Healthy Lunchboxes, Happy Kids

Aug 23, 2021


Trying to get the kids ready for school on chaotic mornings often leads to lunchbox meals that are quickly thrown together and fall short nutritionally. According to a Griffith University study, more than 70 percent of school lunches contain no vegetables at all!
Our children deserve to have a healthy, balanced meal that will fuel their bodies throughout the day, and we can help accomplish this by spending a few extra minutes meal prepping each week. Whether you grow your own garden or get your produce from a local farmers’ market, make sure to include fresh fruits and vegetables in each meal you send to school with your kids.
Here are five fun and healthy meal and snack ideas to include in your child’s lunchbox:
 
Vegetable waffles
            Shredded sweet potato, carrot, zucchini, or squash can be cooked to crispy perfection in a waffle iron. Just mix your vegetables together, add a little salt and pepper, and lightly butter each side of the iron for a yummy vegetable fritter in disguise!
 
Fruit or sandwich kabobs
 Thread grapes, pineapple chunks, blueberries, and strawberries through a skewer for a delicious fruit kabob, or try using an assortment of tomatoes, cheese, meats, and greens for a fun twist on a deli sandwich!
 
Fruit yogurt parfaits
            Add a boost of flavor to your kid’s yogurt cup by mixing ½ cup of your kid’s favorite fruit and a ¼ cup of granola into 1 cup of low-fat yogurt.
 
Soups
            Soups are a great way to pump up the “vegetable factor” in your lunchbox, and there are plenty of insulated food containers on the market that make it easy to serve soup at school. Click here for 10 easy, vegetable soup recipes for your picky eater!
 
Healthy muffins
            Using whole grains, fruit, or shredded veggies in your muffins is a great way to get your kid to eat healthier without them even realizing it! Try this Blueberry Oatmeal Muffin or Fruit and Veggie Muffin recipe to include in your kid’s next meal.
 
One last piece of advice: if you let your kids help you in the garden, they will likely be more willing to eat what they have grown! It is never too early to get your kids involved in producing their own food; plus, it will give them a greater appreciation for where their meals come from.
For more content like this, check out the latest issue of The Cooperator

Read More News

Apr 21, 2025
Every morning, as the sun rises over the horizon, the sound of turkeys echo through the woods. Unable to resist this calling, hunters will often spend the early hours before work during turkey season lying in wait for an unsuspecting tom to pass by.

Every hunter has his personal tips and tricks, but there are a few basic tactics that can be followed to increase your chances of bringing home a trophy bird.
 
Apr 14, 2025
Before the weather even turns warm, many gardening enthusiasts are already making plans and studying seed choices for their home garden. Although many Tennessee residents have plenty of room for a garden, others may not be so lucky. If you’re hampered by a lack of space for your gardening choices, raised beds might be a solution.
 
Apr 07, 2025
Easter is a time for family fun, festive traditions, and, of course, beautifully decorated eggs! If you raise backyard chickens, you have the unique opportunity to collect eggs in natural shades of blues, greens, browns, and creams — perfect for a colorful Easter basket before you even break out the dye.