5 Tips for Packing Better Lunchboxes, Plus How to Make Healthy Pizza Roll-Ups
Back-to-school is a time to start fresh—and that includes rethinking kids’ lunchtime routines. With childhood obesity affecting one in five children in the U.S., you may be concerned about keeping your children a healthy weight. Here are some tips for filling those lunchboxes with healthy, wholesome foods.
1. Tweak kids’ favorites. Instead of using white bread, try English muffins, tortillas, or bagels made from whole grains as the base of a sandwich. Get creative with the fillings, too. Swap out sugary jelly in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and replace it with apple slices, banana slices, or raisins.
2. Skip the salty snacks. A handful of a fruity trail mix (made of dried fruits like cranberries, apple slices, dates, and raisins) is a great substitute for potato chips, pretzels, and other salty snacks.
3. Think small. Cheese, rotisserie chicken, melons, and veggies are easier to eat if you slice them into cubes or chunks. Your child won’t need to worry about cutting things up at the lunch table and will have plenty of time to enjoy these healthy foods.
4. Try tasty dips. Instead of salad dressings and ketchup, spice up a sack lunch with salsa. Hummus is another tasty partner to apple slices, whole-grain crackers, cubed foods, and other healthy treats.
5. Be imaginative. Want to make lunch feel interesting, fun, and full of love? Try using art supplies, cookie cutters (to make square sandwiches into fun shapes), cloth napkins, flowers, a note from you, and stickers.
Article courtesy of QualChoice.
Try This: Pizza Roll-Up Bento Lunch
INGREDIENTS
- 1 8-inch whole-wheat flour tortilla
- 2 tablespoons prepared pizza sauce
- 12 leaves baby spinach
- 3 tablespoons shredded part-skim mozzarella
- 1/2 cup cucumber spears
- 1/2 cup cauliflower florets
- 2 tablespoons low-fat creamy dressing, such as ranch
- 1 cup small watermelon pieces
- 6 chocolate wafer cookies
PREPARATION
Place tortilla on a plate and spread pizza sauce over it. Top with an even layer of spinach and sprinkle cheese on top. Microwave on High until the cheese is just melted, about 45 seconds.
Carefully roll the tortilla up. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing into pieces, if desired. Pack the slices in a medium container. Pack cucumber and cauliflower in another medium container.
Nestle a small, dip-size container among the vegetables and add dressing. Pack watermelon in one small container and cookies in another small container.