The back-to-school season is always bittersweet. Emotionally, it\u2019s a tug-of-war between relief that the kids are returning to school, anguish that the summer is already over, and dread at the thought of having to get the kids out of the house on time every morning.<\/p>\n
Primal parents often feel torn on the issue of school lunches. On the one hand, we generally like to control what our kids eat. On the other hand, packing lunch every morning is a grind.<\/strong> By my count, I\u2019ve packed somewhere north of 2,500 lunches since my eldest started school, and I only have two kids who aren\u2019t even in high school yet. (I just calculated this for the first time. That number makes me want to go take a nap!)<\/p>\n At this point, I have a pretty good system in place. Most days, my kids\u2019 lunches consist of four elements:<\/p>\n This template makes it easy to throw together quick, healthy, balanced lunches.<\/p>\n Below you\u2019ll find examples of what you could pack for each category, as well as some gear recommendations and tips. What I like about this modular system is that it works for kids of all ages and different dietary preferences. Lunches can be simple or more elaborate, and it\u2019s adaptable to different budget levels. Picky eaters still get some variety if they like even a couple items from each category that you can mix and match. If your kids are voracious eaters, you can double down on the protein and add an extra snack item. This strategy also works whether or not your kids eat strictly Primal.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n While items like lunchmeat and beef jerky are lunch box staples, don\u2019t limit yourself to the obvious fare. Anything that they willingly eat at home is fair game for lunch boxes.<\/p>\n Options include:<\/p>\n Serving suggestions:<\/p>\n If your kid will eat a Big-ass Salad for school lunch, that\u2019s fantastic. Mine won\u2019t, but they will<\/em> eat raw vegetables. Include any raw or cooked vegetables your kids like. Here are some standard faves:<\/p>\n The best way to get kids to eat vegetables is to include a little container of dipping sauce. Think ranch, hummus, baba ganoush, guacamole, or nut butter (for celery sticks).<\/p>\n Any fruit your kids will eat is on the menu here. The Primal Blueprint suggests opting for local, in-season fruit when possible. Frozen is always an option, too, although things like frozen berries can thaw and become too mushy. Frozen peach and mango wedges hold up well, though.<\/p>\n Remember that even if you opt for a low-carb or ketogenic diet, kids are generally more metabolically flexible than adults, so there\u2019s no need to worry about including fruit in their diets. Fruits contain nutrients and fiber and can easily be part of a Primal kid\u2019s repertoire. Some good lunch box options are:<\/p>\n I\u2019m using the term \u201csnacks\u201d here to include all the other items you might use to round out the lunch box. This is where you can add something crunchy, sweet, savory, and\/or salty for more variety, plus get more food in when you\u2019re feeding hungry tweens or teens. Also, if your kids\u2019 schools are like mine, they need something designated for mid-morning snack time.<\/p>\n Note that with the list below, I\u2019m assuming that you\u2019re choosing options made with Primal-friendlier ingredients (grain-free flours and whatnot) if that\u2019s how you feed your kids:<\/p>\n As an example of what this could look like, here are some tried and true combos:<\/p>\n Traditional:<\/strong> turkey sandwich or wrap + cherry tomatoes with ranch dip + strawberries + plantain chips<\/p>\n Two-minute lunch:<\/strong> Greek yogurt + baby carrots + mandarin orange + seaweed snacks<\/p>\n Big eater:<\/strong> tuna salad + celery sticks with peanut butter + avocado + protein bar + trail mix<\/p>\n Deconstructed chicken nachos:<\/strong> cooked chicken mixed with shredded cheese + sliced radishes + salsa + avocado + grain-free tortilla chips<\/p>\n Shmunchables<\/strong> (for the kids who ask for those prepackaged lunch kits, wink wink): salami + sliced cheese + ranch dip or mustard + apple slices + grain-free crackers + cookie<\/p>\n Bento boxes are popular with kids and adults alike because it\u2019s fun to have a mini smorgasbord when you sit down to lunch. The protein + vegetable + fruit + snack system is the same idea, and you can certainly pack these lunches in bento boxes if you have them. I just keep a large stash of small containers and reusable bags on hand.<\/p>\n Here are my essentials:<\/p>\n Honestly, I am not a meal prepper. I see the value in it, but I like having the freedom to decide what I want to eat each day. That said, I\u2019m a big fan of prepping for school lunches. You can save a lot of time in the morning by planning ahead.<\/p>\n Make big batches of carrot muffins, zucchini bread, energy balls, and protein pancakes to keep in the freezer. Throw them in the lunch box frozen, and they\u2019ll thaw by lunchtime. (By the way, yogurt tubes, applesauce pouches, and smoothies can be frozen, too.)<\/p>\n Cut up a bunch of vegetables on Sunday night. You can portion them into individual containers at the beginning of the week, but my kids grab them and eat them after school, too, so they\u2019re gone by Tuesday. Instead, I store cut veggies in big containers and throw them into smaller containers each morning.<\/p>\n Let older kids pack their own lunches. Provide them with this basic template and cede control of what, specifically, goes in.<\/p>\n Finally, I\u2019ll note that it\u2019s awesome if you have the time and energy to make homemade granola bars and cut your kids\u2019 fruit into fun shapes each morning. Please don\u2019t feel bad if you don\u2019t have the wherewithal to do so, or if making Instagram-worthy lunches doesn\u2019t bring you joy. I\u2019m right there with you! I trust that we\u2019re all doing the best we can with whatever time and financial resources we have.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
What to Pack for School Lunches<\/h3>\n
Protein: The Lunch Box Centerpiece<\/h2>\n
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Crunchy and Colorful Vegetables for Kids<\/h2>\n
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Don\u2019t forget the vegetable dips!<\/h3>\n
Fruit for More Color<\/h2>\n
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Finish with Snacks<\/h2>\n
Healthy School Lunch Ideas<\/h2>\n
Gear<\/h2>\n
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Tips for Making Lunch Prep Easier<\/h2>\n
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