Back to school! Healthy Lunch Ideas for your Child

Looking for healthy lunch ideas for your child now that he or she is back in school? Now that school is here once again, it is important to include healthy food groups in your child’s lunchbox on a regular basis to maintain optimal health. For kids at school, lunch is a must. Creating easy, healthy lunches will help you save both time and money. You will be able to save money in the long run when your child is healthy as you won’t need to pay for frequent medication or doctors’ appointments if you have a healthy child.  When you create a healthy lunch for your child day after day, this will not only keep your child in optimal health but also help your child be able to concentrate in school properly and hit all his or her milestones.

Nutrition First

Making sure your child’s lunch consists of healthy food that contains the right amounts of carbohydrates, protein and vitamins is going to be beneficial in the long run. This will help your child grow properly and at the same time ensure that your child is getting all the necessary nutrients to thrive. Being informed about what the right types of food and cooking methods to use will help you make informed choices about what a healthy lunch is and to include this in your child’s lunchbox every day for school.

Cooking Methods

When thinking of your child’s lunch, try to serve baked, boiled or steamed food rather than fried food. This helps your child feel full without the unnecessary bad cholesterol from oil.  If you must fry your child’s food, it is a good idea to use olive oil as this kind has healthy cholesterol. Otherwise, stick to steamed, baked or raw food such as baked potatoes, steamed fish or raw chopped celery sticks, for instance.

Leftovers

Pasta or chili leftovers are something that kids love. Combine fresh vegetables with a dip along with some of their favorite leftovers for a balanced lunch. Add in a small serving of dessert and your child is going to look forward to lunch every day. Snacks such as sandwiches with peanut butter and jelly ensure that they get the protein they need to get through the day. If you add sliced bananas to the sandwich, you add in a power-packed nutritious snack that will ensure good health for your child. Use cookie cutters to cut the sandwich into smaller shapes that have no crust. This will be something your child will truly love.

Think Colors

A brightly colored lunch also happens to be nutritious. For instance dark green broccoli, red tomatoes and orange carrots all chopped up with a side dip will be both beautiful to look at, delicious and nutritious as well. Toss romaine lettuce and fresh spinach together to create a small salad. Add a dash of grated cheese, a dollop of dressing and baked croutons as a topping. This is something your child will truly be unable to resist.