HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS-PART 1 - LUNCH CONTAINERS
HOORAY!! IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!!
Part One - Lunch Containers (Go to Part II)
Now that they are back to school, it's time to think about what to make for lunch again. Making lunch can be fun or it can be a real drag.
The easiest way to get creative with lunch is with great lunch containers. This is where it all starts. If you can find containers that accommodate several items, they will allow for your experimentation. Most kids like to eat small portions of many items, rather than a large portion of one thing. Some kids like their food mixed together, but a great many of them like their food to stand alone (and not touch anything else). This is where a container with multiple compartments comes in handy.
In addition to the ease involved with creating lunch menus, containers like these also provide an outlet for planning balanced meals which are healthy. Instead of purchasing packaged snacks, save money and boost the nutrition factor by making your own mini snacks that contain fruits and vegetables, or grains and nuts. This way you have control over the all-important sodium content, among other things.
Snack and Dip (with yogurt)
One of my favorite containers is square with a covered dip container in the middle and an area around the outside for the items to dip. It can be found at the Container Store. I usually put hummus in the middle and carrots around the outside.However, the options are limitless. Dips, peanut and fruit butters,yogurt and tomato sauce can reside in the middle, while veggies like carrots, red peppers and cucumbers, rice cakes, toast, granola, fruit,or even cooked penne, can be matched up as dippers (more ideas).
(Food Jar - Thermos Photo)
Regardless of the brand of container you get, use something that inspires you to make healthy food choices for your kids, while at the same time is interesting enough to inspire your own creativity.
Once you get the containers, come back for some ideas on what to put inside. Making lunch might be a parent's duty, but it doesn't have to feel that way!
STAY TUNED FOR WHAT TO PUT INSIDE....(Go to Part II)
Part One - Lunch Containers (Go to Part II)
Now that they are back to school, it's time to think about what to make for lunch again. Making lunch can be fun or it can be a real drag.
The easiest way to get creative with lunch is with great lunch containers. This is where it all starts. If you can find containers that accommodate several items, they will allow for your experimentation. Most kids like to eat small portions of many items, rather than a large portion of one thing. Some kids like their food mixed together, but a great many of them like their food to stand alone (and not touch anything else). This is where a container with multiple compartments comes in handy.
In addition to the ease involved with creating lunch menus, containers like these also provide an outlet for planning balanced meals which are healthy. Instead of purchasing packaged snacks, save money and boost the nutrition factor by making your own mini snacks that contain fruits and vegetables, or grains and nuts. This way you have control over the all-important sodium content, among other things.
Snack and Dip (with yogurt)
One of my favorite containers is square with a covered dip container in the middle and an area around the outside for the items to dip. It can be found at the Container Store. I usually put hummus in the middle and carrots around the outside.However, the options are limitless. Dips, peanut and fruit butters,yogurt and tomato sauce can reside in the middle, while veggies like carrots, red peppers and cucumbers, rice cakes, toast, granola, fruit,or even cooked penne, can be matched up as dippers (more ideas).
(Food Jar - Thermos Photo)
Another type of container that I really love is the food jar from Thermos. It comes in great colors or themes and is the perfect size. I use it for making couscous directly in the jar (more on that in PART 2). Having a warm option opens the door to soup, pasta, oatmeal and stew among the choices available for a healthy lunch.
Ikea has food storage containers that come with the most (in quantity) cute tiny containers that I have ever come across. They allow for sending the right amount of a snack without taking up precious room in the lunch sack.
(PRUTAFood saver - Ikea Photo)
If you are looking for an all-in-one package, Laptop Lunches has bento style lunch boxes that come with several covered containers held in one large container. One handy package allows for a full meal to be offered at lunch and for the components to be individually stored ahead of time.
If you are looking for an all-in-one package, Laptop Lunches has bento style lunch boxes that come with several covered containers held in one large container. One handy package allows for a full meal to be offered at lunch and for the components to be individually stored ahead of time.
(Photo courtesy of Laptop Lunches)
Regardless of the brand of container you get, use something that inspires you to make healthy food choices for your kids, while at the same time is interesting enough to inspire your own creativity.
Once you get the containers, come back for some ideas on what to put inside. Making lunch might be a parent's duty, but it doesn't have to feel that way!
STAY TUNED FOR WHAT TO PUT INSIDE....(Go to Part II)
Posted by Doughremekids Blog at 8/23/2009 9:59 PM 
Categories: healthy, lunch containers, kids, lunch ideas
Tags: healthy containers kids lunch ideas nutritious
Categories: healthy, lunch containers, kids, lunch ideas
Tags: healthy containers kids lunch ideas nutritious
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9/5/2009 8:49 AM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
Part II (go to Part I) HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – EASY AND NUTRITIOUS Now that you have inspiration from all of your new containers, it’s time to start thinking about packing a daily lunch. Great lunches are something your child will look forward to each day.The best way to start is by letting your children make some requests. Better yet, bring them with you to the grocery store. If they pick it out, they are more apt (and obliged) to eat it. You can then steer them towards healthy selections. They get what they ... -
9/5/2009 9:04 AM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
Part II (go to Part I) Israeli couscous with corn, pineapple and grated beetsHEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – EASY AND NUTRITIOUS Now that you have inspiration from all of your new containers, it’s time to start thinking about packing a daily lunch. Great lunches are something your child will look forward to each day.The best way to start is by letting your children make some requests. Better yet, bring them with you to the grocery store. If they pick it out, they are more apt (and obliged) to eat it. You can then steer them towards ... -
9/5/2009 9:23 AM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
Part II (go to Part I) Israeli couscous with corn, pineapple and grated beetsHEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – EASY AND NUTRITIOUS Now that you have inspiration from all of your new containers, it’s time to start thinking about packing a daily lunch. Great lunches are something your child will look forward to each day.The best way to start is by letting your children make some requests. Better yet, bring them with you to the grocery store. If they pick it out, they are more apt (and obliged) to eat it. You can then steer them towards ... -
9/5/2009 10:32 AM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
Part II (go to Part I) Israeli couscous with corn, pineapple and grated beetsHEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – EASY AND NUTRITIOUS Now that you have inspiration from all of your new containers, it’s time to start thinking about packing a daily lunch. Great lunches are something your child will look forward to each day.The best way to start is by letting your children make some requests. Better yet, bring them with you to the grocery store. If they pick it out, they are more apt (and obliged) to eat it. You can then steer them towards ... -
9/17/2009 11:02 PM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
Part II (go to Part I) Israeli couscous with corn, pineapple and grated beetsHEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – EASY AND NUTRITIOUS Now that you have inspiration from all of your new containers, it’s time to start thinking about packing a daily lunch. Great lunches are something your child will look forward to each day.The best way to start is by letting your children make some requests. Better yet, bring them with you to the grocery store. If they pick it out, they are more apt (and obliged) to eat it. You can then steer them towards ...
Great ideas...never thought of sending him with chicken nuggets!!! I do something fun, every now and again I'll send him a treat of alphabet cookies, however, he must figure out the message I've sent in the cookies befor he can eat them...kind of fun
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Hidden messages with alphabet cookies is adorable. Thanks for posting it. I am sure others will love to use your idea.
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