly better than store bought biscuits). 

Some other tips:

• Small children don’t eat much – pack in smaller sizes (not a big sandwich and large banana)
• Pack something fun – a digestive biscuit wrapped in cellophane tied with a ribbon, a sticker, a note, a cool napkin.
• Make lunches the night before, and avoid morning rush hour

What's your best idea for healthy packed lunches? Leave a comment and let us know.

This post was written by Susanna and Charlene, London Mums Blog founding contributors. You can read more from Susanna at her blog, A Modern Mother.

Photo credit: biggie

Comments

[TooManyHats]

Lunch is the bane of my existence. Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

[Stacey]

I make yogurt and flavor it with different fruit and send along a small container of cocoa granola for topping.

[Ara]

Hehe... for a change you should always keep on thinking and experimenting of new and attractive lunch pack for your kids so that kids won't ignore it. What I mean is they won't feel that its boring to eat it because its the same taste. And if you like, try some cool and reliable food stacking container that can store different kinds of dishes without having to mix it all. Like stainless steel tiffin carrier from Happy Tiffin. You can use it when you have fun outside, picnics, campings, school activity and when traveling. It's pretty reliable.