School days are packed with hours of learning and fun. I need to make sure that my boys are properly fed, allowing them to have ample energy to last the eight or so hours. Filling them with preservative-filled, unhealthy food options will only end in sugar highs and lows and eventual end-of-day slumps. I can’t let that happen!
I try to get my kids involved in the lunch and snack process every step of the way, from picking out their lunch bags to guiding them as to what to eat and drink, all the way to helping me prepare their lunches. They in turn feel accomplished and proud that they are doing something good for themselves and making proper choices.
HEALTHY BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCH AND SNACK IDEAS
Check out my latest segment with WPBF 25! (Please disregard the wrong name – that was a station boo-boo)
DRINKS
If my youngest could have his way, he’d pack soda in his lunch bag. Considering that would never happen, I was on the lookout for an alternative. He does like water so I always send him off to school with a reusable water bottle but I wanted to find something with flavor to go along with his lunch. La Croix’s Curate fits the bill perfectly. It’s carbonated (or as he says “It’s bubble water”) and it comes in some great flavors! It’s also caffeine-free, sugar free, gluten-free, and has no calories and no carbs.
SNACKS
I am all for fresh cut fruit and veggies. I keep a bowl of blueberries and cut strawberries in the fridge for easy snacking during the day. Baggies of apple slices are almost always tossed in the lunch bags along with carrot sticks (and ranch dressing as a dip). When they want something crunchy, I pack them Way Better tortilla chips. They are non-GMO and gluten-free and taste great! I love the nacho cheese, my hubby prefers the Sriracha, whereas the boys lean toward the sweet potato or blue corn.
LUNCH
I like getting the boys involved in food shopping for their lunches as well as preparation. The easiest, and most popular choice are our pinwheel wraps.
YOU WILL NEED:
- Wrap – we like to switch between corn, roasted tomato or spinach. They add flavor and also give the wrap some nice color too!
- Deli meats and cheese – I prefer to use Applegate’s Naturals turkey, ham and american cheese. You can choose whichever type your kids will eat and can mix and match to make the wraps different each time!
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Some type of a spread – whether it is mustard, mayo or even ranch (my oldest puts ranch on just about everything)
EASY AS 1-2-3-4
- Lay the wrap down on a plate
- Spread a layer of the mustard or mayo
- Layer the deli meat(s), cheese, lettuce and tomato.
- Tightly roll the wrap up then cut in slices for easy eating.
LUNCH BOXES/BAGS
One thing I have noticed over the years is that Americans’ portion sizes are out of control. Case in point – when I was in Hong Kong we went to Din Tai Fung for the most delicious soup dumplings. The order included 6 dumplings. When I was in Los Angeles I found out that there was a Din Tai Fung there so I had to go! The amount of dumplings in one portion was 10! I’m not complaining because they were so delicious but still…if they are on my plate I am more tempted to eat them (and usually do).
Back to school lunches – if it were up to my sons, they would have snacks galore in their lunch bags. Yumbox is great for that very reason. These BPA-free lunch boxes are compartmentalized to allow for a variety of food BUT they are well portioned compartments. Also, you don’t have to worry about your carrots falling into your grapes and visa versa – they all stay put. Put the Yumbox into a lunch bag with an ice pack and your kid is good to go!
What do your kids like to eat for lunch? Do you have any fun and healthy snack ideas that you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them!
Susan says
So informative and very healthy. Thank you.
Dana says
My pleasure Mama xoxoxox
Pam says
My daughter loves LaCroix waters. The Applegate lunch meat is really good, too, and I don’t even really like lunchmeat!
Dana says
Applegate’s lunch meats taste great – not like some of the other brands out there. Glad that your daughter loves LaCroix – my favorite is the lime!
Deanna says
Great ideas! And not just for school, even working from home I try to make my lunch up so I can just grab it and eat whenever!
Dana says
Thanks Deanna! I’m glad these pointers can help our you lunch menu as well!
Jeanette says
I love what you have to pack the lunch and my son would love that too! I make him pack his own lunch now but I always make sure he has healthy food in there.
Samantha says
Great tips, I want to try La Croix soon!
Dana says
Samantha, thank you and definitely try La Croix. They have flavors for everyone.
Andrea Bai McCann says
I love all of these tips! I need to pick up some of the different flavor wraps to switch up his sandwiches. We love to get our lunch meat from Costco and slice it up ourselves. The best turkey!
Dana says
You slice your own lunch meat? I love that!! What lunch meats from Costco do you get? I’d like to try that out.
Angela Harris says
Thank you for this. I have been looking and searching many new ideas for healthy back to lunches.
Dana says
I am so glad I could be of help Angela!
Heather Lawrence says
I need to pick up about three of those yumboxes for my kids. The school they are at doesn’t want the kids to make any extra garbage so these would be perfect. I would also like to get my hands on those sweet potato chips too… Yummy!!
Dana says
Heather, the Yumboxes are awesome. You fill them up with whatever food you’d like, and then place them inside a lunchbox with an ice pack and you’re good to go. Oh, and those sweet potato chips are the BEST!
Christine says
These are really good ideas. I especially love the tortilla brands as a great alternative to chips. And the pinwheel idea is brilliant.
Dana says
Thanks Christine! The pinwheels are fun and the kids actually eat them so it’s 2 points for me!!
