How You Can Take Back Your Child’s Health, One Bite at a Time
Introduction – Leah is the busy mom of 7 children focused on teaching her children how to make healthy food decisions. Her approach is straight-forward and she gives some great ideas on how to pack healthy lunches. I hope you enjoy her blog post!
“How You Can Take Back Your Child’s Health, One Bite at a Time”
Written by my guest blogger – Leah Morency
If your kiddos are used to the processed sweets, try trading out the items to one every week or two until they have had a chance to get used to a slightly different looking lunch box.
A strong foundation in balanced eating habits will give your kids respect for healthy food and its positive effects on their emotional and physical well-being. Be prepared for some push back if you are making changes in the nutritious direction, but they will follow your lead. When you make feeding their growing minds and bodies with the good stuff a priority, they get the message that you care about what’s best for them, and in turn, they learn how to take the best care of themselves. That is why healthy lunches make all the difference.
Here are our suggestions for some of the best options optimizing nutrition with the convenience factor packed into these lunches. Some items can be made at home, and many can be purchased individually wrapped and in bulk for easy assembly, but all are healthier versions. We always encourage organic options when available as well! Remember Start small, One Bite at a Time!
- The first suggestion isn’t lunch at all, but breakfast! Begin the day with plain yogurt with honey and fruit, or eggs and toast, instead of a bowl of sugar cereal. This sets kids up for balanced blood sugar, protecting them against sugar crash and sugar cravings.
- Pack only Water to drink! It’s really all they need, it’s cleansing, hydrating and saves money.
- Whole milk yogurt sweetened with honey in re-usable plastic containers. Or, for convenience, read the labels and search carefully, there are a few brands of squeezable yogurt, especially the organic options, that are low in sugar and have no artificial ingredients.
- Cheese sliced at home, or sold in individually wrapped packages, not American cheese product, but real cheeses.
- Sliced veggies, carrots, peppers and cucumbers, served up for dipping with hummus cups, or alternatively guacamole cups. Hummus and guacamole cups are now sold in bulk packages, individually wrapped for convenience! Hummus is rich in protein and guacamole rich in healthy fats, are both great choices.
- A simple boiled egg, rich in protein and healthy fat, easily prepared ahead of time, can also be purchased prepared.
- Home cooked meats, choose a cut of meat to roast on weekends, once prepared and sliced in advance, can be quickly added to a lunch box meal, rolled in whole grain tortilla, make a meat and cheese wrap! Most cost effective way to add meat to lunches! Even a chicken leg from a baked chicken is an easy and fun unexpected lunch option.
- Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are excellent finger foods for snacking, providing super nutrients, healthy fats, minerals, and vitamins. The great variety makes it possible to find a mix your child prefers.
- Sugar free apple sauce cups, along with fresh fruits! Sliced fruits with nut or seed butters in the center for easy packing. Whole fruits come ready to pack!
- Chips made from sweet potatoes and root veggies are the best choice, as well as whole grain varieties, as they contain more nutrients in exchange for their calories.
