Healthy Snacks & Lunch Box Tips For Back-to-School!
It’s back-to-school time for all ages and grades, from preschool to college and beyond and everyone is asking me for healthy snacks and lunch box tips for back-to-school, college, a full- or a part-time job. Have you noticed how challenging it can be to eat when you’re away from home?
What can you take with you that will leave you feeling balanced and energized throughout the day?
What can keep you from reaching for high-calorie, nutrient-less snacks throughout the day; many of which often cause the dreaded brain fog and lack of energy?
Here are some delicious, easy snack and lunch ideas you can pack for yourself, your kiddos or your family.
Like adults, kid’s tummies are sensitive, yet need a balanced diet of protein and vegetable-based carbohydrates, and perhaps a bit of fruit, in moderation.
Consider color, size, texture and smell and offer a variety of options. Re-usable ‘baggies’ and lunch sacks, and even cutlery, are available everywhere, as are a variety of carrying containers, and having them on hand will make packing a lunch a breeze. Freezer-packs are also available to maintain safe temperatures in the lunchbox. Spend a few minutes after dinner tucking away some dinner leftovers for delicious next-day healthy snacks.
My favorite healthy snacks and lunch items:
Roasted vegetables, in large chunks – popular ones with children tend to be well-roasted cauliflower and butternut squash
Raw vegetables such as celery, carrots, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes.
Sunflower seed butter
Organic almond butter
Homemade pesto
Cherry tomatoes
Organic Rotisserie Chicken, simple pulled
Leftover Chicken, shredded
Smoked Salmon slices
Boiled Eggs, sliced
Roasted, Seasoned Nuts
Paleo Bars
Sliced avocado with lemon squeezed on top
Homemade vegetable chips
Low-carb purchased kale chips
“Healthy snacks just take a little extra time to think about and I hope these ideas give you many new options for your snacking and lunch breaks.”
Kids’ Sweet Caramelized Onion Dipping Sauce
Enjoy this delicious kid-friendly recipe that mimics honey mustard! Great for dipping chicken, green beans, or other vegetables in.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Yield: 1 1/2 cups
Total time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
1 medium yellow onion, chopped, caramelized in 2 Tablespoons oil for 20 minutes, or until a rich dark brown.
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon dry thyme
3 drops liquid stevia, (or 1/8 teaspoon powdered)
1 teaspoon high mineral sea salt
¾ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup avocado oil
Preparation
Caramelize the onion in 2 Tablespoons oil (What kind of oil? not listed in ingredients) for about 20 minutes or until a rich dark brown. Allow to cool.
Blend all ingredients, except olive and avocado oil in blender. When well mixed, slowly stream in olive oil and avocado oil. above ingredients in a blender. Slowly stream in olive oil and avocado oils until well mixed.
Note: If you only have 1 type of oil, just use 1 cup total.
For more easy back-to-school snack and lunch tips, check out my new cookbook, Heartful Kitchen: A Cookbook For Every Body.
