If you’ve ever unpacked your child’s lunch box at the end of the school day only to find that most of the lunch you packed was hardly touched, you know how exasperating it can be. And if this happens regularly, it can be worrying, too. Most experts will agree that this happens as soon as the novelty of “What’s for Lunch” has worn off. With kids getting easily bored with the trappings of their lunchboxes, more and more parents are at their wits’ end on how to solve this nutritional dilemma.
So what can frustrated parents do to make sure their child eats what they lovingly pack for lunch? To keep your kids interested in your effort to keep them healthy and fed may sound like hard work but here are 6 easy ways to make their lunches more attractive without having to buy gourmet or spending a small fortune on gourmet lunchbox food
1 | CUT IT UP FOR THEM:
Children prefer smaller pieces of food or finger foods to nibble on. A sliced apple in the morning with a few drops of lemon juice wrapped together in plastic wrap will prevent the apple from turning brown and keep it fresh for a healthy mid-morning snack.
2| MAKE USE OF DIPS:
Kids lust love to dip their food into almost anything. So next time, try packing in some yoghurt, guacamole, salad dressing or salsa into their lunch box with any cut up fruit or vegetable from your fridge.
3 | KEEP IT FOOD WARM:
Keep soups and other food warm by using a thermos. Warm the thermos with boiling water for a minute then eemty the flask and fill it with warm food. It will be good to go till lunchtime.
4 | CHANGE THE SHAPES:
Evidence has shown that if you cut a sandwich diagonally in triangles, kids will be more interested than if you just cut it straight in half. You can make use of cookie cutters for more fun shapes.
5 | MAKE IT WITH THEM:
Kids love to use their imagination and create. Invite them into the kitchen and encourage them to help you build their lunches. This is the perfect chance to get them to play with their food before eating it.
6 | USE LEFTOVER FOOD:
Roasted chicken can be added on top of a salad, tortilla/wrap, sandwich, or add beans and rice/pasta with a sprinkle of cheese. The options are endless and by using leftover food, you will save time in the kitchen.
So that’s it – the 6 easy ways that you can keep in mind when packing your kid’s lunch box. Start with one or two of these ideas and then add the others in as your kids become bored with their lunches.
