It's my greatest challenge.
Mornings in our house are full of late rising, argumentative dressing, slow eating, and generalized whining. That leaves me about five minutes to pack a lunch before running chaotically to the bus stop.
This summer while I continue to pack lunches for camp, I am committed to perfecting the art of healthy and quick.
I have found a couple of products that I am loving right now.
I used to hesitate to put dairy in the lunch box. Especially in the summer. This product seriously unshackles dairy and makes it a safe and healthy lunch box choice. Yogurt or single serve cottage cheese fit perfectly inside. They are relatively cheap, and they really stay cold. And for what to put inside....
I love this yogurt. Six active probiotic strands where most yogurts have two. Easy to read ingredients and a serving of veggies snuck in for an extra bonus. Zoe assures me they are delicious. Visit the website for coupons. It is a little pricier than other brands.
3. Seaweed
Since I went carb free for myself, I long for a chip/pretzel/etc. I started snacking on seaweed to fill my salty, crunchy needs and Zoe soon followed. Turns out kids love seaweed. I have watched her friends come over and devour a box in no time at all. Chock full of micronutrients, I gladly replaced a bag of goldfish for seaweed in the lunch box. We have purchased Annie Chun's Sesame Seaweed, Trader Joe Brand Seaweed and now Costco has start carrying huge mulitpacks which are fantastic and the perfect size for packing.
4. The dreaded Beverage choice
For beverages I waver. I like her to drink water but I hate paying for Waterloos boxed water (even with that adorable penguin). I could pack her a thermos full of water but she complains that all the other kids have juice boxes and I remember the pain of being different. I know that's ridiculous but I pick my battles. So I have found that I can make my peace with occasionally purchasing some juice boxes for her. Apple and Eve Fruitables are a little high in sugar for my liking but at least they attempt to tamper it down with some veggie juice. I also will buy Hansen's Junior Water- less sugar and no artificial colors, as long as you buy the water and not the juice. I m open to suggestions on beverages or I will wait until thermoses are cool.
5. Frozen Fruit
Since my freezer is always packed with frozen fruit for smoothies, it was a no brainer to throw some in the lunch box as well. It stays cold until lunch, helps keep the juice box cold, and doesn't go bad before I have a chance to use it. In the summer, when fresh berries and fruits are plentiful it is even better to freeze your own. Caution: frozen blueberries and raspberries can get quite messy post thaw. I'd stick to mango, papaya, strawberries and peaches.
So right now my goal is to have in the box:
1. As little sugar as possible
2. No artificial colors or flavorings
3. Protein, good fats, and a vegetable serving
A typical lunch is:
1. Fruitable juice box
2. single serve cup of 2%cottage cheese or YoBaby Meal yogurt
3. Sliced cucumber or grape tomatoes
4. frozen fruit
5. almond butter on a sandwich thin from Trader Joe's
I am clearly a work in progress. Like I said, packing lunches has been a challenge for me. I am open to creative ideas and products other people are using. Send in your suggestions.
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