School Lunch Ideas

At my son's karate today I overheard a mom ask what their kid had for lunch. The kid responded turkey wrapping a cheese stick, juice box, and cup of fruit. I am going to be honest, when I was a kid, I was always hungry and I was not a fat kid.  I was just extremely active! This lunch this kid explained would not keep me awake to the last of class. The new approach to good school lunches is lowering the caloric intake. I really believe that needs to be changed to kids need to have a more nutritional heavy meal.

Kids 4-6 need 1500 to 1750 calories. Ages 7-9 require 1700-1950. It is said kids over eat their calories but usually through unhealthy ways by after school snacks or playdates. This time is crucial for eating, but eating right. Just like adults kids should spread their meals to five to six times a day. Snack time during or right after school will help the child have energy to keep going until the last meal even if they have dance lessons, or karate lessons, or even just going to play with their friends.

There are containers that have separate section for easy packing and separating (because heaven forbid food touches other food). Also, every food item in here can be kept in a fridge and does not have to be reheated. Use this list to fill in your kids lunch boxes with full and nutritious food because honestly, this is what your kid could be being fed at school.\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

This was taken by a high school student and posted to tumblr. It is real and happens a lot.

   Vegetables 

1.        carrots
2.         cucumbers
3.         celery
4.         green/red/yellow bell peppers
5.         hummus
6.         cauliflower pieces
7.         broccoli pieces
8.         baby tomatoes
9.         zucchini bread
10.          green smoothie
11.         spinach leaves
12.         snap peas
13.         lettuce wrap
14.         salad
15.         corn (still stand by it is a grain, but whatever...)
16.        lima beans (my baby loves them for some reason)

Fruits (I only liked canned because they do not go bad in a lunch box. Nothing is a turn off for me than fruit that has been out too long)

1. oranges/mandarins
2. peaches
3. apple slices (TRICK! To stop browning, soak in lemon juice for a few seconds)
4. berries-blue/black/raspberry/strawberry
5. pears
6. raisins
7. fruit cups
8. banana
9. dried fruit/fruit skins
10. watermelon cubes
11. unsweetened applesauce
12. mangoes
13. pineapples
14. frozen smoothie (should just be a smoothy by lunch time if they have a fridge available)

Protein

1. cheeses (white cheese have fewer calories but don't let that steer you away from a good piece of cheddar once in a while)
2. cold turkey
3. cold, cooked chicken
4. rice (jasmine rice and brown rices have protein in them)
5. Tuna
6. ham
7. peanut butter
8. pepperoni
9. eggs (hard boiled eggs are great when cold)
10. yogurt (non fruit flavored. use the fruit to give it flavor)
11. cottage cheese
12. laughing cow cheese wedges
13. scrambled eggs cooled
14. milk

Carbohydrate

1. pretzels
2. pita
3. tortilla
4. bread
5. muffins
6. rolls
7. chips (like pita chips, or wheat thins)
8. bagel
9. noodles/ macaroni
10. rice

Snacks (You don't have to do a snack, fruit it a great snack. There is something about having a thing of jello or a favorite food item that is the icing on the cake.)

• Let the kid have their favorite thing whether it be unhealthy like fruit gushers  or a chocolate truffle or healthy like fruit skin or some dark chocolate. Just have the kid be a kid.