Why wait for the kids to go back to school in the fall to start healthy eating habits. Now that it’s a brand new year, start now with something as simple as tweaking their school lunches! We’re all a little guilty of walking into the supermarket and going down the aisles with the prepackaged, sugary foods and putting them in our shopping cart, simply because it’s easier. But, eating healthier and shopping healthier doesn’t have to be a chore. By stopping into Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market and picking fresh, farm market foods for kids lunches, they will not only benefit by having more energy during the school day and teach them healthy eating habits, but you’ll save money as well. So, let’s take a look at a few ways you can make your kids lunches a little bit healthier and meal prep a little bit easier this New Year:
Make Your Own Lunchables
Plastic meal prep containers work great when it comes to making kids lunches. The divided compartments make it easy to provide items from each food group, and they’re reusable! These containers also store really well so you can pack lunches in advance and be prepared for the week. Get smaller ones with only a couple compartments and create a snack pack – something as simple as grapes and trail mix. And make a larger one with PB&J, some blueberries and pretzels for a lunch pack. If your kid is an ambitious eater, go for something a little fancier. Something like whole grain pasta, cucumbers, red bell peppers, and some cubed salami will go a long way and can easily be tossed together or eaten separately.
Get Creative with Sandwiches
Pinwheel or rollup sandwiches are a healthy and easy alternative to a regular sandwich. Grab a wheat tortilla, some turkey and cheese, roll it up, cut it into slices, and use a toothpick to hold it together. You can even do the same with some cucumber and hummus, easily making a few lunches for the week. Or, if your kids prefer regular sandwiches, substitute with the healthy ingredients, and make use of your cookie cutters by cutting them into a fun shape for a great surprise when they open their lunchbox.
Give Them Healthy Snacks
Fruit is a great go-to healthy snack, but sometimes it’s hard to preserve it. So stick with something like strawberries or blueberries that can be cut up and put in a container for the week without going brown. Fruigees squeezable fruit snacks are also perfect for kids if you’re looking to get them to eat more fruit, and the Green Mountain Creamery squeezable yogurts are perfect for the yogurt lover in your family. Carrots and peanut butter, cheese sticks, hummus and pretzel cups, and the 88 Acres or That’s It fruit bars are a healthy snacking option and provide a good alternative to chips if they prefer munching on something crunchy. Fruit leather makes for a great snack as well, AND it’s easy to make yourself – you don’t even have to add any sugar to it!
Replace the Sugary Juice Box with a Fruity Natural One
Not only can you trust that you’re giving your kid’s a healthy fruity drink when you buy Kuji or Honest Kids juice boxes, but if you freeze them the night before, they can double as an ice pack inside their lunchbox! And for an extra special treat, we have 6-pack ciders that are the perfect size for a school lunch. Lunch box smoothies are also a fun and healthy option. Grab some of your favorite fruits and vegetables, blend them up, and freeze them. By lunchtime, they’ll be slushy enough to eat!
While those prepackaged supermarket foods seem easier, they’re not always healthier. So, the next time you walk into the grocery store and go to reach for those sugary snacks, don’t give in. Instead stop in to Bishop’s Orchards and pick up the fresh produce and farm market items that will make your kids lunch, a healthier one.