Before I left for vacation this week, I asked Christina Ferrolli at Purdue Extension – Marion County to share her perspective on the all-important mid-day meal, lunch. She reminds us below that packing a good lunch is not just kid stuff. It is important for moms to get a good lunch too.
I used to approach lunches from the perspective of it being the in between meal – between breakfast and dinner – until I decided to turn lunch upside down! Why be boring, especially if you pack a lunch?
Tempt your taste buds with turkey, spinach, chive-cream cheese roll-ups. Skip the tortilla wrap, if you are gluten sensitive, or go for a whole grain one! You can add lettuce, carrot match sticks, pepper (red, yellow or green) sticks or cheese to the roll-ups. Change around the meat – ham, roast beef, pastrami – if you need to look for the lower salt and fat versions. In the winter, I add a cup of soup, homemade for less sodium, to warm your (and the family’s) soul!
Pack cubed or sliced cheese along with whole grain crackers to get your dairy and grains! I always feel pampered when I add cheese to my lunch. Cheese is also kid friendly, especially string cheese. Look into the lower fat and salt varieties; you really aren’t sacrificing on taste.
Another way to jazz up your lunch is with tortilla chips and salsa. Salsa is so easy to pack in small containers that you will wonder why you didn’t do this before. Make your own salsa or buy your favorite and just add chips.
Bump up your veggie intake by taking along crudités – raw veggies, carrots, celery, peppers, and cherry tomatoes that have been cut up for making eating easier. Serve with a bit of ranch dressing and even kids will enjoy munching healthfully at lunch.
Don’t forget the fruit! Fruit cups are very portable and require only a spoon. The varieties with added JELL-O™ make for a fun dessert for little and big kids alike! Or add a piece of fresh fruit – always a refreshing choice.
Check out the following websites for more ideas for making healthy lunches:
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org
http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhardhealthylifestyle
http://www.mypyramid.gov
Tags: eating healthy, lunch ideas
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