Kids Week: Healthy Lunch Idea&#39;s

I have always had a hard time getting away from sandwiches and soup for lunches until I had kids and then it become a huge deal to figure out a nice variety of idea's.

If you look at the food guide and choose 3 or 4 different food groups, add in a snack and drink you can make a very healthy lunch for yourself and your children. It is very simple and can be done in three simple steps!

Step 1: Include food from:

Milk and Alternative

Milk
Soy beverage
Yogurt
Cheese
Cottage cheese
Puddings that are milk based

Veggies and Fruit

Apple slices
Banana
Oranges
Canned Fruit that is unsweetened
Applesauce unsweetened
Celery sticks
Carrot sticks
Cucumber slices
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Dried Fruit Trail Mix

Grain Products - Choose Whole Wheat when possible

Bread
Tortillas
Pita Pockets
Pasta
Buns
Bagels
Muffins
Rice Cakes
Crackers

Meat and Alternatives

Tuna
Deli Meat (ham, chicken, roast beef, turkey breast)
Hummus (chickpea spread)
Beans & Lentils
Chili
Nuts & seeds (if you are not somewhere that is a no nut policy)

If you are sending a snack to school with the kids follow Steps 2 and 3

Step 2: Add a healthy snack

Homemade Muffins
Homemade cookies - Oatmeal
Veggies/fruit and yogurt dip
Dried Fruit

Step 3: Add a drink

Water
Milk
Chocolate Milk
100% Fruit Juice
Vegetable Juice - Look for low sodium

It does become easier to make school lunches when you keep the food groups in mind and also helps if you children are not picky eaters. My daughter is a picky eater but isn't picky in the sense that she wont eat her fruit and veggies, she doesn't care much for sandwiches or meat. This proves difficult some days but but I will pack here tons of fruit and veggies along with cheese and crackers.

The idea's are endless this is just a short list of what you can include to make a tasty and healthy lunch for your children.

~*Jennifer

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Marvelous Mommy Meals. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are honest and my own.*~