If you are sitting with a child who is even just a smidge bit fussy, then packing a lunch for them that is both frugal and healthy might be a bit of a challenge. There are, of course, a few tips that may make this task a little bit easier.
If you want to ensure your children’s lunches are not completely wasted, then you’ll probably learn more about how to pack a healthy yet frugal lunch that your kids will want to eat.
Look at Their Leftovers
Have your child bring their leftovers back home instead of trashing them and inspect the leftovers to get a rough idea of how much they eat when they get packed lunches. When you have an idea of how much they eat when eating outside of home, you can pack their future lunches to a level where there will be no waste or leftovers.
Pack Calorie and Nutrient Dense Foods
When they are away from home, kids may be distracted and forget to eat a proper meal. For this reason, it would be best to send nutrient and calorie-dense foods such as cheese, boiled eggs, yogurt, or peanut butter ( if it’s allowed) with dippers. At least with these foods, it only takes a few bites to get in a fair amount of calories.
Cut Fruit and Veggies Make a Great Sides
Most kids will eat cut fruit and veggies, provided you skip processed snacks like cookies, chips, or crackers, which they’d almost always reach for first. Be sure to opt for produce that’s in season if you don’t want to be paying exuberant prices for your produce.
Don’t Forget Liquids
Sending milk or a smoothie in a thermos with your kid’s packed lunch is a great way for you to ensure they will get some form of nutrients in. Some kids may even get all their nutrients from something like this, which is great for picky kids.
If You Buy Snacks, Buy Them in Bulk to Save
If you want to send snacks like granola bars, cookies, or chips, then the best way to save on these is to buy them in bulk. Since they are packaged, they should have a decent shelf life.
Get Your Child Involved in Packing Their Lunch
Talking to your children about healthy food choices and having them help you pack their lunches is a great way to not only have them learn about nutrition, but it could also help them learn more independence. Their involvement in packing their lunches will hopefully make them more invested and willing to finish their lunch.
Separate Snacks and Lunch
If you want to ensure that your child has a snack for after-school or extracurricular activities, make sure you send this portion of the food in a separate container or packaging. Having this snack ready and easily accessible will hopefully avoid a last-minute fast food pick-up if they are super hungry after all of their activities.
7 Creative Ways to Use Leftover Roast Chicken
Leftover roast chicken is a truly versatile ingredient that can instantly be transformed into delicious dishes throughout your week. So, instead of letting your extra chicken go to waste, why not get creative instead? Here are seven ways to use leftover roast chicken that will positively delight your taste buds with every bite.
Leave a Reply