Summer is coming to an end and school is about to start. That means it’s time to get back into a school year routine. Part of that routine in many households includes packing school lunches. Packed lunches are a great option when your child isn’t too fond of what the school has to offer, or you want a little more control over what your child is eating.
If your child has dietary restrictions or food allergies, packing lunches is a must. Frankly, packing a lunch allows you to include healthy foods your child will actually eat and it doesn’t have to cost any more than what you would be paying for lunch at school. Packing a lunch every day doesn’t do any good if your child doesn’t eat it, or ends up trading most of it away for junk food. The key is to find good food that your child loves and enjoys eating.
Get Your Kids Involved
The best place to start is to get your child involved. Depending on the age of your kids, you could even put them in charge of making their own lunches. Not only do you know that they’ll pack something they will eat, being in charge of packing lunch will teach them responsibility.
Start by talking to your kids about what they want in their lunch box. Make a list of options and then head to the store so you have everything you need for the first week of school. Getting the kids as involved as possible will make sure that they end up with lunches they will eat. For older kids that may even mean making their own lunches (under your supervision of course).
Younger children can help. Even your kindergartner can wash grapes and put them into a container, or pick a snack for his/her lunch box. Get in the habit of making lunches together the night before. Over time you can give the kids more and more responsibility for their lunches. This alone will help make sure they eat what they’ve packed. After all, it’s the lunch they made. Along the way you’re teaching them independence as well as important life skills.
I always asked and it had to be healthy because the school is pretty strict when it comes to lunches, but I would usually make wraps, the girls liked them and they can be changed with whatever you want in them
So important to get kids involved with choosing and packing their own lunches. And it is proven that they are more apt to eat their lunch
We also try to make waste less lunches as much as possible.
If the kids have some imput they are more apt to eat their lunch
We are lucky to not have any food allergies to deal with! We pack lunches together the night before and I usually sneak a little treat in each one after bedtime! When they take part in making it they eat more of it!
It’s hard to pick things that you know your kids will like especially if they’re a picky eater but your idea of getting the kids involved is a great idea.
I try to get our kids involved too – great tips
My kids have peanut allergies, so meals are always complicated. Going anywhere other kids are present is a challenge too… we have to eat separately often. I need to try to get them more involved with picking out their lunches though.
Involving the children in making their lunch and having lots of healthy option will help insure that your kids eat their lunch.
She already helps. the problem is finding differing things to eat at school. She hates sandwiches now, but gets bored with the fruits, veggies, cheese, etc type foods.
I involve children in shopping for food for their lunches as well as preparing the food the night before. I
let them choose colorful fruits and vegetables, cheese sticks, crackers and pepperoni or lunchmeat. We make wraps, hoagie sandwiches, mini pizzas, tacos and sushi rolls. The sky’s the limit on what they make and willingly eat!
It is a very good idea to get the kids involved in making their own lunches, it is so hard nowadays knowing what to send as there are so many restrictions !
The kids make lunches and they are more likely to eat them,
My boys made their own lunches , that way i knew they would eat what they put in there !
Thanks for the lunch ideas my daughter usually makes her lunch for school
I get my kids involved with picking out healthy snacks
waste less lunches. the kids love the challenge
take turns making the lunches as it gives them input plus some responsibility
I try to have the kids help as much as possible and be involved in what they take to school for lunch and snacks. Also they are getting older now and are expected to pack their own boxes/bags in the morning. Doing all the prep in the evening is a big HELP!
My kids love making their own lunches and even give me a list of stuff to buy what they would like. to have for their school lunches
I love the idea having my son help with his lunch! We start in the grocery store and he loves to choose something new each week! And I know he will eat what he chooses!
They love to be involved as they are the ones eating the lunch.
I let them pick healthy snacks.
Thanks for the lunch ideals I try to make a healthy and enjoyable lunch meals for school
I think getting the kids involved is a really good idea. No use in making a lunch they won’t eat.
