Easy, Healthy School Lunches

As homeschoolers, we don’t have to pack lunches every day, but we do pack lunch weekly when we go to our homeschool group on Fridays as well as for field trips and other outings, and after just a few weeks of that, I think I have an idea of how challenging it must be to come up with creative, healthy ideas for every day!

Although frozen PB&Js, snack crackers and fruit snacks might be the easy way to go — and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having those on occasion — I’m really looking for healthier options for our “school lunches”, since we need extra energy and nutrition for those busy days out anyway!

Fortunately, there is no shortage of inspiration across the blogosphere — or on Pinterest, where good ideas and pretty pictures abound — and I’m sharing some of my favorite ideas today.

I love this creative take on the classic PB&J, with tortillas instead of heavier bread. Our favorite combo is actually peanut butter, honey & banana, and we love to roll it up like this for a yummy lunch or treat!

Source: PB&J Banana Burritos | Mission Tortillas

We’ve always enjoyed the applesauce fruit blends cups, although they tend to be a special treat since they’re so much more expensive than a regular jar of applesauce. With the arrival of fall and fresh apples available in abundance here in the Shenandoah Valley, I am already planning to make tons of applesauce, and these fruit blends will be a fun alternative to plain applesauce as well!

Source: Applesauce Fruit Blends | Family Feedbag

Pizza is always a popular choice for any meal, and I love the portability of these fun pizza muffins. They seem perfect for freezer cooking, and I’d love to make a big batch and store the extras in the freezer for multiple lunches.

Source: Pizza Muffins | Mennonite Girls Can Cook

Spice up your sandwich rotation with waffle or pancake sandwiches! Cream cheese and fruit make a delicious filling, and if you keep waffles or pancakes in your freezer, these are quick to put together on the days that you need a quick idea for lunch.

Source: Waffle Sandwiches with Cream Cheese & Fruit | 100 Days of Real Food

I actually mentioned sandwich kabobs a couple of weeks ago in this fun foods gallery, but I hadn’t even thought of serving it in a school lunch. Really, though, food on a stick is always a hit, and this is another fun alternative to plain ol’ sandwiches!

Source: Sandwich on a Stick | Family Fun

Mac & cheese would not have been on my list of easy meals, but leave it to Shaina at Food for My Family to prove that it can be! We may just need to invest in thermoses before the cold weather hits because I love the idea of serving hot comfort foods such as mac & cheese and soup even when we’re away from home.

Source: Easy Mac & Cheese | Food for My Family

These chocolate-chip granola bites are not only colorful & cute, but they’re actually easier than homemade granola bars, and you don’t have to worry about cutting or dividing them once they’re done cooking; just pop them in the lunch box and you’re ready to go! I think these would be fun with various fruits as well — apples, raisins and coconut all sound delicious!

Source: Chocolate Chip Granola Bites | Another Lunch

Fruit snacks are a treat that my kids regularly ask for and rarely get. Between the food dye and HFCS, it’s just not something I want them to eat regularly, so we save them for their special weekends with Nona & Pop. These homemade gummy fruit snacks look so yummy, though, and with plenty of fruit and no added sugar, I can feel good about serving them!

Source: Homemade Fruit Snacks | All Day I Dream About Food

These peach freezer smoothies from Food for My Family are genius! Make and freeze them ahead of time and then let them thaw throughout the morning to be ready to serve at lunchtime. You could really make these in any flavor combination, but peach sounds pretty good to me!

Source: Peach Freezer Smoothies | Food for My Family

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http://joyceandnorm.wordpress.com Joyce and Norm

I brush twice daily. (Probably not for 3 minutes though. Oops!) I floss daily. My dentist appointment is next week! =)

My 4yo got a spinbrush at the suggestion of her dentist, and I think I want to get one for myself now too!
Jenminarik

I love my electric toothbrush! I also love going to the dentist as the girls who work there strongly encouraged my boyfriend to propose! I will never have bad teeth
Selene M.

