Healthy Back To School Lunch Ideas
#Collaborative post
Fall is in the air, and for many parents, that means it’s time to start packing school lunches again. Keeping kids feeling well, and fighting colds and flu, are goals for many parents. In addition to including elderberry gummies for kids in their lunchbox to help fight off colds, start the school year right with these healthy lunchbox ideas featuring fall ingredients.
Healthy Fall Ingredients for Kids
Autumn brings crisp air and falling leaves. It also brings the fall harvest, full of healthy and delicious ingredients that are perfect to include in your kids’ lunchboxes. Some favourite fall flavors are:
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are the star of the fall harvest, and the season just wouldn’t be the same without them. Not only are the gourds themselves iconic, pumpkins are rich in vitamins and minerals, including magnesium. The benefits of magnesium for children include healthy bone growth, so be sure your kids are getting enough.
Squash
Fall is the right time for delicious squashes like butternut and acorn. Containing many of the same nutrients as pumpkin, you can often swap squashes and pumpkins can in recipes. Including these vegetables in your kids’ lunchbox keeps their meals healthy and nutritious.
Apple
The cool, crisp air of autumn ushers in what for many is the best crop of the season, fall apples. Full of fibre and vitamins and a wonderful ingredient for both sweet and savoury treats, apples are always a favourite for adults and kids alike.
Pear
Less celebrated than the fall apple, but just as delicious, pears come into season just in time for back to school. Their delicate flavour is a welcome addition to any lunchbox. Choosing varieties like Bosc or Asian pears will provide a crisp texture, while Barlett and D’anjou pears will be soft and juicy. Select the variety that your children prefer or that best suits your recipe.
Cinnamon
This warm spice is the taste of fall and is universally loved by all. It is the perfect complement for pumpkins, squash, apples and pears alike so be sure to stock up for the season.
Fun Lunch Ideas with Fall Ingredients
Having fall ingredients is a good start, but knowing how to incorporate them into delicious lunch items is the key to getting your kids to eat them. The first thing to put in their lunchbox is kids multivitamin gummies, which taste like a treat but give you peace of mind that they are getting the vitamins and minerals they need every day.
Creativity is the key to packing an exciting meal for your family that is both healthy and irresistible. Finish packing their lunch with these delicious fall ideas:
- Pumpkin muffins with vanilla-cinnamon yoghurt
- Roasted butternut squash and cinnamon apple soup
- Quinoa salad with apples and pears
- Kale and apple soup
- Mini pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon whipped cream
- Apple sandwiches with peanut butter and raisins
- Turkey, swiss and pear roll-ups
- Pear, granola and yoghurt parfaits
- Maple roasted acorn squash salad
- Pumpkin hummus with carrot sticks
Including these tasty fall flavours in your kids’ lunchboxes will help them stay healthy while enjoying the seasonal flavours they love.
