National School Breakfast Week is taking place this week, which attracted my attention. Regrettably, my first impression was, “Indeed? Yuck.” Perhaps it was yours just now as well. We all have fond memories of our school lunches from our youth. My pizza was sloppy, and the fries were weak, or I had an iceberg salad with ranch dressing and a few mysterious beef nuggets.
I was hoping, maybe, that school meals had improved since my days in the elementary cafeteria. While there has been progress toward healthier choices, many things stay the same. Pizza? You got it. Corndogs? You got it. Chicken nuggets? You got it. The ingredients have reportedly improved; according to the Seattle Public School’s menu, chicken corndogs and chicken pepperoni pizza are now available; but the blandness and general sensation of manufactured cuisine remain. A friend just gave me a photo of an atrocious child’s lunch selection. We will provide you with a corndog, fries, and chocolate milk as part of the package. It is a great disappointment to me.
The underlying denominator among these less-than-ideal meals is a dearth of colour and diversity. When you think of school lunches, what colour is the first thing that comes to mind? Brown, correct? Where do we get our antioxidants and phytochemicals? Naturally, colourful foods. That is one critical area in which school meals fall short.
However, it is precisely where they have been attempting. Salad bars are now available in the majority of schools, providing a range of fruits and vegetables. Certain schools, including my son’s, have eliminated flavoured milk. That does seem promising.
Schook Kids A Healthy Breakfast Ideas
The issue is that children do not regularly choose these healthier alternatives. What do you think an 8-year-old would select between pizza or salad and fruit when given less than 15 minutes to eat? An apple and a salad would probably take me at least 15 minutes. If the salad tasted like it was from a box, it would probably take me even longer. It seems like pizza wins. under 6-year child who even does not know how old am I today, might get confused.
It is up to us, as parents, to do what is best for our children despite the need to improve schools. What is the best course of action? Every day, send your children to school with a nutritious lunch. Unfortunately, I am aware that this will not be the case for many low-income children who depend on school meals to survive. I am really glad and thankful that we have a school lunch program at all to help those children, and it is for them that we must continue to strive to eliminate unhealthy food options in our schools. However, for those of us who are not eligible for free lunch, the best and most cost-effective choice is to prepare your child’s lunch each and every day.
What should I bring? I’m pleased you inquired. There are plenty of excellent solutions for keeping your active youngster occupied during the school day. You can imagine the vibrant colours in that little lunch box as you read through them. You have a limited amount of time left.
On Whole Wheat Bread, Nut Butter, and Jelly
While it may seem mundane, there is nothing wrong with nut butter and a drizzle of jelly over whole-grain bread in bakery boxes. Include some apple slices and even a cheese stick to provide a wonderful selection of items for your toddler to pick from. In addition to peanut butter, almond and cashew butter are also popular alternatives to peanut butter. Even better, use sunflower seed butter, particularly if your kid attends a school with nut-allergic youngsters.
Cheese, Fruit, Nuts, Crackers, and Hard-Boiled Eggs
Select a couple of the items above and load them into little containers. I like that my youngster may select from various alternatives and so get a greater diversity of nutrients. Normally, he can eat almost everything, but he saves the remainder for an after-school snack. A win-win situation. Additionally, this is an excellent method to rescue the day if you run out of bread and have no leftovers on a Monday morning. Simply stating the obvious.
Carrot Sticks with Cream Cheese on a Small Whole Wheat Bagel
You may believe bagels are unhealthy, and they often are, but smaller, whole-wheat varieties are an excellent option for a developing child, especially when paired with a good thick covering of cream cheese. Combine this with some vegetables, and you just cannot go wrong.
Avocado, Chips, and Dip
This is a suggestion I’ve seen made by other parents. Fill a baggie with your favourite tortilla chips or crackers. Include a Tupperware container filled with salsa, avocado slices, sour cream, or Greek yoghurt. Perhaps even some shredded cheese. Your youngster may dip or load the chips in any way they choose.
Anima (meatballs, sausage, etc.)
Everything does not have to contain bread. Taking some meat to school is a great idea if your kid eats it right after arriving. I often prepare a batch of homemade chicken meatballs that are fast and simple to eat. Additionally, I brought leftover chicken or turkey sausages, as well as fruit and vegetables.
Roll-Ups of Tortilla or Deli Meat
These are fantastic. Spread anything on the inside of a whole wheat tortilla, such as a dip or nut butter, and then put on a couple of slices of deli meat before folding it all up. It’s a hit among children. Simple to eat and delicious. If you’re attempting to avoid bread, use the meat as the roll and cut it into adorable, small, bite-sized rounds after filling and rolling.
Quesadillas
Another success with my son. Topping whole wheat tortillas are something I like to do. You can make them into creamy, cheesy triangles of bliss by mixing cheese, chicken, and beans, and then baking them. Make sure to serve them with a couple of slices of apple.
Fried rice that was leftover
While leftovers are usually a good idea for lunch the following day, rice dishes are particularly convenient and portable. This is also an easy way to sneak some vegetables into your child’s lunch if they aren’t the greatest at eating them on their own. Simply remember to provide a fork to avoid receiving a reprimand from your irate, forkless youngster. Like a first-grader without a fork, hell hath no fury like that.
“Healthy” muffins for the morning.
Every now and then, I whip up a batch of muffins in custom bakery boxes with low-sugar ingredients that have nutritious ingredients like hemp seed, greek yoghurt, or squash. Then I pack one or two for my son’s lunch, along with fruit and a source of protein such as almonds, string cheese, or a hard-boiled egg.
Pizza Made at Home
Although I said that school pizza was terrible, homemade pizza is delectable! I often get a pre-made whole grain crust and then top it with nutritious stuff such as mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, and pepperoni.
Quiche
Do you ever cook quiche for supper at home? Send the leftovers to school if this is the case! Not only does it taste excellent cold, but it is also high in protein and fat, which will keep them going for the remainder of the day. Include some vegetables, either in the quiche or on the side. You can present it in bakery boxes wholesale.
Sandwich in a pita
Fill a whole-wheat pita with a spread such as hummus, and then top with shredded cheese and vegetables. Serve with grapes and cucumber slices.
Whole Wheat Macaroni and Cheese with Peas by Annie’s
On weekends, we often prepare a box of Annie’s Mac n’ Cheese shells. My sons like adding peas, which appear to fit snugly within the fried shells. Naturally, I prepare extra so that it can be easily transported to school for lunch.
Hopefully, a couple of these suggestions sounded tempting. While transitions may be challenging, take heart in the idea that you are doing what is best for your children. While we must continue to push for healthy school meals, you can take control of your child’s nutrition by raising eaters with an eye for colour and variety. I assure you they will appreciate it.
