Although it's still the last few weeks of summer, this time of the year is also ripe for back-to-school preparations. As families settle to a new daily routine once the kids start school, parents should already be able to come up with practical and efficient ways to make the transition a whole lot easier.
Now is the best time to begin looking for school lunch ideas as it's always more prudent for parents to prepare and plan healthy lunches and snacks ahead of a busy school year. Below is a guide to choosing and packing healthy meals for your kids for school.
Come up with a good meal plan and shop for these on the weekends before school. This will save parents a lot of time and energy, especially when done routinely. It will also eliminate impulse purchases that could lead to buying more convenient but unhealthy food choices. "Having a solid plan and having it all prepped and ready to go gives you less chance of failure," said Vikki LeBeau, a health food business owner, via Your Houston News.
Involve the kids in the process of selecting and buying their school lunches and snacks. Ask them what they would like to eat in school and have the children come with you while doing the groceries to rouse their curiousity and interest in picking health foods, as advised by chef and healthy food book authors Ann Cooper and Lisa M. Holmes, via Gaiam. Go over each of the sections and aisles carefully, particularly focusing on the unprocessed food sections to dissuade the children from eating junk food.
Stay away from prepacked meals. These might be convenient and could cut the time it takes to prepare school lunches and snacks. But experts point out that prepacked meals are usually high on sodium, sugar and chemical additives, but offer empty calories. Don't waste your money and instead, invest on the following foods, fruits, vegetables, protein, whole grains and healthy fats, per dietician Abigail Dougherty, per WWLP.
Don't forget to buy convenient and sturdy containers for packing school lunches and snacks. Some foods may require insulated lunch boxes to keep it fresh. Always use clean containers and never reuse packaging like foil, as this will only spoil the food, per Tampa Bay.
