There is nothing more frustrating than reaching into your child’s backpack after school only to find that the lunch bag is about as heavy as when you packed it that morning. Even worse is when you uncover that your kid didn’t eat a single morsel; even the napkin is still folded.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
You don’t know whether to scream or cry. You want to scream because all your good efforts to pack a healthy lunch seem to be unappreciated. You want to cry because you know that your ravenous child hasn’t eaten since sunrise and it’s now close to sunset. Ugh!
I feel your pain. After too many of these heartbreaking, late-afternoon sessions when my son was younger, I smartened up and decided to negotiate with him about what foods to pack that he would actually eat. I used my “ABC” strategy during our menu negotiations:
Ask your child what he or she wants for lunch.
Be flexible, but make sure that the majority of it is healthy.
Compromise a smidgen.
I’ll admit that there were times during the negotiations that I thought I would have to call in a lawyer, but we finally settled on the lunches below, plus money for him to buy milk. All of these menu ideas contain at least four of the five food groups: grains, fruits, veggies, protein and dairy.
Mexican Monday
— Baked whole-grain tortilla chips
— Salsa
— Reduced-fat cheddar cheese wedges
— Clementine
— Low-fat milk
Mom’s tip: You can slice the cheese yourself or purchase it pre-sliced, individually wrapped.
Son’s tip: This was a very popular lunch at the lunch table. My son would end up having to share some of the chips and salsa with his friends, so pack extras.
Thanksgiving Tuesday Sandwich
— Whole-wheat roll
— Turkey breast
— Cranberry spread
— Lettuce
— Grapes
— Low-fat milk
Mom’s tip: Cook a turkey breast for dinner on Sunday. Use the leftovers for lunches or buy the cooked, home-style turkey at the deli.
Son’s tip: This was my son’s favorite lunch and apparently the favorite lunch of many of his friends. Years later, I found out that he would successfully trade half of his sandwich to the highest bidder for Red Sox baseball cards. He now works in business in New York City, and it all started with this sandwich.
[See: Should I Wash the Turkey Before Cooking It?]
Roast Beef Roll-Up Wednesday
— Whole-wheat tortilla
— Roast beef
— Reduced-fat cheddar cheese
— Mayonnaise
— Lettuce
— Pineapple chunks
— Low-fat milk
Mom’s tip: Layer the roast beef, cheese, mayo and lettuce on the flat tortilla. Roll it up and place it in a container so the shape stays intact.
Son’s tip: Roast beef is a very lean cut of beef, so is a delicious way to get protein at lunch.
Meatless Thursday
— Whole-grain crackers
— Mozzarella cheese sticks
— Hummus
— Baby carrots
Mom’s tip: Scoop the hummus into the bottom of a small container. Stack the baby carrots on top for easy dipping.
Son’s tip: Pack extra crackers to share. There will be takers around the lunch table. Trust me.
[See: 10 Healthful Snacks That Won’t Break the Calorie Bank.]
Eat Out Friday
Take the day off. Pack lunch money. You earned it.
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4 Healthy Backpack Lunches Your Kid Will Actually Eat originally appeared on usnews.com
