Lunchbox Ideas for School Kids
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Posted by Wei Yin Wong Jan 18, 2009 |
When kids go to school, they not only learn and play, they also need fuel and nutrients for the body. In fact, up to one-third of a child's daily calories will be consumed while they are at school. Imagine how important it is to prepare a nutrutious and delicious lunch for kids!
Both my kids are rather picky eaters and worse, they have extremely different tastes in food. So it's always a big challenge for me to pack their lunchboxes. Sandwiches are easy but the kids always insist on different kinds of fillings. Needless to say, I have different kinds of lunch for the two kids. But a few things help when packing their lunch.
First, get their opinion and ask them what they would like to eat. If they pick the food, chances are they will finish it. Also, asking the teacher to keep an eye on them during lunchtime helps too. Of course, you can only do this for kids in earlier grades.
Essentially, a healthy lunchbox should have a main meal, a dairy product, fruits, healthy snacks and water. Although sandwiches are the choice of food for the main meal, wraps, pastas, fried noodles, salads and sushi are popular too, more so in places where students come from different ethnic backgrounds. So change the menu every now and then to keep the lunch interesting.
To help food stay fresh and nutritious, use an insulated lunchbox. A small icepack, frozen water bottle or ice cooler can also keep cold food cold while food warmers can keep hot food hot. If your child is a small eater at school, be sure to give him a healthy snack when he comes home from school. You can also make dinner more elaborate to ensure he has all he needs for the day.
For more ideas on preparing healthy lunches for school kids, read also the following articles: