As parents, getting back into the school routine can be challenging! We now have to make sure the kids are ready to go in the morning with a healthy lunch in their hands that they will love. Luckily, these lunches don’t have to break our financial budget or cause too much stress in our time management. Here are five fast and very affordable lunch ideas that are also nutritious and delicious. Wow! Simplicity at it’s finest.
#1. Peanut Butter & Banana sandwich with a yogurt on the side. You have whole grain bread for high fiber, fruit, protein, and dairy all in one simple meal. Easy to prep for the grab-n-go morning.
#2. Slurp-it-up Soup. Make a bigger batch of soup for dinner so that your kids can have soup for lunch the next day in their thermos. Accompany the soup with a piece of fruit. You cooked 1 giant meal that can last for many more.
#3. Chicken Pasta Salad. Add roasted chicken to penne pasta. (You can roast a big batch of the chicken breasts or shred up a store-bought rotisserie chicken). Toss in sliced cherry tomatoes, grated parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and salt, pepper, & garlic to taste.
Quick Tip: Make extra pasta the night before so you have leftover pasta to toss for the salad.
#4. Cheese & Cracker Stackers. Prep this lunch the night before and put each food item into a separate container or bag so that your kid can make his own stacker at lunch time. The kids can also get involved with putting the food into the containers the night before so that they’ll actually eat what they prep the next day.
A stacker is when someone layers different foods on top of a cracker and literally stacks it up. Topping ideas are endless. Possible ingredients: Crackers (look for crackers with 3 grams of fiber or more and less than 5 grams of fat per serving), hummus, cheese, deli-meats such as turkey or ham, pickles, or any veggie (try sliced cucumbers).
#5. Pita Pocket. Make any sandwich into a pita pocket. Change up the standard bread idea and grab a pita. Stuff the pita with lettuce, hummus, tomatoes, cucumber, & turkey and you’ve got a fun and unique revised sandwich. Eat with a fruit on the side.
Use these practical meals to keep your little ones nourished throughout the day. A well-balanced plate will help them develop and grow while providing them with the energy they need. These kid-friendly lunch ideas will be a sure hit. Enjoy your prep!
*Sarah Koszyk is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach. She developed Family. Food. Fiesta. by bringing back the basics of home-cooked meals and fun family times. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
