It's that time of year again! The kids are going back to school and you want to make sure lunchtime is satisfying and nutritious enough to fuel the rest of their day. If they're tired of the usual sandwich or you're concerned about sodium-packed cafeteria meals, here are some creative and nutritious back-to-school lunch ideas to keep kids excited about their midday meal.
1. Protein-Packed Smoothies
Freeze a thermos overnight and add your child's favorite smoothie in the morning. Add a mix of frozen bananas, Greek yogurt, strawberries, and a splash of almond or vanilla milk for even more flavor.
You can also pack in more protein with our Whey Protein Powder to mix in that's easy to digest and aids in lean muscle growth. Choose from our Chocolate, Fruity Cereal, Vanilla Ice Cream, Cookie Dough, or Strawberry Cheesecake flavored powders.
2. Wraps and Roll-Ups
Replace the old stand-by sandwich with turkey and cheese whole wheat tortilla wraps. Tuck turkey slices, cheese, lettuce, and a touch of mustard or mayo into a healthy tortilla. Mix it up with veggies, hummus, shredded carrots, cucumber slices and spinach for even more nutrition. Roll everything up, slice, and pack-up for lunchtime.
3. Innovative Sandwiches
If your kids enjoy a good sandwich but are tired of the usual standby, get innovative with lunchtime. Try an apple and cheddar sandwich with whole grain bread, sliced apples, cheddar cheese, and a drizzle of honey. Or whip up a Caprese sandwich made from ciabatta bread with fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, basil leaves, and a balsamic glaze.
4. Bento Boxes
Bento boxes are a fun way to reimagine the traditional school lunch. Choose leftover grilled chicken pieces, hard-boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, cheese cubes, and whole grain crackers. A vegetarian bento box is another option with sliced bell peppers, edamame, baby carrots, cheese slices, and a small container of ranch dressing.
5. Homemade Lunchables
Store bought lunchables aren't always healthy, but you can make your own at home. Try a pizza lunchables with mini whole wheat pita rounds, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, and pepperoni slices. Or put together a fun taco lunchables with mini tortillas, seasoned chicken or beef, shredded cheese, and small containers of salsa and guacamole.
6. Salads
If your kids are open to salad for lunch, pack up a grilled chicken Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, and Caesar dressing. A quinoa salad is also an option with black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, avocado, and drizzled with a lime vinaigrette.
7. Whole Grain Pasta Dishes
Put pasta salad on the menu and refrigerate the leftovers for lunch time. Choose whole grain pasta with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese, and Italian dressing. Pickier eaters may enjoy whole grain mac and cheese kept warm in an insulated soup container with veggies on the side.
8. Fruit and Veggies
Get creative with kabobs and add chunks of pineapple, strawberries, grapes and melons. Add veggie cups on the side with carrot sticks, celery sticks, and ranch dip at the bottom.
9. Skewers
Chill your leftover chicken from dinnertime to create cold chicken and veggie skewers. Add grilled chicken pieces, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers on a skewer. For dessert, put together a skewer with alternating cubes of cheddar cheese, grapes, and apple slices.
10. Cold Noodle Salads
Throw together a cold Asian noodle salad with rice noodles, shredded carrots, bell peppers, edamame, and a sesame ginger dressing. An Italian pasta salad is also an option with chilled rotini pasta with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, black olives, and Italian dressing.
Tips for Back to School Lunches
When it comes to school lunches, variety is key. Mix things up and keep a few go-to favorite staples to keep things interesting. Prepping ahead is also vital to save time and stick to the healthy eating goals you've set for your child. Incorporate colorful food options to make the lunch more enjoyable, and also keep your kids more engaged with the food they're eating.
Next Steps
If you're looking for more ways to hack your family's health without consuming a lot of vitamins, start shopping for our tasty, flavorful supplement powders. They taste great mixed with water, shakes, and more. Start shopping for a variety of supplements or comprehensive health programs now.