School Lunch Tips For Your Child's Success

My least favorite thing to do is make school lunches.  I have seen parents stress over what to pack, how to keep the food hot/cold or worry that their child won't eat or not like what they sent.  Making school lunches can be stress free and should involve your child.  I've listed some tips on packing school lunches that will hopefully keep your mornings running smoothly and your child's tummy full.

1. Get your child involved.  What do they like?  What can they help prepare?  Set up a lunch station and get your child involved.
lunch station

2. Don't stress if they want the same thing everyday.  If their diet is well balanced there is no need to worry (side note, this is my personal opinion, I am not a dietian or a doctor).  Chidlren like stability and there is comfort if they know what to expect in their lunch boxes.

3.  Show them how to open and close their lunch containers and let them practice.  Lunch time independence is important.  You want to avoid your child having to wait for assistance before they can eat.

4.  Not all schools are fortunate enough to have extra staff available to heat up the children's lunches.  Thermos' work great for keeping hot foods warm.
Thermos tips

5.  Don't overpack your child's lunch box.  None of us want your child to go hungry but packing a 3 year old more food than a grown man can eat can be overwhelming to them.

6.  Prepare, clean, cut up and package as much as possible before the weeks starts.  In the mornings you will just have to prepare the main dish and pop the rest into their lunchbag.

If you would like additional ideas and tips on packing school lunches please visit my Pinterest page, Montessori School of Schenecady or click the link. Pinterest/School Lunch Idea,

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