Ideas for How to Pack School Lunches
Packing a healthy lunch for the kids is every parent's goal, but if your child isn't happy with the foods you've provided, he won't eat them -- and there is no one at school to make him eat what you have sent. The goal is to pack a lunch you know will be eaten. It is also important that you pack the lunch properly and safely.
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Include the Kids
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Let your child help in making food choices. Identifying foods that both you and your child can agree on is key to making sure that they get eaten. The best way to do that is to include your child in the decision-making. If your son says he really loves peanut butter, but you prefer he eat tuna, it is likely the sandwich will be set aside and something else chosen at lunch. The idea is to win the war, not make it a battle.
Safety
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An insolated lunch bag protects food from spoiling. Even if you include healthy options in a packed lunch, it won't do you or your kid much good if your child gets sick from what she eats. For nonperishable items like whole fruit, peanut butter or chips, a brown sack lunch is fine, but when packing dairy, meats and eggs, make sure to use an ice pack and insulated lunch bag so this kind of food item remains cool, and use a thermos for milk or hot items like soup.
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Keep It Simple
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A child's lunch should be easy to eat. Lunchtime does not last long in most schools -- usually only 15 to 20 minutes, and that includes socializing time -- so make lunch items quick and easy to eat. A salad broken up into separate sandwich bags means time is wasted assembling lunch rather than eating it. Also remember that young children may struggle trying to open some containers, which may mean food not eaten.
Variety
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Sending the same kind of sandwich every day can get boring. If your child has never eaten raw broccoli, it probably isn't a good idea to pack it in her lunch. Make sure to pack something she has already tasted and approve of before. Keep a list of foods your child really likes and review it once in a while, as boredom can also become an issue. No one wants to repeatedly eat the same things, so don't get hung up on continuing the same old thing just because your child liked it all of last month.
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References
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