I think it’s a good idea to get kids involved in packing their lunches and emptying their bags on their return home. My grandchildren pack their own lunches (they know the rules of what they can choose) and then show it to their mum who approves or says something has to be swapped out for something healthier.
It’s true- getting foods they’ve requested helps a lot!
I have to agree that it gives them responsibility and also that there are healthy foods for lunches that are tasty. With a good list that they can choose their own foods from, they can even help to find them in the grocery store.
It’s funny…. now that my boys are nearly grown I love to make their lunches again. After all those years of teaching them to be independent, it has become fun for me to serve them like this !
My daughter will eat her lunch if she makes it herslef…if I make it, maybe some
Usually I make their food, but you’re right about getting them involved. When they help make dinner at home they’re quite pleased with themselves, So the same would translate to lunches.
I take my daughter to the grocery store with me and have her help pick out things that she wants to eat. I find this helps when she has some say.
The idea of talking to the kids and listing the items they would like in their lunch boxes is very helpful in knowing what to purchase.
My kids always help prepare there own lunch . They get what they want and I find they usually eat it !
I love the idea of a wastelss lunch. My kids make a list of the things they would like to take for lunch and I buy a whole bunch of different snacks that I change it up each day.
My daughter is so hard to pack lunch for. She is a very healthy nut. So I make seaweed wrapped around rice and very thin sliced veggies, Homemade hummus or gucamoli and thing like that. I HATE making lunches.
I definitely agree that getting the kids involved in making their own lunches is important, I find that they are more willing to eat it if they help get it ready.
Having kids involved in making their own lunches and they are sure to eat them!
Thank you for the tips. I also want to add that good container which they can easily open is a must too,
Very helpful tips–a great habit to continue into adulthood.
Have your child involved even from the point of purchasing the items in the grocery store. The more they are included the better.
Fixing lunches together with your children is a great opportunity for teaching healthy eating. Great article.
I agree with getting kids involved . My son loves to help make his lunch.
so so thankful that mine is not a picky eater, I just throw leftovers in 🙂
Gerat idea of getting them to make it together, it’s a bonding activity as well as getting them to understand what goes in.
I allow the kids to help pack by choosing foods that I approve.
Thank you for the tips! Awesome
Thank you for the tips! Awesome
I agree with children helping with their lunches. You don’t want fruit thrown in the garbage at school. If they have what they like in their lunch then they will eat it.
Smart idea to get the kids involved in making the food. It might take longer and be messier, but it’ll give them a sense of responsibility as well as ensuring that they like what they’re packing!
Thanks for the advice. My son is starting kindergarten this year so it will be our first year preparing lunches together.
Involving kids in the preparation of meals and their school lunches is crucial; they will eat what they invest time and energy in. Great post!
Having a list of options is definitely the way to do it.
This is something I am really striving for this year. My son is going into grade 4 and thus far we have done all of the lunch making for him. We have meant to for a long time, but life got busy! This year though? He is old enough, that it HAS to start lol
I’ve found that my kids really enjoy being involved with making their lunches. Plus we have less things coming back uneaten so it’s definitely a win win!
That is really good information, it’s always important to get the kids involved in making their lunches. Thanks for sharing.
I like the idea of getting your kids involved in making their own lunches. It will probably serve them well later!
This idea might help in decreasing the stink of old lunches in lockers!!
I remember being in grade school and having options for lunch; however back then lunch consisted of sandwiches and an apple, or an orange. We chose whatever topping we wanted on our sandwich and were responsible for making it the night before, and grabbing it out of the fridge the next day before leaving for school. The teacher did not monitor what we ate; no notes were sent home to our parents if we didn’t have something that was deemed healthy.
So important for kids to have healthy lunches (which are tasty too, so that they’ll eat them)! Helps them learn properly and grow well.
Our grandchildren help make their lubches
Lunches are so hard especially with a very picky eater. But we try to make sure they are healthy choices
My grand daughter likes the same thing every lunch and it’s hard to change it up.
