School Lunch Ideas
Lunch should be a source of comfort for kids in school, so a list of simple, tasty, and nutritious foods that kids love can make lunch easier. Here are some food ideas to pack for lunch for your kids.
When preparing school lunches, ensure fresh and ripe fruits and vegetables. If not, they will be much less nutritious and may even contain toxins. Before eating, wash fruit and veggies thoroughly to remove any pesticides or harmful residues. It would be best if you tried to eat at least five servings of fruit and two servings of vegetables daily. When choosing fruit, make sure to select seasonal varieties over out-of-season options. Fruits in season tend to taste better and have a higher nutritional value because they are grown locally, using local suppliers who pay attention to the soil conditions, weather patterns, etc., for optimal production.
Milk is a great food to drink while at school, but it’s important to know what kind of milk is better for us. Most schools now offer 1% or 2% milk skim milk. Regular milk contains extra cholesterol, saturated fats, and protein that are unnecessary for our bodies. Skim milk is often fortified with vitamins B12 and D2 and is considered healthier since it does not have these additional nutrients.
Yogurt is also a good choice for breakfast and lunch. It’s a great way to add probiotics to your kid’s diet. Many yogurts also do not contain artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, or preservatives. However, yogurt can become spoiled quickly if kept outside, so make sure to store it inside of a refrigerator. One serving of plain Greek yogurt has 80 calories.
Nuts are an excellent snack to munch on throughout the day. Cashews, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and peanuts are among the nut varieties available in supermarkets. Walnuts and almonds are high in omega-3 fatty acids and help maintain heart function. Pistachio nuts provide fiber, vitamin E, copper, and manganese. Peanuts are also a good source of niacin, thiamine, and folate.