How Tuesday:: Healthy Meals for School & The Perfect Lunch Box.

Eben has always wanted to take his lunch to school. I have asked him before if you would like to eat school lunch and he looks at me as if I am a tad crazy and says, "I am a take my lunch kid." So, that is that, he takes his lunch to school. I am glad that he wants to because Jayson and I can influence what he has for lunch and since he leaves everything in the lunch box that he doesn't eat, I can keep track of that too. However, the tricky part is making lunches that are delicious, nutritious and hot {since Eben prefers hot meals}. Another challenge we faced was finding a lunch box that is easy to use, will accommodate a thermos and is good on the environment.

We checked out several lunch boxes and decided on a laptop lunch box system, first because we love the design and that the lunch box is Earth friendly. It is a large box with five smaller containers inside (1 large with a lid, 1 large without a lid, 2 medium without lids and 1 smaller one with a lid). It also comes with a fork, spoon and a bottle for a drink. You can also purchase an insulted bag to hold the laptop lunch, I would highly recommend purchasing this. It is insulted and has a pocket for a napkin and another zipper pouch that is perfect to hold an ice pack. It also has an adjustable strap so it can be worn like a messenger bag. {Which Eben loves because any chance he has to be like Indiana Jones is a bonus.} The best part of the system is everything is BPA free and easy to use and clean. It however does not have anyway to hold hot foods and is not big enough to accommodate a thermos. Our solution was to purchase a stainless steel thermos and we found a local artisan who creates handmade thermos cozies that we were able to attach to Eben's lunchbox with a clip. It has worked out really well and has allowed Eben to have a combination of hot and cold items for lunch everyday.

Now comes the really tricky part, how to pack a healthy lunch that your kids will actually eat. When packing Eben's lunch each morning, Jayson and I always choose at least one item from the following categories: protein, whole grains, fruits, veggies, calcium and a healthy fat. This way he has a good selection and will have a well balanced meal that will give him the energy that he needs to stay focused through the latter part of the school day. Try to choose at least one item from each category.

Proteins::

* almond, soy or peanut butter
* cheese
* hummus
* beans
* edamame
* turkey, chicken, ham or lean beef
* tofu
* nuts
* seeds
* hard boiled egg
* wild caught tuna or salmon
* seafood
* tempeh

Whole Grains::

* whole grain sandwich bread, pita, crackers or tortilla
* whole grain pasta, couscous, quinoa or brown rice
* granola
* corn

Vegetables::

* carrots
* olives
* celery
* green beans
* peas
* cucumber
* eggplant
* potato
* sweet potato
* cabbage
* tomato
* squash
* coleslaw

Fruits::

* apple
* banana
* strawberries
* peach
* plum
* grapes
* watermelon
* cantaloupe
* apricot
* orange
* mango
* kiwi
* nectarine
* raspberries

Calcium::

* cheese
* yogurt
* tofu
* almonds or almond butter
* beans
* hummus
* milk or fortified soy, rice or almond milk
* fortified orange juice

Healthy Fats:;

* almonds or almond butter
* avocado
* extra virgin oil olive
* flax seed or oil
* olives

Here are some meal plans that Eben really enjoys, these may help you get started or you can add them to your already great kids lunch box meal plans.

Day 1

* organic chicken breast or veggie nuggets
* Jayson's homemade coleslaw {fab, will post recipe in the future}
* 1/2 plum
* vanilla yogurt
* 100% vegetable juice

Day 2

* bean, cheese and hot sauce burrito
* carrot and hummus (with flax oil mixed in)
* cherries and grapes
* vanilla yogurt
* milk or 100% vegetable juice

Day 3

* cheese raviolis
* 3 whole grain crackers
* carrots and hummus (with flax oil mixed in)
* strawberries
* 100% vegetable juice

Day 4

* minestrone, vegetable or chicken noodle soup or clam chowder. {any great soup}
* 3 whole grain crackers
* olives
* fresh peach slices
* cucumbers with strawberry or balsamic vinaigrette
* milk or 100% vegetable juice {depending on your soup}

Day 5

* whole grain Udon noodles, diced carrots with creamy garlic sauce {you can add chicken}
* edamame
* handful of almonds
* cheese stick
* 100% vegetable juice

There are many other meal plans available, you can make sandwiches such as almond or peanut butter and 100% fruit spread, veggie sandwiches or even a B.L.T. Another huge hit at our house is pizza. Jayson will make a few homemade whole grain organic veggie pizzas from scratch on the weekends and then either refrigerate or freeze them. Then Eben can take cold pizza {his favorite} any day that he wants. You can also see tons of meal ideas here and here.

What are your children's favorite lunch box meals?

{I would love to hear and try them.}

{Eben's "hot" meal items aren't shown in the pictures above because it was hard to get a good picture of the inside of the thermos.}

Top Photo Courtesy of Le Fabuleux de'Amelie

xo.