Make School Lunches Awesome

     Back to school means school lunches, and school lunches can be pretty terrible. I just had a nostolgic conversation the other day about school lunches, but quickly realized that a lot of what I ate for lunch as a kid wasn't real food. Rectangular pizza, "extreme nachos," Cosmic Brownies, and the worst offender: Lunchables. 

"Lunch" = pepperoni + "cheese" + pretzel sticks. This is not a lunch.

I know making a healthy, tasty lunch for your kids takes some time and preparation. I'm guilty as anyone of throwing together a lunch on my way out the door full of things I'll regret later. While one convenient lunch every once in a while won't kill you, making a habit of it might. Here's a few tips for making your kids' school lunches tasty, healthy, and awesome.

Choose the Right Containers

     Choosing the right containers to pack your kids' lunches will keep your beautiful spread from getting scrambled on the journey to the lunchroom. Lisa Leake of 100 Days of Real Food recommends finding a container with individual compartments and a locking, leak-proof lid (click here to see her recommendations). However you pack school lunches, make sure your child can easily open all the containers and that food won't get crushed or smashed before lunchtime.

Ditch Processed Foods, Pack the Real Stuff

     Processed food is basically the equivalent of cat videos on YouTube; we might like them, but they don't make our lives any better. Lisa Leake has a lot of great advice about how to choose the right food for your kids' lunches and ditch the bad stuff. She regularly posts photos on her blog of lunches she packed for her kids to get you inspired to try something new! If your child demands Lunchables, she gives us some great tips on how to make homemade, healthy versions of the most popular choices. 

Leave a Note!

     You can make any lunch memorable by leaving a note for your child alongside their favorite food. Writing something as simple as "I love you!" can mean a lot to your child. You can write a helpful Bible verse, an encouraging phrase, draw a picture, or make them laugh with joke. Leaving a note is a simple and quick way to let them know their worth and value. 

School lunches don't have to be miserable. With a little bit of planning, you can make your kids' lunches awesome!

Web Catch of the Week: Kids in the Kitchen

     In our last two posts ("Make 2016 Count" Part 1 & Part 2), we’ve been exploring ways to have our best year yet. I can imagine one of your goals for the year may have something to do with physical health. An important factor in staying healthy and making sure our kids learn healthy habits is watching what we eat. I know from personal experience that I can go to the gym every night of the week, but if I'm not maintaining a healthy diet, exercise seems pointless. When we consider our children’s eating habits, the decisions we make today could impact them for a lifetime.

     One way to model healthy eating habits for your kids is to get in the kitchen together! This may sound daunting or even dreadful for busy parents, but a mom named Kelly has offered some great tips for "cultivating little sous chefs" on her blog The Nourishing Home. She reminds us that yes, the kitchen may end up messier and the cooking process will most likely take longer in the beginning, but there are so many educational and practical skills that your kids can learn from helping prepare a meal. You can help diversify their taste buds, and with a little patience, strengthen your relationship as well. Hey, you may even end up with someone to make you dinner!

     If you’re worried about finding the time to cook with your kids, a good starting point may be to try and make a healthy breakfast on Saturday morning with the whole family. Here is a delicious recipe for homemade granola from Pass The Knife, a home-based blog solely focused on bringing kids into the kitchen. 

     Is cooking a family affair for you? Tell us some ways you integrate your children into the cooking process, share a favorite family recipe, or feel free to ask meal-prep questions by leaving a comment!