I brush twice a day and floss.

kg4rmt at arrl dot net
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1064291667 Dara Hope Gates

Waterpik teeth, use Sonicare, use proxabrush between teeth, then do a manual brush; being sure to brush the tongue. Then I use a Stim-u-dent and go around each tooth and along gum line checking for plague. I have receding gums and need to be extra cautious. This takes about 10 minutes.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1064291667 Dara Hope Gates

Waterpik teeth, use Sonicare, use proxabrush between teeth, then do a manual brush; being sure to brush the tongue. Then I use a Stim-u-dent and go around each tooth and along gum line checking for plague. I have receding gums and need to be extra cautious. This takes about 10 minutes.
Bekki

I brush twice a day, dental floss when I remember, and visit my dentist every 6 months. Now that a dear friend of mine has had 4 cavities filled, 6 root canals and her wisdom teeth removed all in the last three months, I am much better about my teeth care even if I have never had any problems!
Tara O.

I brush twice a day, floss before bed and use mouthwash after I floss!
Maggie

I brush twice a day for two minutes each time with a heavy-duty electric toothbrush that even reminds me to switch quadrants of my mouth. I should floss…but I don’t. And I go to the dentist every 4 months because of previous oral-care issues.
Katherine

I brush once in the morning and once at night.
Ky G

I brush & rinse with mouthwash twice daily. Floss at night. And who in the world knew I had to worry about the potential of pregnancy gingivitis!
Radhi

I brush twice daily – morning and night. Hate flossing…

Would love to win the spinbrush – will help with speeding up my routine.
Anonymous

I floss after every snacks/meals. Brush three time a day after each meal.
Anonymous

I floss after every snacks/meals. Brush three time a day after each meal.
Melissa

Brush twice a day. After brushing I rinse with Listerine and then ACT. Also visit the hygenist every 6 months.
Fiona

I brush 4 times a day with an electric toothbrush that’s on its last legs…
I use a total care toothpaste and mouthwash in the morning.
At night, I floss my teeth, oh and I don’t drink sodas!
sam

Brush at least 2x a day, sometimes more. I TRY to floss, not daily, maybe weekly – one of those habits I want to create but just haven’t yet!
http://modernmrsdarcy.com Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy

I’ve never had a spinbrush for myself, but my kids have them because it makes brushing their teeth soooo much easier. I would believe it’s more effective, but that’s not the reason they have spinbrushes. It’s more fun, so they don’t fight me about the brushing, and they brush for longer. That’s a good thing!
Amy Allen

I brush twice a day and try to floss each day. I also go to the dentist twice a year.
Jessica

I brush in the morning and I brush and floss at night! I use a manual toothbrush, but would like to try a power toothbrush.
Ames

I brush 2x with my super cool Oral B battery toothbrush…

Sometimes I floss…

Eek!
Cathy Lail

I brush regularly with my Sonic brush, floss with Glide, and absolutely LOVE Gum softpicks!
Marla Y

My routine dental care is brushing in the morning after breakfast and then brushing and flossing before bed. I have regular professional cleanings twice a year. That’s it. thank you for the chance to win.

koinonia572001@yahoo.com
Karen Peterson

I brush at least twice daily (sometimes again after I finish my coffee). Have great dental and go every 6 months; sorry lacking in the flossing skills but trying to be better at every other day flossing

Love my sonicare hate the brush prices!
Laura

Brush twice a day floss once.
Miranda

I brush and floss and use Biotene mouthwash throughout the day.
http://profiles.google.com/sholland33 Shell Holland

I brush my teeth after eating breakfast and I floss and then brush at night. I also go to the dentist twice per year.
Jasie Desta

I brush at least twice a day and visit the dentist twice a year. Don’t floss as often as I should, but trying to be better. Also, frequently chew sugarless gum after some meals or sugary drinks.
Rebecca

I brush twice a day and floss every night. Don’t go to the dentist that often because we do not have dental insurance.
Kmsa1234

Twice a day with a regular toothbrush. That’s about it
Kmsa1234

Twice a day with a regular toothbrush. That’s about it
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4OPWXFZKEAXXH7NUCWNYHTG52A trungchem2002

I brush three times a day using my Oral-B electric toothbrush and rembrandt or BreathRX toothpaste, followed by whitening mouthwash.
Tina M

I brush my teeth twice a day and floss before bed.
Loveforcoupons

I brush twice a day and try to floss every day!
Crystal K.

