Lunch Time!
Back to School Solutions from Table365
Week 3: Packing Healthy Lunches
It’s that time of year again. Our annual post with tips, systems, and solutions on how to best pack lunches that offer healthy, fulfilling, options every day to feed brains as well as stomachs. Including our every popular, Table365 Lunch Ideas List, to print and hang in your kitchen cupboard or inside your pantry.
Healthy Homemade Lunch = Protein + Carb/Grain + Vegetable + Fruit
The best way to make sure kids get a filling lunch is to make it as well-rounded as you can. Planning something from each of these groups will help you do that. Here is a sample weekly schedule/plan using this “formula” for putting a week’s worth of lunches together. It can also be an example of having one set weekly schedule that you essentially repeat each week with any seasonal substitutions your kids enjoy. See our Table365 list for ideas to make different combinations, or to set up your weekly rotation.
Sample Weekly Schedule / Plan:
- Mon: Soup + cheese cubes + crackers + fruit
- Tues: Bean burrito + roasted vegetables + fruit
- Wed: Tuna, ham, or turkey sandwich or wrap + fruit + vegetable
- Thurs: Pita + hummus + vegetables (cucumber & cherry tomatoes) + fruit
- Fri: Pizza + fruit + vegetable
Super speedy: For the days that go off-track, stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Starbucks offer fresh, pre-packed options of vegetables, fruit, cheese, and crackers that can make a quick stand-in packed lunch.
Feeding Your Family System for SCHOOL LUNCH:
1. Make a plan / schedule
Plan out your school lunches the same way you do your other meals. Even if your child is going to purchase school meals on some days, keep track of those as well so you balance them out on other days homemade options. Create your own template, or use one of our favorites as you plan.
2. Stock your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer – this is the real key!
Having all the necessities on hand will make school lunch preparation less stressful. Make sure your grocery lists always have the staples you need. We’ve created a list that you can print and post inside your “lunch-prep” cupboard – personalize with your family favorites, too. Use the Table365 Lunch Ideas List for inspiration and to create your shopping list.
3. Have a lunch-prep area in the kitchen
Save time by creating one lunch-prep station in your kitchen. It could be a cupboard, a few shelves, or a large drawer. Stow all the lunch boxes, thermoses, packing containers, re-usable bags, notes, bento box goodies, and anything else you use to create the daily packed lunch. Check our Pinterest site for some creative ideas for lunch-prep areas.
4. Pack Efficiently
Save time by having multiple containers. Some foods can be prepped ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator or cupboard. (Cut up a whole melon for multiple day lunches, snacks, and fruit salads; store in multiple small containers; take out and pack during the week. The same thing can be done with most carbs/grains.) Use multiple thermoses to pack soup or hot leftovers the night before. Freeze a blender of smoothies in small thermoses, and take out to pack in a lunch; and they will be thawed and ready to drink by lunchtime. Make an entire package of tortillas into bean burritos (or quesadillas), freeze each one individually in re-usable sandwich bags, and pack as needed.
More lunch inspiration:
- Packing lunch is easier with good gear. The blog Wendolonia gives a very thorough and useful comparison of lunch boxes, bags, and containers.
- Table365 Interview with lunch time chef and expert, Teri Esensten of NEST.
- Table365 lunch ideas on Pinterest
Happy back to school!
