5 Healthy Ideas for School Lunches

It’s back to school time, and that means it’s time to pack lunches for your kids every day. Rather than going with traditional standbys like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or last night’s dinner leftovers, try some of these unique ideas. Not only are they delicious and flavorful, but they are all healthy, too!

Sandwich Skewers

Whether your child is gluten-free or you’re simply trying to limit carbohydrate intake, sandwich skewers offer all the flavor of a sandwich, and your child won’t even miss the bread. Try to keep the size of the items relatively similar for a more uniform look. Cut cheese into small cubes, and use small cherry or grape tomatoes alongside folded slices of meat. Include an aioli or mustard dipping sauce on the side to complete the meal.

Tortilla Wraps

As another sandwich alternative, create a sandwich in a tortilla wrap. Feel free to use either corn or flour tortillas to suit your child’s preferences. Layer meat, greens, veggies and thin slices of cheese laid flat on top of the tortilla. Starting from one edge, roll the tortilla up tightly, securing it with a toothpick. You can leave the wrap rolled up to be eaten whole, or you can slice it into wheels. Mix up the ingredients, and you can make a different variation on this simple lunch every day of the week.

Trail Mix

Rather than buying pre-made trail mix, which can be loaded with extra salt, sugar or preservatives, you can easily make your own version at home. This way, you can control exactly what goes into the mix. Start with a crunchy base for your mix. You can use granola, chips, pretzels or any other ingredient you want. Next, throw in some of your child’s favorite nuts, like almonds or walnuts, for a dose of healthy protein and fat. Every trail mix needs some fruit in there, so add some dried berries, banana chips or raisins. Even though you’re trying to keep it healthy, you’ve still got to have something sweet in there. Dark chocolate and low-calorie gummy candies are great options.

Keep It Colorful

The best way to ensure that a lunch is healthy is to incorporate lots of color. Not only does it look beautiful, but it also helps guide you in making sure that you are including enough fruits and vegetables. At least half of the meal should consist of healthy produce, rather than carbs. Dried fruit can be a great option, as you won’t have to worry about it spoiling or not being refrigerated in your child’s lunchbox.

Pack It in a Cute Bento Box

These Asian-style lunch boxes are hugely popular for school lunches because they make portion control so easy. Make sure that at least half of the slots in the box are filled with fruits and veggies. Save a smaller one for a sweet little treat at the end of the meal. Best of all, bento boxes are quick and easy to wipe clean so you can start getting ready for the next day.