They want to eat: Meatpie and juice. Cupcakes, doughnuts, chips. Zero vegetables.
You want them to eat: Rice, yams, sandwiches, beans. An apple. water
A lot of my friends have children between the ages of 1 and 10. In talking to them, especially when school is back in session, I find that a major concern is what to include in the child's lunch pack.
After dealing with back-to-school battles over homework and bedtime, many mothers would rather surrender than fight over what their child eats – or throws away. The good news: It's easier than ever to "think outside the box" when it comes to the school lunch box. It doesn't have to be a choice between what's "good for you" or "fun for you."
For some of you this is really not an issue, but for most working mothers it is a constant headache. You wake up early to beat the traffic to work, sometimes your kids don't see you before you leave, and they might be asleep by the time you get back. The job of getting them prepared and fed is left in the hands of a maid. Sound familiar?
Another scenario is you being available to atleast see them before or drop them at school, and you're thinking 'what will they eat for lunch?'. And so you take the easy way out and stop at a fast food to buy them snacks.
What's wrong with that? some people might ask. Well nothing so long as you do not spend the better part of your life asking if you're providing your child with proper nutrion. And ofcause ensuring there's a proper meal to go with the snacks.
Most schools now make it easy for the parents by providing the children with a proper lunch, but with so many after school activities, it is important they have something extra for later. Snacks are good but your kids would do better with more healthy choices than pastries all week long.
I have a friend whose routine is to ensure her children have a breakfast cereal before leaving home. The night before she would arrange their school lunch packs on the dinning table, ready to be filled the next day. The pack would include a sandwhich, a fruit (either an apple or banana), a small bottle of juice or water, and our ever popular walkers crisps. Her children's school provides cooked lunch.
Sandwiches are a popular choice just remember that meats, dairy products, and eggs are perishable, so be sure to use a freezer pack to keep them cold. Each sandwich should have a healthy protein source and healthy toppings. Some suggestions:
Tuna sandwich wrap with light mayonnaise, lettuce and tomatoes
Egg salad sandwich on whole grain bread
Peanut butter, Sliced beef, or chicken probably left over from last night's dinner--with light mayonnaise, mustard, and a slice of cheese (LOL - I can just hear some of my friends laughing).
For some others, you will need to think beyond the sandwich
Like my previous post on meal planning, you can make a roster of what to include in your child's lunch pack for the week. Start by brainstorming foods and snacks that he would like to eat. It might be simply packing up leftovers from that delicious meal you made last night.
A packed lunch carries the added responsibility of keeping the food safe to eat. That means keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
Here are some suggestions to keep lunch foods safe:
1. Wash your hands first.
2. Use a thermos for hot foods.
3. Use cold packs or freeze some foods and drinks overnight. They'll thaw in the lunchbox.
4. Wash out lunchboxes every day or use paper bags that you can dispose of.
5. Add some tissue or moist wipes to remind them to wash their hands before eating and to clean up after.
PS: As I am yet to have kids of my own, experienced mothers your suggestions would be highly welcome. Let us in on what worked for you and what didn't.
