Back to School! Fody's Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids

The leaves are starting to turn, and for parents, that means it’s back to school time. Balancing work, kids, school and extracurricular activities can be a challenge at the best of times, and that’s before we get to fueling kids’ days with nutritious food. If you’re staring down an empty lunch box (or two, or three!) and suffering from culinary blank-page syndrome, here are our top healthy lunch ideas for kids.

Get Your Kids Involved

Many hands make light work…or so they say. While cooking with a six-year-old might not be your idea of optimized efficiency, there are many benefits to involving them in the meal-prep process. Helping to prepare their own meals can instill a sense of autonomy and responsibility in your child from an early age, even if it’s just putting their veggies in a container. 

Involving kids in coming up with healthy lunch ideas is also a great opportunity for them to learn about making healthy choices and eating a rich, varied diet that won’t leave them feeling hungry, bloated or uncomfortable. By modeling routine, moderation and intentional choices in the way you approach food, you can give your kids the opportunity to think critically about their nutrition and enjoy the process of preparing food.

Want to involve your kids in some simple lunch prep? 

Avail Yourself of Leftovers

We just talked about this! The simplest meal-prep wisdom of all time is just to make extra, and pack it for tomorrow. Leftovers make great healthy lunch ideas for kids for two reasons: one, because they’re easy to use, and two, because using leftovers from whole, nutritious meals helps you keep track of what your kids are eating, and prevent you from falling in the slapped-together-sandwich rut (although we’re not knocking a good sandwich every now and again!)

Easy weeknight recipes for meal prepping: 

• Fody’s plant-based pasta salad: Double this classic recipe to enjoy while the weather’s still warm –this pasta salad is a crowd pleaser loaded with healthy carbs and veggies that doesn’t miss.
  
  
• Fody’s chicken-parm slider bake: This kid-friendly recipe will have them looking forward to lunch time! Great to eat with a knife and fork the next day, these sliders pair well with a salad for a well-balanced lunch.

Use a Rotation of Easy-to-Prepare Foods

This doesn’t mean sticking to a pre-established calendar, with every Monday bringing the same old dish. But having a few go-to ideas of what simple, portable meals you can prepare for (or with!) your kid can take the hassle out of the prep process and out of grocery shopping. Versatile meals like protein bowls, wraps and even pasta dishes can be prepared in an infinite variety of ways, and giving your child options to pick from can make them feel like part of the process and help them develop their tastes and palate.

Looking for some easy, lunchbox-friendly snack ideas?

• Fody’s sliced veggies with homemade ranch are just as at home in a movie-night spread as they are in a lunchbox! Our tip: send the ranch in its own container for easy dipping.
  
  
• Supreme pizza quinoa bites. Get your kids excited about quinoa with these delicious, filling snacks!

Looking for more healthy lunch ideas for kids? Check out Fody’s full day of eating for gut healthy meal options, or for portable nutrition, explore and re-imagine our top ten gut friendly food ideas for picnics.

Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids Will Keep them Fueled Through the Day

Sticking to a balance of veggies, gluten-free whole grains and protein is the key to healthy lunch ideas for kids that will keep them full, happy and ready to learn. Keeping them excited to eat healthy is the key to making exciting lunches, and healthy food doesn’t have to be bland or boring! Check out Fody’s wide range of products for oils, sauces, condiments and seasonings that will make meal prep a breeze and keep your kids feeling good, and looking forward to lunch time all the way to June!

For more healthy lunch ideas for kids, check out our recipes, and shop our products for condiments that will help you customize delicious, bloat-free recipes all year long. From all of us at Fody, happy back to school!