While there is a current effort to improve the nutrition and quality of food in school lunches, I still feel it’s best if you can send your kid to school with a healthy lunch from home. Invest in some good plastic containers and an insulated lunch bag to expand your food options.
Consider some of the following cold lunch ideas:
Sandwich with lean meat
Baked chips or pretzels
Chips and salsa
Fresh fruit
Vegetables with lowfat dip or salad dressing
Yogurt
String cheese
Broth-based soups and whole grain crackers
Lowfat cookies like vanilla wafers or ginger snaps
Lowfat popcorn
Natural/unsweetened applesauce cups
Fresh fruit cups
Whole grain crackers with a lowfat cheese or cheese spread (try Laughing Cow!)
Whole grain crackers with peanut butter
Beverages: Lowfat milk packages, 100% juice, water
If you’re in a hurry, consider throwing together a quick combination of healthier meal and snack items such as:
Pediasure drinks
Fruit and a lowfat cheese stick
Trail mix with nuts and dried fruit
Fresh fruit
Bags of baby carrots with hummus dip or lowfat veggie dip (available at the grocery store)
If a microwave is available for use at school you can consider:
Lean Pockets
Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine frozen meals
Egg white breakfast sandwich (Marketday, JimmyDean, etc.)
Here’s to a happy and healthy 2012-2013 school year!
