Healthy School Lunch Ideas

1. Chicken, turkey, ham or salami, Swiss cheese and lettuce on whole wheat bread
2. Turkey or ham, red bell pepper strips, and Cheddar cheese wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla, with mayonnaise, spicy mustard or salsa
3. Tuna, chicken or egg salad with whole grain crackers or on a bagel with cucumbers or lettuce
4. Cheddar or havarti cheese and sliced tomato sandwich (put the tomato between the slices of cheese so the bread doesn't get soggy) with a little mayonnaise or mustard
5. Cream cheese spread on a tortilla (pack sliced apples to add just before eating) This is my daughter’s fav!
6. Leftovers like pasta, tortellini with tomato sauce, pizza, chicken, turkey sausage or steak (kids don't seem to mind eating them cold). Save little condiment packages from takeout food to use as dips
7. Black beans and rice or other rice salad
8. Healthy soup or chilli in a thermos
9. Whole grain bagel or rice cakes with cream cheese
10. Trail mix made with raisins, pretzels, cherrios, and chocolate chips (or your kids' favourite items)
11. Healthy dried cereals (milk is optional)
12. Baby carrots, celery, sliced cucumbers, red bell peppers and pita chips with hummus or other dip
13. All varieties of fresh fruit (cut apples, mango, oranges and other hard to eat fruit, if needed)
14. Popcorn (a kid-friendly whole grain), alone or mixed with raisins and nuts
15. Whole grain tortilla chips and salsa (look for a brand without added sugar) or black bean dip
16. Low fat yogurt or cottage cheese with fresh fruit and granola or other cereal (keep them separate and let your child combine them at lunch)
17. Drinkable, spoon-able, or squeezable yogurt or kefir
18. Cheese and whole grain crackers
19. Proteins like cheese sticks or cubes, hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, edamame, or other legumes
20. Breakfast type food like an omelette or even French toast if child is ok with it cold.

P.S. In an effort to create less environmental waste, I'm packing everything I can in reusable containers (Laptop lunchbox).

Lori Tinella
Little Chefs
Cook Up Some Fun today!
www.thelittlechefs.ca