Sarah says
I don’t have any kids so no back to school here but I can see how this would be super helpful for parents everywhere. Glad you shared these ideas, I may make some just for myself 😉
Dana says
You should totally make some pinwheels for yourself Sarah! I make them for my lunches 🙂
Katrina | TOTSFamily.com says
Such great snack ideas. I need to get better at packing great snacks in my daughters lunch and not just a granola bar.
Dana says
Granola bars are a great snack option too! Try the Way Better chips – they also have crackers. Aside from tasting great, they are super healthy in comparison to other options out there.
Greta says
I’d love this lunch if I was in school!
Greta | http://www.gretahollar.com
Dana says
You can make it for work too 😉
Jeanine says
I love back to school time and making lunches. I love taking the time at night to be creative with my kids lunches and do fun stuff for them. Their lunches are never boring. these are great!
Dana says
Thanks Jeanine! I love that you take the time to make the lunches with your kids – it teaches them and it’s great quality time together.
Francisca Ramos says
Your back-to-school food options are great. I like the foods you chose for healthy eating. Kids should eat healthy. I agree there are a lot of food and drinks that contain to much sugar. To much sugar isn’t good. Thanks for sharing your tips.
Dana says
I am so glad you like the tips and choices Francisca! I think the hardest thing for us was finding the low-in-sugar or no sugar drinks. We’re loving La Croix 🙂
Amy @ Marvelous Mommy says
I love pinwheels with turkey and cheese. Those are perfect for a lunch box!
Dana says
Thanks Amy – they are a favorite in this household too. (Ham and cheese too!)
Jenn | Drink Coffee & Prosper says
Great ideas. The La Croix waters look so tasty. Definitely gonna bookmark!
Dana says
Thanks Jenn!
Ave says
I wish Yumbox would be available in Spain too! My daughter loves pinwheels too. We also add fresh fruit and some nuts to her lunch box. Have to check out La Croix’s Curate, it sounds like a great way to substitute the plain water.
Dana says
Ave, I wish they had them in Spain too! Nuts is a great addition to the lunchbox – I need to add those to the rotation. The curate flavors are a hit with my boys – they love their “bubble water” 🙂
alexandria says
My daughter thanked me the other day for making her lunches so cute! My daughter can’t even bring any treats like a cookie so it’s definitely all healthy.
Dana says
Same with my youngest son’s school – no junk food, only healthy choices.
Nicole Etolen says
Oh, great selections! I will consider these for my son.
Dana says
Great Nicole – I hope he likes them too!
Fatima says
I love including the boys in everything that we do, and they seem to be interested as well 🙂 The Yumbox looks like the perfect container for our lunches and even for family trips.
Dana says
Tima, the Yumbox is so practical and it’s super cute too!
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
My daughter would have loved that lunchbox. Everything you packed are healthy and delicious
Olivia says
The pinwheels look delicious! Such a great alternative to a typical wrap and perfect for snacking! Thanks so much for the inspiration.
xo Olivia | http://oliviadipede.com
Dana says
Thanks and I am so glad you liked the pinwheel idea, Olivia!
Fatima says
We’re always looking for healthier alternatives to snacks and lunchtime. Our boys have picked fruits and yogurt over candy and ice cream. It always warms my heart thinking about that. Haha!
Fatima
Publisher | Motherhood Through My Eyes
http://motherhoodthroughmyeyes.com
Dana says
Fatima, that is amazing that your boys willingly choose the fruit and yogurt – great parenting!!!!!
Brianna Leigh says
wraps are such an easy lunch! I love bringing them
Dana says
I agree Brianna! You can make so many different versions of wraps too, so they never get boring!
Taty Pradilla says
These are really great tips. At my kid’s school they can’t have anything carbonated which kinda sucks because they both love sparkling water.
Dana says
Taty, I’ve heard about schools not allowing the carbonated drinks…do you happen to know why?
Kat Balog says
Sweet potato chips? omg yum! We also do wraps often for our kid’s lunches and lots of fruit. I feel pretty lucky that my kids love fruit and veggies and salad so I can send them healthy stuff to eat for lunch.
Dana says
I agree with you Kat! I think it is awesome that your kids love the fruit and veggie snacks!
brianna george says
My older son like la croix, but unfortunately they are not allowed to bring any kind of carbonated drinks to school. I do love your healthy lunch ideas — My boys love pinwheels and fresh fruit in their lunches.
Dana says
Brianna, that’s interesting that the school doesn’t permit carbonated drinks. I’ve heard of that before too. I am so glad you love my ideas!!
aly mashrah says
I am so excited to be packing my son’s lunch this year and these ideas are great! I can’t wait to see how he likes them. I am a huge fan of tortilla chips, too.
Dana says
Thanks Aly! I’m sure he’ll like his lunches as they will be made with love 🙂
Kendall says
These are all such great ideas! Making wraps is so quick and easy; and these look amazing! Definitely need to try these out this year!
Lorrie Roa says
Love these ideas! What a wealth of yummy, healthy lunch-box ideas! Now I have no excuse to say what’s for lunch? All I need to do is revisit this helpful post for a spark of inspiration. Those are absolutely wonderful ideas for school lunches and for all others as well! Such healthy, appetizing and fun ideas in a beautiful and creative presentation! Thank you for your inspiration!