creative lunch ideas for kindergarteners

#Creative lunch ideas for kindergarteners full#
#Creative lunch ideas for kindergarteners free#

DrinksĪs much as you’re trying to keep things kid-friendly, aim for nutritious drinks as much as possible. Offering something your child will not hesitate to eat ensures that they get at least something in their belly during the day. While you can encourage your child to eat their entire lunch, it’s not possible to enforce this each day of the week while they’re at school. a food that you know your child will eat). These are what we call “safe” snacks (i.e. Some great options for sides are baked or tortilla chips, pretzels, string cheese, pasta salad, low-sugar cereal, rice cakes, popcorn, and Greek yogurt cups. Now that the bulk of the meal is complete, a “side item” can round it all out. Add a side of hummus or low-fat ranch for added flavor. That being said, popular favorites are baby carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas, and bell peppers. If your kids are picky eaters, getting them to eat their veggies might be a bit more tricky. Instead, offer smaller, easy-to-chew options, such as blueberries, strawberries, apple slices, and grapes. And a kid with a loose front tooth can’t bite into a whole apple. Toddlers going to daycare might not be able to bite into a baby carrot.

Most fruits are safe to pack, as long as your kid’s lunchbox is well-insulated.Īlso take their teeth into account. And for picky eaters, they’re much more customizable than the store-bought versions. Whole wheat crackers, cheese, and low-sodium lunch meat are easy to pack and universally loved. If they eat it at home, they will be happy to see a fan favorite in their packed lunch.įor a last-minute meal kids will love, homemade “Lunchables” are hard to beat. Other easy proteins are ham and cheese, cucumber and cream cheese, chicken salad sandwiches, egg salad, and boiled eggs. (Swap the tortilla for some pita bread for a Mediterranean twist!) The turkey provides protein, the cheddar provides dairy, condiments provide fat (fat is healthy, too!), and the tortilla provides carbohydrates for energy. You can add as much or as little to them according to your child’s preference. Some personal favorites are these turkey and cheddar roll-ups.

#Creative lunch ideas for kindergarteners free#

It tastes amazing too!)įor the main course, feel free to be as creative or simple as you’d like. (If your child’s school/classroom is nut-free, use an alternative such as sunflower seed butter. Protein comes in many forms such as nuts, lean meats, eggs, and dairy. Protein is more filling than fats, carbs, or fiber, which means it’ll keep your children going all afternoon.

Start with a protein for your main part of the meal.

#Creative lunch ideas for kindergarteners full#

There’s nothing wrong with the occasional peanut butter and jelly and chips but it’s just as easy to make something a bit more nutritious that will keep them full until the last bell rings. If they are happy and healthy, that’s all that matters. The good news is that kids’ lunch ideas don’t have to be complicated or cut into cute shapes. This includes protein, fruit, vegetables, and a starch/carb. Read on to find some healthy kids’ lunch ideas that you can be sure will get your kids to eat in the short lunch time they have.Įach lunch box should have the basic staples of food. They will gobble it up as quickly as they open it! The good news is that it’s simple to create a delicious and nutritious lunch box that your child will enjoy so much that the time won’t matter. By the time they reach the lunchroom, students may only have 15 minutes to eat.Īs a parent, how do you make sure that they get a healthy lunch that they can eat in a short amount of time?

These healthy school lunch ideas for kids will get you off to a great start.ĭid you know that the average school lunch time is only 25 minutes? That time includes lining up, walking to, and sitting down for lunch. A new school year is right around the corner.