Page 52 - PowerPoint Presentation

Back to School Lunches

To make sure your child isn’t trading their lunchbox items for cookies and other treats, take a few minutes to think about how you
can make lunch healthy AND exciting for kids.

Here are a few tips for making lunches fun:
• Aim for color- Remember we eat with our eyes as well as our taste buds.
• Make it bite-sized – Kids love bite-sized foods. Try making a quick and easy roll-up with turkey and cheese, Cabot’s Cracker
Cuts are perfect for this…then cut into small pieces for a bite-sized treat.
• Change it up – Don’t pack the same boring old sandwich every day. Try putting the contents in a pita pocket instead or pack
something like a leftover quesadilla or a slice of homemade pizza from dinner the night before.
• Make a healthier treat – It’s always fun to get a treat in your lunchbox. If you rarely include sweets because you aren’t a fan
of the less healthful, prepackaged options, try making a healthier version of a favorite treat you can feel good
about. Homemade chocolate pudding or apple cheddar muffins are easy to whip up at home!
• Serve it bento-style – Kids love options (and most don’t want their food to touch anyway!) Bento-style lunches include small
amounts of several different things in separate compartments. For younger children especially, this can help keep lunch
exciting and less messy.
• Use leftovers – Pack their favorite dinners in plastic containers or thermoses for a hot meal.
• Add a dip – If you pack veggies like carrots, be sure to include a dip. Try hummus or homemade ranch dip made with Greek
yogurt.
• Include a note – What’s more exciting than finding a note or joke in your lunchbox? Here’s a favorite: Q: What do cows do in
their spare time? A: Listen to moooosic!
Follow these tips to get your kids excited about eating a healthy lunch! Or why not have them join you in the kitchen? A great way
to inspire and challenge your small cooks is to join the fun, utilize these tips to get them cooking with you and making their own
lunches in the future.
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