A Little Lunchbox Love

So with both my sweet babies in school this year I embraced packing healthy and fun lunches for my kids.  I got a lot of help from a bunch of creative moms out there on the world wide web.

First, we desire to feed our children nutritious, real food to feed their minds and bodies and keep their immune systems in check.  This is something our family values and makes a priority.

Research published this year states that 1/3 of U.S. school age children are overweight or obese and 2/3 of the U.S. adult population is overweight or obese.  That should infuriate us! What most of America is doing is NOT working. 

I don't believe in "kid food."  We teach them what they should eat and why.  Since when did filling our kids with processed, refined foods full of chemicals and additives become okay.  That consistent action is based on either ignorance, a true lack of concern for our children's development and happiness, or pure laziness.  And yes, I've been guilty at times.  I understand these erred practices are culturally based.  The grandma who pushes doughnut holes and Pez candy on my kids is not evil and in her mind is demonstrating generosity when doing so.  I do believe that with greater awareness, however, comes responsibility.

I have to remind myself and others that there are other ways to show love rather than with "treats" made of garbage.  Maintaining the practice of offering junk food as treats is not showing love. Especially when we know that garbage does not lead to good health, development, and overall happiness in the recipient's future. Time is really the best treat of all.  Doing something together.  That is what they really want.

Okay, stepping off the soap box and back into the lunchbox now.

Typical lunches for our kids might be:

• PB and J on multi-grain bread, cantaloupe chunks, baby carrots and bell pepper strips, water.
• Leftovers from our healthy-minded dinners, dried fruit, dry roasted edamame and peas, water.
• Kale-carrot muffin, cheese stick, applesauce, peanuts, water.
• Tofu sandwich, frozen mixed veggies (thawed by lunch), banana, water.
• Homemade frozen yogurt pop, whole grain crackers or popped corn, apple, PB dip, water.
• Roasted red pepper hummus, carrot and celery sticks, whole grain cracker, pear, water.
• Soup, whole grain crackers, orange slices, water.

Leftover Indonesian chicken rice dish, roasted red pepper hummus with baby carrots, cantaloupe chunks

Kale-carrot muffin, frozen strawberry Greek yogurt pop, hard boiled egg, roasted edamame and peas, black grapes

You get the idea.  Got a lot of inspiration from Lisa over at 100 Days of Real Food. I don't want my kids eating the food provided by the school because, although Texas seems one step up from what I saw kids eat on a daily basis in CA, I want to know what my kids are eating to the ingredients.

I package my kids food in Ziploc divided containers because it's fun, easy, BPA free, air tight from compartment to compartment, dishwasher safe, and fits well enough into my kids lunch bags.  I love them!  And Ziploc, I'm sure loves me for my endorsement.  If you do go this route, make sure the containers will fit your child's lunch bag/box before purchasing.  Rhys' drink does not make it into his lunch box on the days I use these containers, but he knows to grab it.

Also, I picked up these great silicone pop molds that fit in their containers (with a bend) as an "ice cream treat."  I fill them with yogurt and veggie/fruit smoothies.  I only do this for Sophie's lunch and Rhys gets them on his at-home days to practice squeezing and using them.

I also made some fun clothespins for to include in their lunch or as a snack.  Just a bit of paint and glue for googly eyes.  I even have a couple with different sized eyes making them extra bugged out!

For a bit more eco-friendly flair, I purchased cheap cotton fabric in patterns that interested Sophie and Rhys (Care Bears, Elmo, robots, bugs), and made 8 to 10 inch square napkins for their boxes.  Perfect size for wiping little, sticky fingers and faces.  We use them at dinner time too.

We have thermos jars and drink containers for items like soup, leftovers, and their standard beverage-water.  They got to pick them out and the containers have fun characters on them as well.

I also send a little love now and then.  Sophie thought it was great when I taped a picture of us making funny faces on the inside of her lunch box.  Sheri over at The Stir has a great list of ideas to up the fun.  I am making a trip to U.S. Toy soon to pick up just a few fun trinkets to catch them by surprise.

I feel pretty confident most mornings that my kids can have a nutritious meal for breakfast and lunch while still getting to school on time and in good spirits.   A little research and prep during the last few weeks of summer has made it a lot of fun for the kids and I, both.