… Parents can check in with their kids on a regular basis about lunches.
Is it enough or too much food?
Do they enjoy it?
What changes would they like to see?
Know How Much to Pack
The bigger the kid, the bigger the lunch.
Heres your reality check for how big a kids meal should be, straightfrom the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If leftovers are coming home with your kid every day, thats a hint to adjust portion sizes.
check that to pack energy-dense foods alongside itmaybe some peanut butter (orsunflower butter) for dipping?
Having all the food visible when they pop pop the lunchbox is a great tactic for making it appetizing.
Some lunch kits, likeBentology, are designed to make as many things visible as possible.
All this is to say it’s possible for you to keep kids interest without resorting to junk food.
For little kids especially, youd be amazed at what a container with a favorite character can accomplish.
Post it someplace youll see it, and refer to it when shopping.
Teach your kids the rule and they can pack lunches themselves.
For example, Id count pizza as a grain + protein, or chili as a protein + vegetable.
Apple pie is fruit + dessert.
Keep the list big enough that you wont get into a rut, though.
Working with children on lunches is the best way to make them successful.
Illustration by Tara Jacoby.