I brush my teeth twice a day. I have a nice electric toothbrush, but I still usually end up using a manual one. I floss a few times a week, but know I should even more often than that! And I see the dentist every six months like clockwork.
Crystal K.

I brush my teeth twice a day. I have a nice electric toothbrush, but I still usually end up using a manual one. I floss a few times a week, but know I should even more often than that! And I see the dentist every six months like clockwork.
Heathercoutcher

Brush in the morning after the shower and at night again if I’m lucky.
Nancy

We brush several times a day and should floss more than we do!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
amanda

We brush morning and night and should floss but never do!
amanda

We brush morning and night and should floss but never do!
Karen

I remember to brush twice a day but never as long as I probably should brush.
Karen

I remember to brush twice a day but never as long as I probably should brush.
Sue D

I brush after every meal and floss fairly regularly. I also go to the dentist every 6 months.
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Nicole

I can’t get this to load. A shame, I was really interested.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

I’m sorry — it’s working now!

Ouellett9160

Me too! It used to load right. Didn’t write down the recipe though..

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Sorry about that — it works now!

Deegsgirl

This is a great idea! Nutella and a banana for me!
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http://juliebagamary.blogspot.com/ Julie Bagamary

GREAT idea!
Noway

Wanted to say, Great idea! But very messy. Won’t try this again!

Higley Amy

Isn’t that point of a peanut butter/jelly sandwich? Making a mountain out of a mole hill…

Karyn

does the banana stay “fresh” (read: not brown) until lunch time in a lunch box?

Guest

Not exactly, I tried it and the banana does get a little brown by lunch time.

tj

If you chilled this a little and cut into bite-sized chunks would it be easier to eat? This would be great for our wrestler between matches.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

I think that’s a great idea, but I wouldn’t slice it ahead of time because I’d be afraid it would brown too much!

Melody

If you mix the banana with a little lemon juice it will take longer to brown. I use it on apples, pears and any fruit I cut up for the kids lunches.

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Ah, good point! Great idea!

Damagnuson

I have a wrestler an was wondering how would this be for calories? He needs to keep his weight down and I am always looking for new ideas for him. How far ahead could you make these?

NB

Peanut butter and honey? Might be tasty but certainly isn’t healthy!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Unfortunately, in all things nutrition, it depends on who you ask. In our house, natural peanut butter and raw honey are definitely on the healthy list!

Toggle_09

Absolutely! These products are natural and easier for your body to digest. Way better than some “sugar free” chemicals!

Wordworkerrussell

Actually, in moderation, peanut butter and honey is a very healthy snack. Peanut butter is a great source of protein, and honey is full of healthy benefits, not to mention that it is a natural substitute for processed sugar, which is extremely bad for you!
Harr5692

Yes – PB is a healthy fat and ANYTHING in moderation is OK! Don’t say things without thinking.
Amber Anarchy

honey is a natural antibiotic and peanut butter has a lot of protein….eating local honey can help reduce allergies even…..dark choc has cancer fighting properties. The only part that isnt healthy is the tortilla, but that can be adjusted

Damagnuson

How many calories do you think one has? I have a high school wrestler who tries to eat and keep his wieght down. He does lots of bananas and peanut butter and sometimes honey so this might be a new way to serve it.
Damagnuson

How far ahead could you make these without getting mushy? My wrestler packs snacks but would carry them for a good day before eating them?
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Ljbaum

Looks delicious!! I think my kids will love these!!
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Kathy

This is WONDERFUL with Cinnamon! YUM!
Becca

Did this with peanut butter and apples….AMAZING. new favorite lunch.
Dikatys1

I think I invented this, I have been eating these for years!!

http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

Hehe, that means you’re famous!!

Sb1409

I love this wrap!! Ive had it the past 3 days. I use peanut butter, jelly, bananas, and granola. Its sooooo good!!!
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Easy, Healthy School Lunches

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