Back to School Lunch Inspiration

It’s hard to believe that it’s back to school time! There are so many decisions when it comes to school lunch? Should we purchase or pack? If packing, what should we pack for our kids?

Kids have a lot of energy and don’t need foods with added sugars—the best sugars are those that occur naturally in fruits. Many of the pre-packed school lunches include juice, candy and cookies—filled with added sugar that kids just don’t need. You can help make better food choices for your children by packing your own lunches. But do not fear! It doesn’t need to be complicated—it can be simple and easy. Mix and match foods from each column to provide nutritious and well-balanced meals!

Some healthy combinations include:

• Bagel with cream cheese/cucumber/apple
• Banana & peanut butter sandwich/yogurt/strawberries/crackers
• Deli meat wrapped with pretzels/strawberries/crackers & cheese

Hydration

When it comes to hydration, water is the best way to go. Juice and milk tend to have too much added sugar. Plain water or hint water are great to keep active kids hydrated without adding too much unnecessary sugar into their diet.

Healthy Bars

With the wide variety of energy bars out there on the market, it can be hard to know which are the best choice, especially for kids? We’ve identified several that are among the better choices becausethey are low in sugar, made with natural ingredients and don’t have too many additives.  Keeping sugars around 5-9 grams per serving is ideal.

• Clif Z Bars
• Mini Perfect Bar
• Power Balls
• BOBO’s Oat Bars
• Warrior Health Chia Seed Bars
• Rx Bar : Kids