Healthy Back-to-School Lunches Your Kids Will Love

Published: August 11, 2021

Authors:

Janelle Glick, MA, RD, LDN

Convenience may be the number 1 reason you choose to buy pre-packaged Lunchables and Uncrustables for your kids' lunch boxes. The second reason may be because your kids ask for them. However, if you want to give them a less-processed, healthier alternative for lunch, you can prep these homemade versions of the grocery story favorites ahead of time and store them in the freezer/fridge.

To make your own "Uncrustables" use 100 percent whole-grain bread, natural peanut butter and less-sugar jelly.

Uncrustables lunch box

Flexibility is Key

These recipes are flexible. If your child has a nut allergy, use sunflower seed butter or soy nut butter. Ask your kids if they have any healthy ideas for “Lunchables.” Feature their favorite veggies, lean protein, dairy and fruit.

Here’s What You Need

Supplies: Divided boxes or plastic containers; silicon cupcake forms
Fruit: Grapes, oranges, apples, peaches
Vegetables: Pepper slices, celery sticks, carrot sticks/baby carrots, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes
Whole grains: Sandwich thins, pita bread slices, Triscuits or other whole-grain crackers
Proteins: Turkey/ham slices, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hard-boiled egg, hummus
Calcium-rich foods: Cheese stick/slices/cubes, yogurt, milk
Dips (optional): Salsa, guacamole, pizza/spaghetti sauce, honey mustard, Ranch dressing, jelly, peanut butter, ketchup, BBQ sauce

Healthy school lunch

Janelle Glick, MA, RD, LDN

Janelle Glick, MA, RD, LDN, is a wellness dietitian with Lancaster General Health Corporate Wellness.

Education: Janelle Glick holds a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from Messiah College and a M.A. in Nutrition Education from Immaculata University. Her special areas of interest include weight management and health coaching.

Call: 717-544-3527

About LG Health Hub

The LG Health Hub features breaking medical news and straightforward advice to help individuals of all ages make healthy choices and reach their wellness goals. The blog puts articles by trusted Lancaster General Health clinical experts, good 'n healthy recipes, videos, patient stories, and health risk assessments at your fingertips.

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