Growing children need a balanced diet and healthy food to perform better in school and have the energy to play with their friends. Yet many parents often pick out what's convenient, especially if the kids are picky eaters.
Convenience food is often unhealthy and processed. Parents need to plan their children's school lunches properly with school back in session.
Preparing the kids' school lunches doesn't have to be challenging. Parents can still come up with great-tasting meals that their kids will love, even with the simplest ingredients.
Here are some healthy and easy school lunch suggestions:
1. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a twist
Children's dietician Katherine Shary said via KSLA that a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich could be made more palatable by adding veggies. She also suggested packing dips with veggies and fruits.
A bowl of acai berries mixed with chocolate chips will also go well with this sandwich. To upgrade, sprinkle a dash of cinnamon or add chopped roasted peanuts to the spread for that tasty crunch.
2. Frittatas
To make leftover dishes into something new, toss them up into Frittatas filled with a lot of cheese. Add some shredded meat or sliced vegetables for a balanced meal. Frittatas are quick to do, and it's loaded with protein because of the egg. They are also great as finger food bites for kids in pre-school.
3. Pasta salads
Shary said that pasta salads are great for using leftover veggies or shredded leftover meat, so nothing goes to waste. Add some fruit and hard-boiled eggs, and the child will have a complete and delicious school lunch. Use plant-based or whole grain pasta to add fiber and nutrition.
My Kids Lick the Bowl has a simple recipe consisting of feta, salami, sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, corn kernels, and mayonnaise (or sour cream as an alternative). The recipe may be easily deconstructed for fussy eaters or added with olives, toasted pine nuts, and lemon wedges for adults.
4. Classic tuna salad sandwich
A tuna salad sandwich is always on the menu at the school cafeteria because kids enjoy this food a lot. It's stereotypically the most kid-friendly food alongside a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or macaroni and cheese.
Spruce up a tuna salad sandwich by making it creamier with some hummus for more protein and Greek yogurt for probiotics. Include optimal crunch by chopping bits of carrots and pepper. Your children will love the variety of flavors.
5. Peanut butter noodles and cucumber
Hetty McKinnon is a cookbook author who has mastered preparing incredible dishes with ingredients already in the kitchen pantry. She said that lunches could be easily fortified by adding vegetables. She also recommends noodles because it's satisfying and filling. Her peanut butter noodles and cucumber recipe via Bon Appetit is great served cold, so it's OK to pack for school.
6. Panzanella salad
Panzanella is an Italian dish that uses stale bread, which can be soaked in a saucy base, such as extra tomato sauce. It can be mixed with various herbs, veggies, and meat. Panzanella is also a colorful dish, making it more appealing to children.
Related Article: Plant-Based Protein Foods Kids Should Eat Every Day