Great idea to get them involved. At least then they can have some choice in what goes into the lunch then!
Good ideas and I find that dinner leftovers are usually very successful lunches.
My daughter is so picky !thanks for the ideaz.
now that my youngest is in grade 11 she usually buys her own lunch from the school cafeteria
I always found getting the kids involved in making lunches made them more likely to eat them. One of my son’s is able to come home for lunch now since his school is just 5 minutes away and it’s nice to see him in the middle of his day.
I think the tip of getting kids involved in packing is great – less possibility of “oh I dont like this!” happening!
I started teaching my daughter to help make her lunch many years ago in small steps. Now she can make her own lunch without help & because she is choosing the foods, she is more inclined to eat it!
getting them involved makes a huge difference, my kiddo takes pride in prepping her own lunch!
We make lunches the night before and have the kids help. They both love to do it, it saves time in the morning and they never complain about what’s in their lunches as they help choose.
My daughter is 7 and she loves helping me shop and assists with packing her lunch. I find she eats more of it when she helps pack it.
My nieces and nephews help make lunches. When they feel.involved they are more likely to eat the food.
Giving kids options about which healthy foods they want in their lunches is a good idea – if they don’t like it, it’s very unlikely that they’ll eat it.
My biggest issue is our school has so many restrictions it’s hard to find things my son likes and is allowed to take
My daughter just started kindergarten and is definitely involved with lunch prep! She puts in everything that is ready to go (yogurt,spoon, fruit) and I make her sandwich. It’s her job to make sure her lunch bag gets dealt with after school too.
My kids always help pack their lunches!
While I am excited my son is going back to school part of me will miss him. He goes.to school an hour away so he leaves really early Nd home Lte.
Great idea to have the kids involved. Teaches them nutrition as well.
These are great ideas! My son loves cooking and meal prep.
I agree ! I always found they were way happier and ate better when they had a say in it! Cant believe its already that time again !
so many restrictions. and eating helathy is very important to me
I take my daughter with me to the grocery store and allow her to help choose the what to buy for lunches. She also gets to pick her snacks (but is given guidelines).
Getting the kids involved in packing their own lunch is great.
It’s good to have the kids to help in preparing their lunches and there won’t be as much waist. They also need to learn good nutrition.
My grandson is a very picky eater and would rather go hungry than eat foods that he doesn’t like, so he chooses the healthy foods that go into his snacks & lunches.
I think that getting the kids involved is a great idea.
I like the tip to get kids involved.
Daughter loved making her own lunches! And still does to this day!
Daughter loved making her own lunches! And still does to this day!
We’ve always had the kids involved in making healthy lunches, it gives them some say and then they are more likely to eat it
My boys could really start helping a lot more -they are old enough for sure.
It was good advice in getting the child involved in making their lunch. It might result in them eating all of it instead of wasting some items they didn’t want.
Using your advice and getting my kid involved in the process makes it much easier for me! So many people hate making school lunches and this really helps take the stress out of it. Now if we can just keep that momentum going.
I agree that getting kids involved in making lunches and teaching the kids to start doing things for themselves goes a long way. When I was a kid, I had to make my own lunches and do most things myself.
TEAMWORK values established at a young age – self-sufficient in the TEEN years.
My daughter started making her own lunch in grade 4, and we all love it. She has to choose from the food provided (to which she has input, but it is all healthy, no junk), and we check it over once she’s done to see that it is balanced. We have another child starting kindergarten tomorrow and I will make her lunch for her but she will help decide what goes in, and will help by getting out the containers, filling them etc. It really helps to build independence.
I think it is a great idea to have them involved in making their lunches as I have seen too much was wasted food when you put things in their lunch they will not eat.
Great advice, getting and keeping kids involved is the way to go.
We’re lucky that no one has allergies here, but it is important to pack a good lunch!