When I was a school lunch lady, I casually said to a 4th grade boy as he picked at his school lunch, “Someone must really love you to cut each of those grapes in half.” His immediate reply was, “It didn’t take her that long.” As a mom formerly responsible for making countless school lunches, I was deeply hurt by that cavalier attitude!
In reality, I think my own kids relied on their bargaining skills as they traded their lackluster lunch items for more exciting fare. Finding that ‘Lunchbox Love’ can be challenging, especially as the school year carries on.
Packing school lunches every single day can easily turn into a tedious chore. How can we assemble lunches that can be prepared quickly and won’t come home untouched? At Chef-K we always stress simple ingredients and lunch items that help our children form lifelong healthy habits.
Remember the Big Picture
“I make lunches when I wake up in the morning,” says my friend Beth. “I remind myself that the lunches really are how I care for my children when they’re not with me. My food choices are symbolic of our family culture.”
As mom to a 13-year-old and 5-year-old, Beth prepares lunch for different tastes and appetites. For the 5-year-old, “I try to get enough calories in the meal to fuel him through his day, including aftercare,” she adds. “If I include two calorie-rich items in his lunch that he’ll eat, I’m happy. He was also crashing in class every day at 2pm. We figured out he needed more food so now he and his teacherknow he needs a snack.”
The 13-year-old has a big appetite and will eat “all the unusual foods I make, like homemade pickles and kimchi, and spicy dinner leftovers from the night before.”
Leftovers are the Way to Go
As the main player in a bento box lunch, leftovers, especially if they include protein, give the meal some real heft. Leftovers are also ready to go the next day – no prep! In the lunchroom, I watched kids gobble up pastas and stir fries from the previous night. Also, left over hamburgers cut into bit-sized pieces. Beth actually plans her dinners with leftovers in mind for the next day.
Make it Personal
Kids have long school days filled with not only academics but all the expectations surrounding group dynamics and social interactions. Including a sweet note, even just written on a post-it with a smiley face, goes a long way for a hungry, busy youngster.
Playful Presentation (for Kids and Parents)
We all eat with our eyes first. Here are some handy tips for making those school
lunches entertaining and more likely to be eaten.
Kids love novelty. Make a sandwich using frozen whole-grain waffles as the bread.
Frozen edamame pods are the easiest fun food for a school lunch. They’ll thaw before lunchtime and kids love to pop them out of the pods.
Use cookie cutters to transform ordinary sandwiches into stars, dinosaurs,or hearts.
Make a homemade bento: Use silicone muffin cups inside a standard lunchbox to create mini-compartments. Fill them with colorful, finger-friendly items like rolled-up deli turkey, cubed cheese, berries, crackers,and pretzels.
Incorporate “assembly required” components to keep kids engaged at the lunch table. Send along apple slices with a separate container of seed butter for dipping.
Make your own Uncrustable – cut the crusts off a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then seal the edges with a fork.
As the school year progresses remember that it’s important to mix it up, keep it as easy as possible, and emphasize healthy ingredients. Pace yourself, it’s a long year! Of course, you can always cut those grapes in half and hope your
child will appreciate all your effort!
If you’d like info on Chef-K programs teaching healthy cooking skills reach out. With over 20 years experience, we are hear to help.