Getting your little one started on the right foot each day begins with a good breakfast but continues throughout the day with a nutritious lunch. While we all squeak by sometimes with a less-than-stellar meal, providing your child with a balanced and healthy lunch will give them the energy that they need to stay positive -powering their brain and their muscles throughout the rest of the day. Here are some tips on packing a healthy lunch for your child.
Scale Quantities Appropriately
As adults, it may surprise us that children only need to eat a small quantity of food in order to stay healthy and thrive. Children love to have small snacks on a fairly regular basis instead of a larger meal, but this can be challenging from a planning perspective. Finding healthy options for children with allergies or who are just a little bit picky can be a bit more challenging and you can easily find yourself boxed into the same few foods every day. It’s best to provide a variety of options but just a few bites of each food item is plenty so keep the portions small.
Picky Eaters Approve
You can start your healthy lunch by sending water to drink instead of sugary juice for older kids, while younger ones may do better with milk. Flavored water is a good alternative if your child is not a fan of drinking regular water. Try these ideas to mix up your child’s lunchbox:
- Bits of cheese and meat are the perfect finger food
- Healthy muffins made with fresh fruit and whole wheat flour
- Chopped boiled eggs are yummy and a great source of protein
- Whole wheat pita bread
- Yogurt with berries
- Soft veggies such as cubed cucumbers, carrots or cooked broccoli
- Chopped fruit such as grapes, bananas, peaches & strawberries
You might be surprised at how much your child enjoys different foods when they’re given a variety. While they may not eat everything you pack, keep the quantities extremely small of each item (think: 5-6 chopped grapes instead of a bunch). At Creative Corner Child Care Center, we love to learn and play — which makes the energy that comes from healthy eating extra important for our kids! Visit us online today to learn more or fill out our quick online form and we’ll reach out to you.
