Lunch Box Lessons...Kid-Tested & Parent-Approved!

Keep your kids’ lunch boxes fresh and fun this fall with a few tasty meal ideas that pack in plenty of good nutrition.

My general formula for building a healthy lunch box calls for including 3 things:

1. PROTEIN ITEM
2. PRODUCE
3. FUN SNACK/TREAT

The protein entree is always the trickiest, so here are some creative suggestions to inspire you:

For hot entrees, pick up a good quality thermos that will keep hot foods at a safe temperature until lunch time. Try…

• Hearty Soup: lentil, black bean, chicken noodle, chicken and rice, & minestrone


• Pasta: whole grain penne or macaroni with marinara sauce and shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese


• Mexican: Leftover taco meat or chili and you can send with a side bag of tortilla chips


• Dinner Leftovers: This is a popular lunch choice at my house. I’ll pack up turkey chili, casseroles, meatballs, or any other leftovers. I love this because I save time prepping lunches and clean out my fridge at the same time!

When it comes to cold entrees, to keep your child’s food safe you’ll need to be EXTRA diligent about keeping things cool. I recommend packing two freezer packs; you can also use a frozen water bottle as your second ice pack. Some interesting cold protein entrees include:

• Sandwich Sushi Roll: Layer a whole grain tortilla or wrap with turkey and cheese or your child’s favorite sandwich fillings, roll it up, and cut into rounds like sushi


• Hummus + Dippers: Pack a container of hummus along with baggies of whole-grain crackers and vegetable dippers (bell pepper sticks, baby carrots, cukes, etc.)


• Yogurt + Toppers: Pack a nonfat yogurt and separate containers or baggies with chopped fruit and healthy, whole-grain cereal for layering on top


• Pasta Salad: Mix up a healthy pasta salad with whole grain rotini, penne or bowties, any protein (chicken, light tuna, turkey) and chopped veggies (carrots, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers) and toss with light vinaigrette dressing

Then, get your kids involved in the process. Together make a list of a few *protein choices, *produce options, and *fun snacks that they like, and then let your kids mix & match from each list to create their lunch on any given day.

And if you’re look for some interesting healthy snack ideas, check out my recent Today show segment featuring new products that make great lunch box treats!