5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better

5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better


Post Disclaimer: This conversation is sponsored by Horizon. The opinions and text are all mine.

I can’t believe school is starting again next week! Summer just flew by. Because there are so many emotional and physical demands that kids take on when they jump back into school full time. Because of this, I have been thinking of ways to make sure my kids have a little bit of home with them every day. The best way I’ve found to do this is through the one thing they take with them every morning. I’m talking about school lunch. I came up some guidelines for how I want to put lunches together in our home. My list boiled down to 5 ways to make school lunch better. Thought I would share my thoughts.

1. Get kids involved in the process.

I have ALWAYS packed my kids lunches. They are now finally getting old enough to where I am encouraging more independence. Throughout the summer my kids made a lot of their own lunches. They were able to pick out their own add ons…within reason. I made a guidelines for choosing one or more fruit and vegetable with their meal. They are now in the habit of looking for fresh foods to put on their plates. I want to continue this habit throughout the school year as they help me pack lunches in the morning.

2. Pack a variety of quality foods.

Kids are little sponges. They are taking in so much new information, and their little brains have to process everything they put into it. It is SO important that they have good, wholesome foods with quality ingredients.

Because our body need a wide variety of nutritional foods, I am always on the lookout for new snacks to incorporate into school lunches. Some of our new favorites made by a company called Horizon. Horizon nails it on so many levels. My kids have really taken a liking to their Snack Grahams, and Snack Crackers, in all variety of flavors. They are a take-anywhere snack, and always seem to hit the spot for my kiddos. You can check them out here. Or if you want up to date info on whats new at Horizon, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest and be sure to check out the #HorizonSnacks.

5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better 1

3. Pack appropriate portions.

When kids pack start packing their own lunch, it is easy for their eyes to get bigger than their stomachs. I try to keep a variety of snacks in the fridge and in the pantry, and teaching my kids about portions may be the most challenging to date. Teaching them that just because you like a food, doesn’t mean you can have unlimited amounts of it. Yes, kids are growing, but just like adults, portion control is crucial to maintaining a good, healthy diet. The best way I have found to do this leads me my to my next point.

4. Use reusable containers.

I have taken a liking to to small individual storage containers that you can pack in lunch bags. Some bags come with built in compartments, which are great, but can be pricey. You can find very affordable containers at the grocery store that do a great job for small portioned items. This has been a great tool to say you can pack as much of that snack, as long as it fits in this container. I also love that kids are learning responsibility to the environment, and to take care of their items so they last longer.

5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better 3

5. Use insulated lunch bags.

It’s not hard to find insulated lunch bags these days. They are affordable, and make a HUGE difference in the state the food is in when kids actually get around to eating it. If you pack milk, you need it to be cold. If you have dairy on a sandwich or as a snack, it should be kept at a safe temperature. Also kids are much more likely to dive into fresh fruits and veggies if they are crisp and cold instead of warm and soggy. A simple, innovative product can be a game changer for kids’ lunch experience.

5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better 2

These are just some of my thoughts. What do you do to help your kids maintain the good eating habits? What are your school lunch solutions? We would love to hear from you!

Reader Comment Disclaimer: Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.
Post Disclaimer: This conversation is sponsored by Horizon. The opinions and text are all mine.

I can’t believe school is starting again next week! Summer just flew by. Because there are so many emotional and physical demands that kids take on when they jump back into school full time. Because of this, I have been thinking of ways to make sure my kids have a little bit of home with them every day. The best way I’ve found to do this is through the one thing they take with them every morning. I’m talking about school lunch. I came up some guidelines for how I want to put lunches together in our home. My list boiled down to 5 ways to make school lunch better. Thought I would share my thoughts.

1. Get kids involved in the process.

I have ALWAYS packed my kids lunches. They are now finally getting old enough to where I am encouraging more independence. Throughout the summer my kids made a lot of their own lunches. They were able to pick out their own add ons…within reason. I made a guidelines for choosing one or more fruit and vegetable with their meal. They are now in the habit of looking for fresh foods to put on their plates. I want to continue this habit throughout the school year as they help me pack lunches in the morning.

2. Pack a variety of quality foods.

Kids are little sponges. They are taking in so much new information, and their little brains have to process everything they put into it. It is SO important that they have good, wholesome foods with quality ingredients.

Because our body need a wide variety of nutritional foods, I am always on the lookout for new snacks to incorporate into school lunches. Some of our new favorites made by a company called Horizon. Horizon nails it on so many levels. My kids have really taken a liking to their Snack Grahams, and Snack Crackers, in all variety of flavors. They are a take-anywhere snack, and always seem to hit the spot for my kiddos. You can check them out here. Or if you want up to date info on whats new at Horizon, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest and be sure to check out the #HorizonSnacks.

5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better 1

3. Pack appropriate portions.

When kids pack start packing their own lunch, it is easy for their eyes to get bigger than their stomachs. I try to keep a variety of snacks in the fridge and in the pantry, and teaching my kids about portions may be the most challenging to date. Teaching them that just because you like a food, doesn’t mean you can have unlimited amounts of it. Yes, kids are growing, but just like adults, portion control is crucial to maintaining a good, healthy diet. The best way I have found to do this leads me my to my next point.

4. Use reusable containers.

I have taken a liking to to small individual storage containers that you can pack in lunch bags. Some bags come with built in compartments, which are great, but can be pricey. You can find very affordable containers at the grocery store that do a great job for small portioned items. This has been a great tool to say you can pack as much of that snack, as long as it fits in this container. I also love that kids are learning responsibility to the environment, and to take care of their items so they last longer.

5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better 3

5. Use insulated lunch bags.

It’s not hard to find insulated lunch bags these days. They are affordable, and make a HUGE difference in the state the food is in when kids actually get around to eating it. If you pack milk, you need it to be cold. If you have dairy on a sandwich or as a snack, it should be kept at a safe temperature. Also kids are much more likely to dive into fresh fruits and veggies if they are crisp and cold instead of warm and soggy. A simple, innovative product can be a game changer for kids’ lunch experience.

5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better 2

These are just some of my thoughts. What do you do to help your kids maintain the good eating habits? What are your school lunch solutions? We would love to hear from you!

Reader Comment Disclaimer: Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.

This conversation is sponsored by Horizon. The opinions and text are all mine.

1 thought on “5 Ways to Make School Lunch Better”

  1. I hadn’t really thought about it, but it does make sense that you would want to make sure that your kids’ school lunches are as good as can be. The tip you give in the article about using insulated lunch bags is especially important. That way you can pack things like carrots and milk without having to worry about them going bad.

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