August 31, 2017
Nutritious Back-to-School Lunch Choices
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Disney. All opinions are entirely my own.
My baby is starting school this year! I can't believe it! I am going to miss her so much but I know that she will do amazing. Okay, she is just doing preschool- 3 hours twice a week but still! She is definitely ready and it will be great for her to be around kids her own age. As a mom and dietitian, I want her to eat well. I am sharing some great healthy choices to service for lunches for kids going back-to-school.
I like to pack my daughter's lunch and include most of the 5 food groups: vegetable, fruit, protein, grain and dairy. Not every meal is going to include all of these food groups but I aim to have meals with at least 4 of the 5 food groups. Lunches do not need to be super complex or fancy. I do like to vary what I serve Adalyn so that she does not get bored and so she gets a variety of different nutrients from different foods.
I like to pack my daughter's lunch and include most of the 5 food groups: vegetable, fruit, protein, grain and dairy. Not every meal is going to include all of these food groups but I aim to have meals with at least 4 of the 5 food groups. Lunches do not need to be super complex or fancy. I do like to vary what I serve Adalyn so that she does not get bored and so she gets a variety of different nutrients from different foods.
Fruit-
**Fill each lunch with one fruit choice. This can include a fresh fruit, dried fruit or a pureed fruit such as applesauce.
-Bananas
-Apples
-Kiwi
-Grapes
-Blueberries
-Strawberries
-Applesauce or other pouches
-No-sugar added dried fruit
Vegetables
**There are many different vegetable options to give kids for lunch. This can include raw vegetables with a dip such as hummus, cooked in a stir-fry or wrap, in a soup, etc.
-Cucumbers
-Carrots
-Bell peppers
-Pea pods
-Cooked carrots, zucchini or mushrooms in a soup
-Stir-fry with pea pods, broccoli, and peppers
-A wrap with grilled or roasted vegetables
-A salad
Dairy
-Milk- can be purchased at school
-Greek yogurt including pouches
-Disney Frozen® String Cheese- My daughter LOVES the movie Frozen and anything that has Frozen on it, she loves. She is a big fan of cheese and when I saw this Disney Frozen String Cheese at Meijer in the dairy section, I knew that I had to buy it for her. It is perfect for her lunches or for a snack. It is rich in calcium and protein and is made with milk, not to mention they are wholesome and a great choice for kids. They come in a pack of 12 and are super easy to pack in lunches.
Adalyn loves these string cheeses. In the car on the way home from buying them, she ate one. Then, 2 minutes later, she asked for another "Elsa cheese!"
To get a $0.75 off coupon for your Disney Frozen String Cheese, visit Coupons.com.
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| Healthier Chicken Salad can be made ahead of time and enjoyed all week! |
Protein
**Lunches should contain some form of protein: meat, nuts, beans, etc.
-Hummus
-Lunch meat- chicken, ham or turkey
-Peanut butter or other nut butters
-Edamame
-Sliced meatballs with marinara sauce to dip
-Chicken salad sandwiches
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| Whole-Grain Apple Cinnamon Oat Bars |
Whole-grains
-Whole-wheat pasta salad or pasta with marinara sauce
-Sandwich one whole-grain bread
-Stir-fry with brown rice
-Whole-grain crackers paired with cheese
-Whole-grain bars (homemade or low in sugar if packaged)
-Whole-grain waffles with nut butter and jam or fruit
These are just some of the options of foods that I pack in Adalyn's lunch. She is a great eater and, therefore, I can really pack anything. I think that focusing on a variety of whole-grains, dairy products, vegetables, fruits and proteins are a great way to go. I do not restrict sugar or any other foods but I would not pack foods high in sugar in her lunch most days- I would save foods like that for a treat.
Tell me, what are some of your favorite foods to pack in your kids' lunches? What are their favorite items to eat?
Tell me, what are some of your favorite foods to pack in your kids' lunches? What are their favorite items to eat?
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Will you make my lunches too?!? they all look delicious!
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