Simple Solutions for Healthy School Lunches and After School Snacks

I’ve discovered a little secret….

When I let my daughter pack her lunch she eats it all at school and comes home with empty containers and a full tummy!

I know you’re thinking that’s easier said that done, she’s only 6.  How could she pack her own lunch and make all healthy choices?  It’s simple.

Solutions for Healthy School Lunches with Kids

We’ve found an easy solution.  We use the Glad® Food Storage containers to hold each food group for her side items and her sandwich.  She selects them each morning to put in her lunch box. We’ve been working on food groups & nutrition with our Little Hands that Cook with Books Series so she’s learning quite a lot about which belongs in each group.  When we’re making a list or shopping we’re always looking to build our rainbow of choices too!  At the beginning of the week once we’ve done our shopping we fill up the containers together and store them.

• Fruits ~ strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, watermelon, mandarin oranges, & dried fruit
• Vegetables ~ baby carrots, celery, edamome, cucumbers, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, & tossed salad
• Dairy ~ String cheese, cubed cheese, yogurt fruit & veggie dips, & yogurt parfaits
• Protein ~ rolled meat and cheese, beef jerky, bean salad, & chicken salad
• Grains ~ pasta Salad, Rice Cakes, Goldfish  ,Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies , Pretzels, Crackers, homemade granola bars & trail mix

When After School Time arrives, she’s looking for a snack.  We’ve got it all set.  She has a spot in the refrigerator and in the pantry to store her snack choices.  That have already been created on the weekends with me and just the right portions.

Now half the fun is making things together that inspires her to eat her food all gone. Here’s our recipe for making our own version of Heart Healthy Energy Bars, which are a big hit at our house and at afterschool playdates.  Here are few more helpful go to recipes to make your own snacks together. Put the recipes onto recipe cards and allow your child to choose one or two each week to make with you.  You’ll treasure that cooking time together and they will be more interested in eating it if they’ve made it!

Recipes to Make Together for Special Snacks

• How to Make Homemade Lara Bars
• Homemade Larabar
• No Bake Energy Bites
• Cheerio Treats
• Banana Nut Granola
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
• Homemade Granola Bars
• Healthy Homemade Granola Bars
• Banana Nut Cheerio Energy Bars
• Homemade Trail Mix with printable for others
• Popcorn Trail Mix
• Kids Trail Mix

Breakfast Solutions with Kids 

• Jumbo Breakfast Cookie from Cheerios
• Place cut fruit or dried fruit the night before in container to put on yogurt or oatmeal in the morning
• Holds yogurt from larger containers to save money and plastic.
• Keep fresh cut fruit in containers

Of course we can always use our containers to store playdough, paint, crayons, beads for some after school fun too!    You get the idea, the options are limitless.  I’m so glad Glad® sent us our storage containers to test out.  It’s made our school lunch and snack planning so much easier on our family of 5.

Lunchbox Ideas for Kids Pinterest Board

We’re always looking for fun things to cook with our children, inspiration for school lunches and recipes to try out.  We invite you to check out our pinterest boards.  Let us do to work for you so you don’t have to spend much time online and be able to spend more time with your family.  Follow Us as we pin ideas from some of our favorite kid food bloggers on these 3 Food Boards!

You can share your own Back to School recipes, tips and ideas within the “Mom Made” promotion on Glad’s Facebook page!