Happy Labor Day!!!
While the weather here has been a wash out, I hope everyone was still able to spend time with family and friends! We managed to sneak out to the beach between rain drops.
As a kid, Labor Day always left me a sunken feeling in my stomach as it meant the end of summer. The night before the first day of school my mom would always sing me a song from the early 1900’s called “School Days” which would send me to tears. I hated it and it still makes my skin crawl when I hear it! She now sings it to my nephews and they hate it as much as I did, my mom just laughs! Anyway, enough about my traumatic childhood experiences…
I have a few more years before I have to worry about preparing school lunches however, I know it can cause a lot of stress on parents!
This school year follow these simple Lunch Box Basics to build a balanced meal for your kids!
(I found this idea on the Whole Foods website and thought is was too cute not to share! I added a few more options to each category for variety)
Lunch Box Basics
Color + Protein + Crunch + Bonus = Perfect Lunchbox
Pick one from each category
Color:
apple slices, orange segments, grapes, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper slices, watermelon, blueberries
Protein:
nut/seed butter, hard boiled egg, hummus, black bean dip, edamame, baked tofu
Crunch:
whole grain crackers, celery sticks, baby carrots, cucumber slices, rice cakes, dried edamame, air popped pop-corn
Bonus:
yogurt, apple sauce, all natural fruit strip, string cheese, trail mix, granola bar
~Aim for 1/2 of the lunch box to be filled with fruits and veggies! ~
~Don’t pack sugary juice boxes! Send water, organic milk, non-dairy milk or coconut water instead!~
Here is a recipe that your kids will love for a quick breakfast or an afternoon snack!
Banana Bread Milkshake
2 cups almond milk or milk of your choice
1 frozen banana
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
2 tablespoons walnuts
2 dates, pitted
2 tablespoons hemp seeds or flax meal
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
dash of cinnamon
~Blend and Enjoy~
www.beginwithinnutrition.com