Back-to-School Lunches: Easy Ideas for Busy Families
Helpful tips for school lunches that are healthy and easy.
With summer in the rearview mirror, families are looking forward to a new year of learning, friendships and busy schedules filled with school, sports and activities. Between getting everyone out the door in the morning and making it to afternoon practices and activities, having simple lunch ideas can make the school day a little easier.
For many families, the key to a successful school lunch is keeping it simple and knowing what their children will actually eat.
San Diego Country Estates resident Leslie Juvenal, who has lived in SDCE for 14 years, knows that firsthand. Her daughter, Allyson, 12, is in seventh grade and, according to her mother, is a picky eater.
Allyson's school lunches often include familiar favorites such as ham and cheese sandwiches, chips and snacks. She also takes Lunchables, macaroni and cheese, fruit, juice boxes and water bottles.
For busy parents, lunches don't have to be complicated to be satisfying. A few simple ingredients can be mixed and matched throughout the week to create meals children are familiar with while still offering some variety.
Simple Lunch Ideas
A ham and cheese sandwich can become a complete lunch when paired with chips and a favorite fruit such as grapes, strawberries or an apple. Turkey and cheese roll-ups with crackers offer another easy option for children who prefer smaller portions or finger foods.
Parents can also create their own version of a Lunchable by packing crackers, slices of cheese and deli meat along with fruit. It's quick to assemble and allows children to put together their own combinations.
For children who enjoy warm foods, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets or leftover pasta can be packed in an insulated food container to keep them warm until lunchtime. A simple cheese and pepperoni quesadilla is another easy option.
Other quick combinations include:
- Peanut butter and jelly with a banana and pretzels
- Mini bagels with cream cheese or turkey and cheese
- Pasta salad with cheese and pepperoni
- Cheese cubes, crackers, deli meat and fruit
- Leftover tacos, rice and chicken or pasta
- Mini pancakes or waffles with fruit for a breakfast-inspired lunch
For picky eaters, parents don't necessarily have to reinvent the lunchbox every day. Keeping a few reliable favorites in rotation can make mornings easier and reduce the chances of an untouched lunch coming home.
A familiar sandwich, fruit, snack and water bottle may be all a child needs to get through the school day. Parents can introduce new foods gradually by adding a small portion alongside foods their child already enjoys.
As the school year gets underway, simple, familiar and easy-to-pack lunches can help families spend less time worrying about the lunchbox and more time enjoying everything the new school year has to offer.
