Packing Your Child’s Lunch is Beneficial
Packing your child’s school lunch has some big advantages over having them participate in the school lunch program. You can often prepare the lunches cheaper at home, the meals you prepare for your child can easily be made healthier than what might be available in the school cafeteria and you can cater to your child’s individual taste.
The first step in sending a lunch with your child is to come up with ideas on what types of foods you’ll include each day. Each lunch should include some sort of main dish (this can be a sandwich, a wrap, or a hot lunch dish), one or two sides, a drink and possibly a snack or dessert.
Sandwiches are the norm when it comes to the main lunch dish, but why not mix it up a little. Use different types of bread or buns for sandwiches; or use a tortilla to make a wrap. Bagels and pita pockets are also great sandwich options. Older kids also enjoy a salad topped with ham and cheese or grilled chicken breast for lunch. Remember to pack the salad dressing in a separate container, so the salad doesn’t get soggy.
If your child has access to a microwave at school, consider packing leftovers from last night’s dinner in a microwavable container with a tight fitting lid. Soups can also be heated up for lunch. An alternative to the microwave are insulated cups and mugs that will keep the leftovers or soup hot until its time for your child to each lunch.
There are all kinds of thermos type containers on the market today. You can find wide-mouthed versions available that are perfect for carrying soups or stews to school. You may also want to invest in an insulated water bottle for your child. This will allow them to carry anything from water to fruit juices to school.
Last but not least, let’s talk about how your child will actually carry their lunch to school. There are quite a few different types of lunch boxes and containers available. If you are packing a sandwich, a piece of fruit and a bag of chips, you don’t really need anything more than a few sandwich bags and maybe a small brown paper bag to let your child carry lunch in. Of course hard plastic lunch boxes are also a good option and will keep the sandwich and chips or pretzels from getting smashed and messy.
What you pack for your child’s lunch and how you send them to school can be determined by keeping in mind things such as the child’s age, the type of lunches they will be eating and convenience. Don’t think just because they are taking their lunch to school means they have to eat the same boring things everyday. By mixing it up and giving them a variety, they just might end up the envy of all the kids at the lunch table.
