October 13 - 17 is National School Lunch Week!

Healthy School Lunch Ideas for Kids

It's difficult to please everyone when it comes to school lunches.  The kids want something tasty and fun to eat, but Mom and Dad want them to eat healthy.  Growing children need lots of energy, and eating healthy will help them stay focused and alert in school.  So what are we to do?

Here are a couple of  ideas to perk up your child's lunch and keep him or her happy and healthy!

Pack Fun Fruits and Veggies!

Pack small, easy to eat fruits and vegetables like grapes, cherries, small plums, blueberries, melon cubes, baby carrots, cucumber slices, bell pepper wedges and lightly steamed broccoli florets.

Variety is the Spice of Life!

Try alternatives to bread like crackers, pita bread, corn bread, muffins, tortillas, baked tortilla chips and mini bagels.  When serving tuna, egg or chicken salad, mix in shredded carrots, apples, zucchini, bell peppers, raisins, nuts or anything that adds nutrition and fiber without adding lots of empty calories.

Perk Up the Traditional Peanut Butter Sandwich!

Peanut butter is a favorite food and a great source of protein and iron.  Here are a few ways to serve it with added fruit:

• Top peanut butter with drained mandarin oranges
• Top with thinly sliced apples or mix finely chopped apples into the peanut butter
• Sprinkle raisins on top of peanut butter
• Top with sliced bananas and grapes
• Mix peanut butter with crushed pineapple
• Sprinkle peanut butter with raspberries, blueberries or other berries

Here are some links for more great ideas:

Kid's Health for Parents: Packing School Lunches

Lunches Kids Love

Healthy recipes from FamilyFun magazine by Barbara Albright

School Lunch Ideas from Diabetic-Lifestyle.com

An informative resource for parents of children with diabetes, offering kid-tested recipes and practical help.