Back To School Nutrition: Lunches and After School Snacks!

by Susan Cross | Posted: September 9th, 2010 | No Comments »

Welcome back to part II in our Back To School Nutrition series. Today we’ll be sharing with you some delicious, yet nutrient-rich lunch and after school snack ideas for the kids, and you!

September is finally here and this means long days for our children. To keep their energy levels up all day, improve academic performance and overall health, proper nutrition is the fastest and easiest way to achieve such important goals.

While there is a movement to improve school lunch fare, many schools still serve nutrient deficient processed meals filled with hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, lots of white stuff, preservatives, corn syrup, sugar and food dyes.

Here are some very easy, nutritious lunch and after school snack ideas for the entire week to help you and your kids get off to a healthy start.

LUNCH:

1. Monkey rollup*: almond butter/banana/granola/cinnamon roll up on whole grain wrap. Cut it in slices like sushi. Celery sticks, frozen red grapes and an organic fig newton.

2. Applegate Farms organic turkey and meunster cheese pinwheels. Roll up together, without bread and cut in pieces. Add several whole grain crackers. Sliced apples with almond or sunbutter for dipping and a Clifs organic fruit rollup for dessert.

3. Organic cream cheese or cashew cheese and cucumbers on whole grain bread. Cut crusts off and cut in half. Mixed fruit cut-up, baby carrots with a little lemon and sea salt, one organic oatmeal cookie.

4. Whole grain pita with egg salad. Use low-fat organic mayo, add some shredded carrots and celery. Cup of sliced strawberries. One vegan muffin*.

5. Organic cheese and tomato on whole grain bread. Cup of applesauce, 2-3 broccoli crowns, homemade potato chips*.

*VIB recipe page

BACKPACK SNACKS FOR AFTER SCHOOL:
1. Vegan muffin* and bottle of water.
2. Late July cheese crackers, banana, water.
3. Trail mix of almonds, goji berries, coconut flakes, lemon seltzer.
4. Goji Treats and coconut water.
5. Orgain Chocolate protein drink and whole grain crackers/cheese stick.

AFTER SCHOOL – AT HOME:
When kids get home its often been 4-6 hours since their last real meal. Have them refuel with a healthy after school snack so they can get through their homework. Many kids fill up on nutrient empty chips and heavily sugared drinks. While these are easy to grab and may taste yummy to them – they have no nutritional value and will not boost energy.

1. Organic grilled cheese on whole grain bread.
2. Half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread.
3. Baked organic sweet potato with melted organic cheese.
4. Half peanut butter and granola sandwich.
5. Two hard boiled eggs

Try to have sliced carrots, celery, or zucchini on the table with olive oil & lemon, and hummus in a small dipping cup. You will be surprised – if it’s there they’ll pick at it.