School is back.
Seriously…how does this always happen so fast? Eight weeks gone in a flash!
This means that school lunches are back too and I am about to help simplify that for you. You can download all of the recipes you'll see here in the handy little meal plan we put together for you at the end of this post (and yes, it is free)!
Now, although this blog is super helpful I have to apologize for the blurry pictures. I have been working like a madwoman on a webinar for you on how to avoid the mistakes I made when I changed my diet…and somehow, in the midst of all the chaos, I literally forgot to focus on these picsJ.
The Perfect Lunch
A perfect lunch is one that satisfies your child feeling full, without leaving them exhausted and ready for a nap. That sounds good to me. So that means that it cannot be full of processed, sugary snacks or grain based foods.
I interviewed a bunch of my nutrition clients to see what they were feeding their kids (and themselves) for lunch and the answer was unanimous across the board: Meat, veggies, fruit and healthy fat.
And they got extra points if they said leftovers from dinner the night before.
Save yourself some time and make extra at suppertime. Then all you need to think about are snacks when you go to put the lunches together.
Containers
You have options here.
Stainless steel containers like Planet Box and Lunchbots are lightweight, eco-friendly, durable and healthy for storing food. They are great and will likely last forever but not surprisingly, they are at higher price point.
I am using Sistema, a BPA free plastic product that I love because the price is reasonable (although, I would not say cheap). The containers have a lot of cool dividers so that you can fit more food into each container without having them mix together (think veggies and dip).
A thermos is also a necessary part of a healthy lunchbox. I used our Thermos (it comes with a folding stainless steel spoon) almost every single day last year. I add boiling water to the insulated thermos for about five minutes, then I dump out the water and add our heated up food and it keeps warm until lunchtime.
Nut-Free
Most schools are going nut-free now so for those of us who eat a lot of nuts that can feel like a bit of a challenge since a lot of our favorite go-to snacks contain nuts.
So today I am going to introduce you to Nut Free Trail Mix.
The recipe is in the free meal plan. The idea is that if you choose a random mix of coconut, seeds and dried fruit (and occasionally dark chocolate chips), you can create an awesome little nibbly snack that is full of healthy fat.
As you are about to see, nut free trail mix is a staple in our lunches.
So without further ado…
Here are five By Design school lunch ideas to help simplify your life.
Lunch Box 1
Main: Chicken & Veggie Soup
Snacks:
- Carrots and Sweet Poppy Seed Dressing
- Peaches
- Avocado with Sea Salt
- Yogurt
- Nut Free Trail Mix
Lunch Box 2
Main: Hamburgers with Organic Ketchup
Snacks:
- Berries with Yogurt and a dribble of Maple Syrup
- Cucumbers and Dip (Homemade Mayo or Tzatziki)
- Apple
- Nut Free Trail Mix
Lunch Box 3
Main: Grilled Chicken Thighs (Wrap optional)
Snacks:
- Zucchini
- Celery Sticks
- Cheese
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Chocolate Avocado Pudding
- Nut Free Trail Mix
Lunch Box 4
Main: Turkey Apple Mini-Meatloaves
Snacks:
- Red and Green Peppers
- Cheese
- Grapes
- Apple Sauce
- Nut Free Trail Mix
Lunch Box 5
Main: B’Eggs
Snacks:
- Broccoli Salad
- Cucumbers
- Pineapple
- Grapes
- Yogurt
- Nut Free Trail Mix
Where can you find more By Design School Lunch ideas?
We have a whole whack of more great recipes in the Eat By Design Cookbook that would make perfect school lunches (and weekday dinners)! The cookbook is also a 28-day By Design meal plan with grocery lists.
Here are a few more of our school lunch favorites from the cookbook:
Cabbage and Sausage
Lamb Shepherd’s Pie
Lasagna
Slow Cooked Pulled Pork
Tuna Fish Mix
By Design Waldorf Salad
If you have got peeps (aka friends and family) who are in charge of making lunches, share this little bit of inspiration with them so that they too can see how easy lunches can be (the share button is below).
You can download the free Back To School Meal Plan HERE
Kristin McCaig is a Holistic Nutritionist. Learn more about her nutrition services HERE.
***A huge thank you goes out to Grace In The Kitchen, a specialty kitchen store in Kanata, Ontario (with an amazing cheese selection and coffee) for supporting us to put this blog out to you. You can get the Sistema product line in their store.