It’s easy to get in a rut with our kids’ school lunches! Here are a few tips and lunch ideas to help you out!

• Think easy to eat and not messy
• Pack it the night before!
• Involve your children in the process
• Include fruits and vegetables
• Choose 100% whole grains and a variety of breads (pita, buns, wraps)
• Choose low-fat and low sugar products
• Keep hot food hot in a thermos and cold food cold with a mini cold pack to keep lunches safe
• Don’t forget napkins daily and forks and spoons when needed!

Lunch Ideas

• Sandwiches—meat & cheese, jelly, or egg, tuna, chicken salad
• Bagel & Cream Cheese—add cucumber slices
• Nachos & Salsa—include shredded cheese as well
• Pita & humus with a side of carrots
• Wraps filled with what your child likes (chicken salad, etc)
• Hot soup or chili in a thermos
• Pasta salad—try fun shaped and coloured pasta such as small shells, wagon wheels or ABCs.

Drinks

• Bottled Water
• 100% fruit juice boxes—look for no-sugar added
• Find out if your school has a milk program—take part!

Snacks

• Apples, grapes, bananas and orange slices
• Cut up kiwis, strawberries, watermelon and cantaloupe are a favourite treat!
• Cut cheese sticks
• Yogurt
• Carrots, celery, cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes keep well in the lunchbox
• Homemade rice krispies squares and cookies eliminate the preservatives found in store-bought
• Granola bars (peanut free for most schools!)
• Cheerios, dried fruit, pretzels, bag of popcorn, home made trail mix, baked chips, crackers
• Muffins, banana or carrot bread
• Fruit Salad or cups of no-sugar added apple/fruit sauces
• Yogurt covered raisins

– From the September 2007 issue of Mom’s Moments.  www.momsmoments.ca/pdfs