I was jealous when I heard about the school system in California that decided to feed it’s students only organic, non-GMO lunches.
Happy for them, naturally, but sorry it was such a groundbreaking initiative; this should be on the table, literally, of all school systems.
So it’s back to the daily grind of figuring out healthy, kid-pleasing lunch ideas so they can take their own lunches from home. I’m terrible at this because I get so burned out. My kids have started making their own lunches in despair after the 99th peanut butter sandwich in a row, which isn’t a bad thing, (the making-their-own part, not the 99 in-a-row part) but I want at least to help them with ideas, recipes, and of course ingredients.
I’ve ordered this book to help:
I can let the kids leaf through it, pick out their favorites, make menu plans, shopping lists, and help them get their lunches together.
We have this style of lunchboxes:
We used them all last year and they’re still in good condition. They have a removable silicone gasket/seal thing to prevent leaks. Since it’s removable it’s easy to clean all the nooks and crannies–just be sure it doesn’t get lost. I’ve had to go looking in the bottom of the dishwasher a couple of times because I didn’t secure it!
We also use these colorful, handy-sized thermoses for soups or pastas and the like. Really like these, and the kids loved picking out their favorite colors.
They received these insulated lunch bags as a gift last year from my BFF. They love the monograms and think they are so stylish. So cute and they are carrying them again this year. Love.
I also found a lunch idea list on Dr. Axe. I don’t know much about him or his site, but I like his compilation of food bloggers’ back-to-school recipes.
And this looks very cool. Taking the organic/local school cafeteria menu to a whole new level, Grow Your Lunch is a service that provides consulting to schools developing a garden-to-cafeteria program.
They provide customized planting and harvesting calendars for volunteers, school personnel and food service providers to assist in the establishment and maintenance of edible school gardens. They have a blog with helpful ideas, too.
Wishing you luck with your school (or work) lunch plans as we head into a new school year. May you never get bored of eating or preparing your meals and may no one leave their lunch on the kitchen counter.
At least not the first week.
Daisy this is the best post you have made!! The food in most school systems are awful. Ironic considering they are supposed to teach and that should teach on how to make good food choices.
Dr. Axe’s recipe collection is good (specially the lentils) but I would say we have to get kids used to less carbs from an early age. That way they start using fats (like in the Keto diet) for energy as opposed to using sugar from a young age and will not suffer the obesity epidemic everyone is going through. Of course eliminate sugar except for special treats.
Love the containers. They are so cute.
CV–Thanks. You make excellent points. I agree about the importance of teaching children how to nourish themselves properly. I’ve seen some form of nutrition education in schools, but it concentrates on “how many portions of this, how many portions of that” and seems to neglect the issue of quality. All servings of protein, carbs, etc. are not created equal, from the standpoints of nutrition, preparation, environmental impact, societal impact, et al. Our kids need to learn that, too. They would learn so much from schoolyard gardens, especially well-organized and operated ones which provide food for their own cafeterias.
These are great tips and ones I will use myself when packing lunches.
Do your kiddos use water bottle at school? If so, any recommendations? I’m done with ones that crack, leak or have spouts my little guys chew or that get moldy! Thanks!
Melissa–Yes, actually, I like this simple one from Rubbermaid It doesn’t have any of those weird straw things that mildew and never get clean, or break, there’s nothing to gnaw on, and the kids like them. It has a finger loop for carrying and comes in bigger capacities, too. Basic!
Daisy, no leaks in the backpack? The snap top spout stays closed?
Thanks!
Melissa
Melissa–They’re at school right now, so I don’t want to say until this afternoon when I can give them the upside down shake test. They carry them separately or in the pocket on the side of the backpack. No complaints so far, but I’ll report back this p.m. after I put them through the extreme check!
Thanks Daisy!
Melissa–Did the shake test and it passed with flying colors!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the input and the testing!
Melissa
Melissa–No problem! 🙂