Five Easy Lunches Ideas
As a busy parent, school lunches can be one of the most frustrating things to manage for your kids.
- They don’t like school lunches.
- A quick pitstop at a deli or fast food place on the way to school to grab lunch to go isn’t the healthiest option.
- Packing lunches from home is overwhelming and time-consuming.
Feels familiar, right? We’ve got some QUICK, EASY, and HEALTHY solutions for you. Basil to the rescue!
When packing a lunch, consider it should have 4 elements:
- Protein, to keep them full
- Fruit or veggie, to keep them nourished
- A healthy carbohydrate, to keep them energized
- Something sweet, to keep them interested
This alone can help you set food out and get an idea of what to pack.
Here’s 5 of our favorite lunch ideas with links to easy recipes that you’ll want to use over and over!
Hummus Platter:
No recipe needed: Find your favorite hummus, add crunchy chips, and some veggies to dip and this one is good to go! Slip in a better-for-you treat to satisfy a sweet tooth at the end of their meal.
These are made ahead of time and kept in the fridge. There are tons of recipes online- a quick google search will help you out! These will fill up bellies, satisfy cravings for pizza, and can be made with non-dairy cheese. The toppings are totally up to you. We kept it simple here with pepperoni.
These are crunchy AND chewy at the same time. And, let’s face it, they look cool. Once you master HOW to make them, you’ll see how easy and flexible they are! Try shredded carrots, sprouts, finely sliced bell peppers…anything your kiddo will try! Roll them up into a spring roll and ta-da! Add a sauce for dipping, if you like!
Quesadillas:
Sure a nice, hot quesadilla is ideal, but they taste pretty good cold, as well. They are great for picky eaters and provide a nice savory balance to sweeter flavors. Add a crunchy veggie, some fruit and salsa for dipping.
Leftover Makeover:
Make a little extra at dinner and pack up the rest- hot OR cold for lunches the next day. It will stretch your food budget and make easy work of meal packing in the morning. Here’s some ideas we dig:
Five after School Snacks that will help kids Stay Focused
#1: Organic Popcorn
Crunch, crunch, crunch: engaging the senses keeps kids in focus. Working to chew food can keep a kids awake and alert. Easy-to-eat popcorn is a great option for this. It’s tasty, salty, and most people can’t resist it once they smell it and its placed in front of them. We LOVE Farmer Steve’s Popcorn, its not only ORGANIC, it’s super-duper local and makes a terrific snack.
#2: Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are nutrient rich and full of brain-loving Omega 3s and zinc. They also provide that crunch, as well as a boost of protein that will hold them over until dinner.
#3 Go Raw Bar
Chewy is similar to crunchy in that it pulls in the senses. Chewy can mean sticky or sugary, but not with these. Go Raw Chewy Apricot sprouted bars are JUST fruit with sprouted flaxseeds. Sprouted means MORE nutrition and easier digestion of the flaxseeds. You kids will love the chewy texture and the fruity flavor.
#4 MadeGood Granola Minis
These adorable little goodies are made in a dedicated facility free from the 8 common allergens: peanut, tree nuts, wheat, dairy, egg, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish, making them a safe bet for all kids. They are totally additive free and get a nutrition boost from sneaking in veggies (in powder form!). Organic, non-gmo…and did we mention these are SUPER tasty?
#5 Fruit
Fruit is sweet and cool and squishy. It’s also full of vitamins and water and fiber and is something kids will always reach for. Especially if you make it fun. Try skewers, or cut fruit into chunks that can be dipped into yogurt. Check out our produce specials and stock up on the seasonal favorites every week.
Five Supplements that will Keep Kids Well this Year
Add a dose of this to a glass of juice or smoothie. Megafood gets all their nutrients from food sources in their unique extraction process. This blend of citrus, Elderberries and Echinacea (and more) is as clean as you can get and delivers the most bang for your buck in keeping colds and flu away.
Long chain Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and might even strengthen the immune system. Omega 3’s are SO important and difficult to get into our diets. This fish oil will also help with focus and it TASTES AWESOME!
#3: Sambu Guard for Kids
Elderberry syrup isn’t just for hippies anymore- it’s for everyone because it WORKS. It’s easy to take because it tastes good, and people are seeing results. We like this formula because its only sweetened with fruit juice and it combines elderberry with elderflower, echinacea and licorice extract.
Allergies can wreck a students day. Coughing, sneezing, watering eyes… it’s uncomfortable. The side effects of prescriptions can be even worse than the symptoms you are trying to control. Nettles serve as a sort of natural anti-histamine. Eyebright is anti-inflammatory, especially to the mucous membranes. This herbal formula can be taken in a cup of tea or mixed in with a little honey.
#5: Renew Life Ultimate Flora Kids Probiotic
Gut health is SUPER important to immune health. We need good bacteria to go to battle for us from the inside out. Keeping kids on a solid probiotic is one way to make sure you have this part covered.
•Try this combo with Rose or White wine.
