4 Tricks and Tips for Packing a Winning Lunchbox

When it's time to send your child off to school, you want to be sure to pack them a healthy lunch.  But it is at least as important that you pack them a lunch they will eat.  As a parent, the real goal should be to manage to do both of those things at the same time.  The healthiest lunch in the world won't do your child a bit of good if they won't eat it.

Feed Your Kid, Not the Neighbor's
So how do you ensure that your kid will eat what you pack?  The first step is to know your child.  Know what foods they like, what they don't like and what there is no way in the world they will eat.  While some parents have children that will eat anything, all too many have those whose largest repertoire falls into that last category.  So, sit down with your child and make a list of things that they will eat if you pack it in their lunch.  Make the list something that can grow and change with your child's tastes.

But My Kid Won't Eat . . .
A lot of kids have certain food groups they shy away from.  While it is important to feed them a nutritious meal, it is equally important to remember not to push too hard.  If you have a child that won't eat veggies, pack a few carrot sticks, but make sure the lunch includes a fruit they will eat as well.  Your child won't eat meat?  Shoot for beans or nuts.  Additionally, if you are feeling particularly crafty, there are recipe books on the market dedicated to sneaking nutrition into your kid's food.

Get the Right Supplies
No matter how much they may like the ingredients on it, no one wants a soggy sandwich.  Adults wouldn't eat one, so why should they expect their children to?  Invest in containers that can keep things like sliced tomatoes separate.  This keeps the sandwich fresher and makes it more appealing to your child.  What if the only way your kid will eat veggies is with dip?  In that case, be certain you have small containers that can be filled with dip and packed into their lunchbox.  These purchases don't cost much, and in the long run they can make packing a healthy lunch for your child much easier.

Mix It Up
Once you have your supplies and a well-thought-out list of items from each of the major food groups that your child will eat, learn to mix them up.  There is no reason for lunch to be boring.  Make your kid peanut butter and banana on a tortilla.  Take the time to cut up meats and cheeses to make them a healthy "packaged" lunch.  Use English muffins with pizza sauce and cheese in separate containers to make mini pizzas.  By all means, let them have breakfast again - send them to school with sliced strawberries, cereal and milk.  Some kids will eat anything that comes on a stick – coat a banana in peanut butter and roll it in cereal.  The sky is the limit as long as you think creatively.

Use your imagination and input from your child to create healthy lunches they can enjoy day after day.  And by all means, sneak in the carrot sticks.  Who knows, by the end of the year they might actually be eating them.