A sandwich is the standard in many lunch boxes, but they can get boring. Here are 2 ways to switch up your sandwich routine this back to school season. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]
Back to school also means back to packing lunches. Here are some tips to make lunch packing and lunch eating easier and more fun. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]
Leftovers get a lot of hate, but I think they're awesome. They're easy and many foods actually taste better the next day. Find out if there's a microwave available to reheat things (in glass of course!). If there isn't once, pack things that taste good cold or use a thermos.
Kids always want more say-so in their life and lunch packing is great way to give it to them. Letting a child make decisions about what goes in their lunch box makes them more excited about lunch time and more likely to eat what you've packed.
Assembling food at the lunch table is fun and it also prevents things like sandwiches from getting soggy. Take the unhealthy, ultra processed store bought version and flip it on it's head by making your own at home.
Lunch can get boring as the year goes on and you get stuck in the habit of making the same things all the time. Switch up your normal fare by making things a little more interesting. Using a cookie cutter is a great way to transform your typical sandwich into stars, hearts, or whatever shapes you like!
It's that time when everyone is getting ready for the new school year. To help you get ready, I'm giving you the basics to building a healthy lunch that will leave you feeling full and energized for the rest of the day. Whether you're packing for yourself, or someone else, these are some guidelines to keep in mind.
Protein is important because it helps you stay full after your meal. Now, for a lot of people, protein equals meat. And, while meat is a great source of protein, it isn't the only one out there. Beans, yogurt, cheese, eggs, nuts, and seeds are all protein sources as well. Getting away from a meat-centric mentality opens you up to a ton of lunch possibilities, so step away from the turkey sandwich and try something new!
The poor vegetable just doesn't get enough attention when it comes to packed lunches. Non-starchy veggies, like cucumbers, tomatoes, leafy greens, peppers, and carrots, should make up about half of your meal.
Starchy foods are an important part of the diet, but many people tend to go overboard with them. We always want to strive for a balance of all of the food groups so we're not getting too much of one thing and not enough of another. Grains, potatoes, corn, peas, and beans are all considered starchy foods, so keep that in mind when planning your lunch. Starchy foods should make up about a quarter of your meal.
I see fruit as an optional item in your lunch. Fruits are great for you, but they do have a lot more sugar than veggies. For this reason, make sure you get your veggies in the meal first, and then add the fruit if you want it.
