Making lunches can seem downright exhausting sometimes. It dawned on me that we can take the stress out of it if we simplify the routine. Start by doing this:
1. What do your kids eat at home? Write down their favourites.
2. Pick the top 2 or 3 fruits your know they will eat. (Go down to 1 if you need to)
3. Pick the top 2 or 3 vegetables you know they will eat. (Go down to 1 if you need to)
4. What sandwiches will they eat? Write them down. (If they will eat them)
5. Is their favourite snack prepackaged? If so, how can you make that more nutritious?
Here is an example
6. Try to make one homemade or premixed batch of cookies, brownies or cakes on the weekend.
Here is the list I made up for my picky eater:
1. Spaghetti, chicken noodle soup, roast beef, shepherds pie, wings, fries, rice *many of these can be incorporated into a hot lunch if you have a thermos
2. Apples, bananas, oranges (sometimes)
3. Carrots, broccoli, potatoes
4. Turkey, chicken, tuna, salami
5. Fruit snacks
6. Every Sunday I try to bake something and it usually is from a gluten/dairy free cake mix like this or this.
Your list may look a lot different than list and that is more than ok. Every kid is different and is allowed their unique tastes.
From your list try to mix and match a weeks worth of lunch. Here is an example using sandwiches. In the next few weeks I will be focussing on non-sandwich lunches too.
Please remember the most important rule for lunch making *Your kids don’t expect a 5 course masterpiece, they like simple good food prepared by you!