Read Next: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Energy Balls: No-Refined-Sugar Snack for Kids I’m a pretty avid label-reader so if you’re wondering why I picked certain specific items, it’s likely because I feel like it’s a good choice for my kids, it’s a budget-friendly option, or it’s the “lesser evil” out of the available options for that category.įor example, I prefer to buy Baked or Original Lays chips instead of Cheetos and unsweetened applesauce because of the high sugar content in other varieties. The items on this list are all things that my kids eat regularly. I decided to include mostly cold lunch ideas for kids, with the exception of a few thermos lunch options. Overall, these are healthy, common sense ideas and recipes that are budget-friendly, easy to prepare, and with ingredients readily available at any grocery store (with the exception of some seasonal fruits & veggies of course). Use this list to help make your grocery list, and to remember your plan throughout the week.Using a fine-tip dry erase marker, go over this list with your kids and check off the items you plan to buy/pack for lunches during the week.Attach to your fridge or inside of a kitchen cabinet (where you’ll see it frequently).( Try this onefrom Amazon - or for multiple kids, use these and use a different color for each child.) Take page 1 (I call it the Master List) and place it in a clear plastic sleeve.Here’s how I keep my kids’ lunches organized with the school lunch planner: With my kids’ help, I compiled a one-page list of ideas, broken down by category (Main Dish/Protein Veggies Fruits, etc), and included 10 new recipes for you to try out if you need them. We just need a basic list of easy-to-make ideas and maybe a few new recipes to try out on the weekend, obtain kid approval and add to the school-lunch arsenal. (That’s totally a word because I just said it out loud.)īecause the fact is, most of us don’t need 76 new recipes to learn. But who has the time?Īnd on Pinterest, I would run across articles boasting “76 Awesome School Lunch Recipes” and would totally give up in overwhelmed-ment. We obviously got stuck in a yogurt-filled rut last year when we ran out of other ideas!Įvery time I researched ideas online, it seemed like all I found was cutesy pictures of fruit cut into flowers and whatnot. My motivation came from my 11-year-old, whose only request as we were discussing this topic was: “I don’t ever want to see another cup of yogurt in my life.” So, being the organizer/planner that I hope to be, I was determined this year to do something about these problems! School Lunch Planning – Simplified Please see our disclosure for more info.īasic Guide to Creating a Weekly Meal Plan on a BudgetĮasy Budget-friendly Lunch Ideas for Kids at Home or On-the-GoĪir Fryer Pizza Roll-Ups: Kid Friendly Lunch or Snack This post likely contains affiliate links. Even if we get #1 through #4 figured out, a lot of the easy options aren’t as healthy (or cost effective) as we’d like for them to be.Lack of EASY things to make that don’t require a microwave.Trouble remembering what we planned to pack for the whole week after grocery shopping.When it comes to packing those lunch boxes, it seems like every mom I talk to has the same issues in this area: ½ apple (sliced), 3 prunes, 1⁄3 cup grapes (cut up), or ½ orangeĪdditional Information on Health圜hildren.Do you dread figuring out what to pack in your kids’ lunch boxes like I do? I’m always on the hunt for new school lunch ideas, especially at the start of a new school year.Ĭoming up with a variety of school lunch choices is one of the hardest tasks for parents during back-to-school season.½ cup berries or 1 small (½ ounce) low-fat oatmeal cookie.2–3 carrot sticks (cut up) or 2 tablespoons other dark- yellow or dark-green vegetable.½ sandwich-1 slice whole wheat bread, 1 ounce meat, slice of cheese, veggie (avocado, lettuce, or tomato).4 crackers with cheese or hummus or ½ cup cut-up fruit or berries.½ teaspoon margarine or butter or 1 teaspoon jelly.1⁄3 cup fruit (for example, banana, cantaloupe, or strawberries).Note: This menu is planned for a two-year-old child who weighs approximately 27 pounds (12.5 kg). See the following sample menu ideas for a two-year-old. Whenever possible, offer your child finger foods instead of soft ones that require a fork or spoon to eat. Do not fixate on amounts and do not make mealtimes a battle. He or she can eat the same food as the rest of the family. By age two, your child should be eating three healthy meals a day, plus one or two snacks.
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