5 Healthy Lunches for Kids

Does your grocery list have items like Goldfish, white bread and Oreos? Mine use to. But once I learned that those foods are empty of nutrition and full of artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, and other preservatives, I slowly, began taking those foods off my list. At the same time, I also heard of how some of the chemicals that are abundant in the foods found in the snack aisle of grocery stores also play a role in ADHD and other related childhood illnesses, I knew I needed to make a major changes in our family's diet.

As a mom of four active, hungry boys, I know it is not always easy to plan and prepare healthy foods, let alone deal with the complaining and dirty looks that introducing healthier foods can bring. I know... I've been there. But I am here to let you know if you are determined to feed your family healthy ~ they will see your passion and they will know it is best. Minds can be changed. If you want to raise healthy children and later, healthy adults... it is ultimately in your hands.

Feeding healthy food to my kids is one of my passions. I firmly believe their health is by and large the result of the food they consume. To me, food can be healing and has the power to either help or hurt our health.

I have designed five great lunches that are kid-friendly, super healthy and easy for you to prepare for your children (and you too!). Get your list out... no Oreos, no artificially orange-colored crackers... only tasteful and wholesome foods.

Meal 1

Whole Wheat Roll Ups: whole wheat tortillas, hummus, baby spinach, shredded carrot, thinly sliced (lightly salted) cucumbers and sliced black olives. Roll up and cut into pinwheels.

Fruit salad

Black beans

Meal 2

Pasta salad: Whole wheat penne or spiral pasta, blanched carrots, cauliflower and broccoli; diced cucumbers (I use the English cucumbers because they don't have seeds), coarsely chopped baby spinach and light creamy italian dressing. I make this the night before to allow the dressing to permeate into the pasta and veggies.

Apple slices with skins on, lightly drizzled with honey and a pinch of cinnamon.

Meal 3

Tuna & Spinach Pitas: Mix together (light chunk in water) tuna with a small amount of olive oil mayo, finely chopped onion and relish, tarragon, salt and pepper. Stuff baby spinach and tuna salad into whole wheat pita pocket.

Fresh Blueberries

Frozen yogurt tubes or pre-made frozen smoothie popsicle

Meal 4

Healthy Pizza Bites: Whole wheat English muffins, pizza sauce, low fat/part skim mozzarella cheese and turkey pepperoni. Cut into squares for little fingers or serve whole for bigger kids.

Sliced Cucumbers

Smoothie with frozen banana, 1 T peanut butter, 3/4 - 1 c. almond (or coconut) milk and 5 ice cubes... blend for 3 minutes. Serve with bendy straw :)

Meal 5

Healthy Fried Rice (recipe found here)

Strawberries with yogurt dip (recipe found here)

Sesame Sticks