PB&J again? It’s daunting to come up with healthy school lunch ideas your child will actually eat—Every. Single. Day. But what kids eat during the day is important. A 2017 paper conducted by UC Berkeley professors found that students who ate healthier lunches scored higher on state achievement tests. Here are two weeks' worth of packable ideas.
MONDAY Top a roasted sweet potato with shredded cheese, red peppers and black beans.
TUESDAY Smear a whole-wheat tortilla with sesame seed butter. Top with a sliced banana and raisins. Roll, and cut into bite-size pieces.
WEDNESDAY Top brown rice with avocado slices, roasted carrots and a drizzle of tahini. Squeeze lime juice over the avocado to keep it fresher longer.
THURSDAY Sandwich cream cheese, cucumber slices and fresh mint leaves between two slices of whole-wheat bread; cut into triangles.
FRIDAY Place cooked veggie sausage, a tomato slice and a slice of cheddar cheese between a toasted English muffin. Wrap in foil for a safe journey to school.
MONDAY Stir pesto and steamed broccoli florets into cooked rotini. Sprinkle with nutritional yeast.
TUESDAY Sauté rice, diced red peppers, frozen peas, frozen carrots and a dash of soy sauce in sesame oil until lightly fried. Top with chopped, roasted almonds.
WEDNESDAY Pack a small container of hummus, and include carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber slices and toasted pita wedges.
THURSDAY Place honey mustard, lettuce, basil leaves, julienned cucumber and a slice of mozzarella cheese on slices of turkey breast. Roll up and wrap for a grain-free nosh.
FRIDAY Pack tomato soup in an insulated, leakproof container. Pack with a small container of shredded cheese, two slices of toast and a spoon.
