It’s that time of year again… The kids are back in school, our schedules are jam-packed, and it’s becoming increasingly easy to make a trip to the drive-thru instead of cooking dinners at home. Let this time of change be an opportunity to implement routines and healthy habits to keep you and your family fed and focused this school year. In today’s blog, we’ll be dropping some of our favorite recipes and tips on how to pack a nutritious lunch for you and your family.
Instead of reaching for a coffee or a sugary snack in the middle of the day, opt for a homemade treat that is nourishing and energizing! One of these energy bites would make an excellent after school snack for the kiddos or for yourself. My daughter Gabby crafted this recipe herself using her favorite ingredients that help her stay full and focused whenever she reaches that midday slump. Give Gabby’s Decadent Energy Bites a go.
It can be difficult finding that quick and easy dinner solution that can appease a whole family, especially one with a picky eater. Luckily, we have just the meal to accommodate our hectic schedules and healthy lifestyles. This recipe has been in rotation in my household for years now and all my children specifically request “Moroccan Salmon” from time to time. Give this Moroccan Salmon with Nectarine Couscous recipe a try and win over the whole family!
When it comes to packing lunches, it’s important that the snacks we choose are appealing to our children, prepared ahead of time for easy serving, and are healthy! To give a better idea of what should be inside those lunchboxes, here’s what we recommend packing:
Good Healthy Protein Snacks:
- Pita Bread + Hummus
- Cheese + Crackers
- Turkey + Cheese Roll-ups
- Almond Butter + Jam Sandwich
- Cheese Quesadilla
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Chickpea Pasta Salad
- Turkey Jerky
- Kefir
- Greek Yogurt
- Low-fat cheese (slices or sticks)
Good Complex Carbohydrate Snacks:
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh vegetables
- Fat-free or low-fat yogurt
- Canned fruit or fruit cups in water or 100% fruit juice
- Dried fruit with no added sugar
- Whole grain crackers
- Rice cakes
- Pretzels
- Low-fat or air popped popcorn without butter or salt
- Graham crackers
- Jelly (from 100% fruit) sandwiches on whole wheat bread
- Whole grain bagels or English muffins with cream cheese
- Fat-free or low-fat pudding
- Whole grain cereal bars
- Baked whole grain tortilla chips and salsa
- Baked chips (small portions)
Good Hydrating Drinks:
- Water
- Sparkling/carbonated water, no sugar
- Fat-free or low-fat milk
- Fruit smoothies
- Fair Life Milk
- Kefir
Make this school year a successful one for you and your family with thoughtful consideration and food planning! Be sure to try these recipes out and follow my Instagram @pattyrd.thesugarlanddietian for more health tips this fall!
