Back-to-school is right around the corner, and I recommend packing a lunch and both a mid-morning and an afternoon snack for your child to have throughout the day. Many parents hear this and think: “What in the world do I pack in my child’s lunch each day that is quick and easy, without packing the same thing every day?” I know this may seem daunting (and repetitive!) but don’t worry, I have lots of yummy and healthy ideas to add variety to your child’s week!
Here are some specific, simple, “real food” solutions that can get you out of your PB&J rut:
- Add a raw fruit and a vegetable, like a cut melon and carrots
- Chicken or shrimp salad
- Cut-up vegetables with hummus or guacamole
- Cut-up fresh fruit—rotate through seasons
- Mixed berry puree
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Pinwheels made of either turkey and cheese or roast beef and cheese
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Nut and seed trail mix
- Almond bread, Ezekiel bread (for gluten free) or 100% whole grain bread sandwiches made of peanut or almond butter with sliced strawberries or roast beef, turkey, or chicken with hummus or guacamole, cheese, and pickles
- String cheese
Ideal snacks start with a fresh fruit and vegetable and could include:
- Celery or an apple with peanut butter
- Smoothies with fruit, chia seeds, protein powder, and unsweetened almond milk, plain yogurt, and/or coconut water
- Nut and seed trail mix
- Sliced fruit with plain yogurt—you can sweeten the yogurt with unsweetened applesauce and nuts
- Cut-up vegetables, like carrots, celery, or other crispy veggies, with healthy dips like hummus or guacamole
- Vegetable soups
- Sliced apples with cinnamon
- Omelet or frittata
- Meat and cheese pinwheels
- Ezekiel bread (for gluten free) or 100% whole grain bread with nut butter and a side of fruit
- Mini meatballs and fresh melon served with toothpicks
- Tomatoes and basil with mozzarella cheese on skewers—you can add balsamic vinaigrette
Not too boring, right?! Tell me your go-to snacks in the comments below
