How to Pack the Perfect School Lunch
When your kid opens their lunchbox, they're looking for a treat. We'll make sure that is what they find! What's inside their lunchbox can make their day. It's essential to ensure it covers all the food groups and provides energy. The brain needs adequate carbohydrates, fat, and protein to perform complex tasks like socializing and learning.
Presentation is also important; if the snacks and lunch look tasty, they're much more likely to get eaten. We've got a few tips and tricks to share that will have even a picky eater joining the clean plate club.
Picking the Perfect Lunchbox
The perfect school lunches require ideal lunch boxes to hold everything together. Not only does the lunch box store your child's food, but it can also be a fun decorative piece that makes them feel happy when they see it. To accommodate all children's preferences, we've got a variety of styles and patterns. We have solid color options for a more subdued look as well. So we've got you covered if your kid is currently obsessed with dinosaurs, mermaids, stars, butterflies, and more.
You want to keep perishable food cold enough for your child to eat before lunchtime. Packing a lunch can feel complicated, especially in a hot climate. We recommend two cooling sources: an ice pack and a frozen water bottle are perfect for keeping your kiddo's food at an appropriate temperature. Our lunchboxes are insulated, so they will do the extra work of maintaining coolness while storing the food.
Or, if you've packed a hot item like soup, a thermos is a great option for keeping it warm enough to be safe to eat by lunch. Many high-tech thermoses are well insulated and won't radiate heat out and affect the other food in the lunchbox, but it may be advantageous to store hot and cold food separately. In this case, the lunchbox can keep food cold, while the thermos can be stored in a second lunchbox or a separate bag in case there is any leakage. You wouldn't want anything spilling in your kids' backpacks and messing up their homework.
Make it Fun for Them to Eat!
Whatever is in your kid's lunchbox needs to be appealing. Some kids eat anything, but others, especially younger ones, may be harder to please. That's why we recommend cutting food into fun shapes or smaller bites. There are so many tools and cookie cutters available on the internet that you can make the food look like just about anything - flowers, animals, you name it. For example, if your child doesn't care for the crust on their sandwich, they might be more inclined to eat it if you've cut off the crust with a heart-shaped large-sized cookie cutter so that it is cute and exciting. Or, use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut fruit. Any melon is a good option for both nutrition, and it can be sliced and then easily shaped by the cookie cutter.
Another good option for picky eaters is to cut the food into smaller, bite-sized pieces, so they're less overwhelming. Bite-sized snacks are helpful for an active, easily distracted child. Your kid can pop them in their mouth without having to bite off pieces.
It can be helpful to pack a reusable napkin or wet wipes, so they don't wipe their hands on their school uniform. This way, hopefully, you can prevent them from walking around school with stains on your kids' tees and kids' jeans.
Meet Adequate Nutritional Requirements
Your kid must get everything they need for a successful day at school from their lunch. But also, sometimes children can be picky, and if there's leftover food in the box when your kid gets home from school, don't worry too much; you can make up for any lost nutrition in their next meal. We recommend covering at least three of the major food groups, but if you can do it, including all five food groups is a great way to ensure your kid is covered.
Your child's diet should be consistent at school and at home. If you pack a lunch different from what they're used to eating at home, they might be less inclined to eat. Introducing nutritious foods at home is an excellent way to start, so they are used to them and feel confident in eating them at school lunch when you're not there to support them. Here's an example lunch: hummus for protein, whole-grain crackers as a grain, carrots for a vegetable, tomato as a fruit, and cheese cubes for dairy.
Now that we've got you set to pack the perfect lunch for your child, don't forget to tuck in something special, like a note, to remind them of your love.