How to Pack a Frugal, Tasty and Healthy Lunch for Your Kids
If your kids are spending the summer in various activities outside of the house, chances are you’re packing them lunches. You may be caving to the pressure to buy pre-packaged convenience foods but the truth is: they aren’t healthy and they’re a waste of money. Here are my suggestions for lunches on the go for the summer and during the school year.
Ditch the soda: It’s way overpriced and kids shouldn’t be drinking it anyway (or adults either!). Buy a cool refillable water bottle. Buy the individual powdered water flavorings. Most of them have almost no calories and they are a great way to get kids to drink water. Plus, kids will love opening the tiny package and pouring it in to the bottle themselves.
Keep it all cold with an ice pack: Nobody likes warm lunch meat. Get an insulated bag that fits an ice pack.
Dip it: You know all those dipping sauces you get at the Drive-Thru? Save them! Throw them in the lunch bag with veggie sticks. What a great way to entice kids to eat veggies! You can also save your fast food condiments so that kids can spread them on their sandwiches at lunchtime!
No ordinary sandwich: Use a whole grain tortilla, lettuce wraps, a pita…the possibilities are endless! You can even use cookie cutters to turn a plain and boring sandwich into something fun!
Sweet treats: Don’t load up the lunch bag with cookies and candy. Try dried fruit or homemade granola. It’s okay to indulge now and then, but a homemade chocolate chip cookie is always going to be more wholesome and healthy than anything made by a magic elf in a tree.
Be a copycat: You know those boxes of individually sliced cheese, meat and crackers that your kid throws a fit for every time you go to the store? They’re way expensive considering the amount of food you get. Make your own! Do you own slicing and carefully package it all together and you’ll not just make your kid happy, you’ll save money.
Another must have food item among children today is drinkable yogurt. Again, the cost is sky high! You can buy a small yogurt and throw it in the blender with enough milk to make it thin and smooth and serve it in your own cool container. You can even freeze it in ice cube trays, add some toothpicks for handles, and make it into frozen yogurt pops!
You may be thinking “My kid wants what he sees on commercials and whatever his friends have.”, but I think you will quickly find that children really do appreciate the extra care you provide when you prepare their lunches yourself.
Images: oprah.com, missoulian.com
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