Healthy School Lunches from Home

School is back in session and while breakfast (like these yummy Waffle Breakfast Sandwiches) may seem like the main meal parents have control over to start the day, we want to spend some time focusing on healthy school lunch ideas. As a parent, packing a healthy lunch gives you some control over what your child eats at school, and as a kid there’s something so exciting about opening up your lunchbox every day to find out what’s inside!

Should you make school lunches at home?

Making a school lunch at home offers several advantages, including better control over nutrition, cost savings, and the ability to tailor meals to your kids' specific preferences or dietary needs. It also helps kids develop healthy eating habits, especially if they are involved in the lunchbox prep. Making school lunches at home lets you to choose fresh, high-quality ingredients and avoid processed foods, added sugars, and excess sodium often found in pre-packaged or cafeteria options. Making lunches at home can be more affordable than purchasing meals at school. 

In an effort to make sure your child isn’t trading their lunchbox items for cookies and other treats, take a few minutes to think about how you can make lunch healthy AND exciting for kids.

Best ideas for school lunches:

• Make it bite-sized – Kids love bite-sized foods. Try making a roll-up with turkey and cheese and cutting it into 5-6 pieces instead of one big roll-up. Other roll-up ideas include Cabot Cream Cheese and jelly, Cabot Sliced Muenster Cheese and ham, or shredded carrots and lettuce dressed with Cabot Ranch Dip.
  
• Change it up – Don’t pack the same boring old sandwich every day. Try putting the contents in a pita pocket instead or pack something like a leftover quesadilla or a slice of homemade pizza from dinner the night before.
• Make a healthier treat – It’s always fun to get a treat in your lunchbox. If you rarely include sweets because you aren’t a fan of the less healthful, prepackaged options, try making a healthier version of a favorite treat you can feel good about.  Homemade chocolate pudding or granola bars are easy to whip up at home!
• Serve it bento style – Kids love options (and most don’t want their food to touch anyway!) Bento-style lunches include small amounts of several different things in separate compartments. For younger children especially, this can help keep lunch exciting and less messy.
• Add a dip – If you pack veggies like carrots, be sure to include a dip. Try hummus or homemade ranch dip made with Greek-style yogurt.
• How about breakfast for lunch - Many breakfast recipes pack well and make healthy choices for kids meals. Try Egg and Veggie Muffin Cups or a yogurt-fruit smoothie packed in a thermos.

Follow these tips to get your kids excited about eating a healthy lunch! Or why not have them join you in the kitchen? A great way to inspire and challenge your small cooks is to get them involved in preparing the meals they eat.

Try these Cabot school lunch idea recipes

Bento Box

Mini Taco Cups

Italian Style Pita Pizza

Stromboli, aka Pizza Rolls

Cheddar Spinach Egg Bites

Chocolate Yogurt Pudding

Cheddar "Compost" Cookie