Vegetarian Lunch Box Ideas
Make Your Own Salad
Some children and teens enjoy salads for their lunch. Have them build their own by having all the salad ingredients washed, chopped and ready to assemble in the morning. Prepared veggies can keep in the fridge for several days if stored separately and in well sealed containers. Have separate containers for dressings that can be added to the salad just before eating. Don’t forget to have nuts, seeds, chopped tofu cutlets, cheese cubes and other sources of protein available to add to the salad. Other salads that pack well for a lunch are: potato and egg salad, tabouli, bean salads or pasta salads. Make sure you put an ice pack in the lunch box to ensure the salad stays cool.
Leftovers and Hot Dishes
Peer pressure may not always make leftovers an acceptable meal, so check with your child before you pack something that might be left hidden in a locker out of a sense of self-preservation. Pizza and some casserole dishes may be eaten cold, but soups and chili should be eaten hot. Make sure you pack it in an insulated container that will keep the food hot for several hours. Pack some tortilla chips or bagels to have with the meal. If you are packing chili, add some grated cheese to the bottom of the thermos and then add the chili. Top off with some more grated cheese.
Teen Cuisine
Teens have additional opportunities to their lunch time options. They are often allowed off the school property during the lunch period and most high schools have cafeterias. Discuss with your teen this greater freedom of choice in the menu selections. Offer them the opportunity to purchase their own meals once or twice a week, but still pack a lunch or get them packing their own lunches for the rest of the week so that you still have some control over the quality of what they are eating.
Healthy Snacks
Sometimes it is important to put a health food / junk food into the lunch box. A special snack that looks a lot like a candy bar or a gummy bear, for example, can ensure your child does not feel deprived of the ‘fun’ things others may be having. Check out your local health food store for healthier alternatives.
Books
If you want some more ideas for healthy lunch treats consider purchasing these books:
- Healthy Lunchbox: How to Plan, Prepare & Pack Stress-Free Meals that Kids will Love
- Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way we Feed Our Children
- Salad People and More Real Recipes
Above feature image by Lithiumphoto / Shutterstock.com.
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