Back to School Basics: Better Brown Bag Lunches and Snacks

Give school lunch a healthy punch! Packing lunch and snacks is a great way to provide your kids with a nutritious midday meal. Here are a few tips and suggestions for making lunch and snack time fun, kid-friendly, and of course, healthy.

Does your child’s school have a scheduled snack time? In some schools, lunch can be as early as 10:00am. As a result, many school districts have added a snack time to their afternoon schedules. This ensures that kids will get the right amount of nutrition to keep their energy soaring throughout the school day.

Healthy Brown Bag Lunch and Snack Shopping List
- 100% whole-grain bread, pita or bagels
- Low-fat cheese (sliced, string)
- Whole-grain crackers
- Low-fat yogurt and cottage cheese
- Fresh cut fruit and vegetables
- Canned fruit (packed in juice)
- Lean deli meats (ham, turkey, roast beef or chicken)
- Shelf stable low-fat milk cartons
- Nut butter (peanut, almond or cashew)
- Tuna fish (canned in water)
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Canned soup (reduced sodium)
- Low-fat dressings and condiments

Tips for Fun School Lunch and Snacks

1. Dip or dunk. Kids love eating finger foods because they make meal time lots of fun. Pack fruits and vegetables paired with low-fat dressing or condiments. Or try whole grain crackers paired with low-fat cheese slices

2. Make it special. Transform a healthy lunch into a special treat. Fill celery sticks with nut butter, cut sandwiches into fun shapes, or add granola and fruit to yogurt.

3. Get them involved. Have your kids help pack lunch. Kids are more likely to accept healthy foods if they have had a hand in preparing them. Plus, it is a great way to spend quality time with your kids and hear input from them on their likes and dislikes.

Get Packing! Lunch Ideas

1. Make a bento-box lunch of all their favorite foods. Use small plastic containers for low-fat tuna salad, veggie sticks, whole-grain crackers, and low-fat ranch dressing. It’s up to them how they choose to dig in. Snack tip: veggies and dip make a great school snack!

2. Pack a thermos of a healthy and hearty soup. Try a Mexican style chicken soup. Choose a reduced fat and reduced sodium variety. Then, add a small plastic bag of shredded low-fat cheddar cheese for topping, baked tortilla chips, and a piece of fruit.

3. Spread 2 tbsp of almond butter and 2 tsp of strawberry jelly onto whole-wheat bread slices. Top almond butter side with sliced strawberries and place jelly slice on top. Cut the sandwich into the shape of a heart. Pack with strawberry yogurt and sliced red apples for a red theme with a heartfelt touch. Snack tip: sliced apples and peanut
butter are a fun school snack

Stay tuned for Back to School Basics: Weeknight Dine and Dash Dinners