Green and Natural Lunchbox

It is the time of year for summer splashes in crystal blue water, lazy sun induced naps, and barefoot running through green blades of grass to come to an end. The sounds of summer are fading as we enter the new season of clouded skies, yearnings for peaks at the sun, and grass that sometimes matches the color of the soil in which it is planted. Many of you have already sent your children back to school while others are still in the planning stages. Care has been given to choosing appropriate clothing, finding great deals on school supplies, and making sure the first day of school goes as planned. Your child will be dressed, with #2 pencils in hand, and standing ready at the front door (or sitting ready at the table) at the designated time, but what’s for lunch?

Preparing lunch for your child can be a lot like preparing dinner in that you try to find the right food(s) he will eat and not slip to the dog under the table. If your child attends school outside of the home, then you have to worry about them trading that apple, with a friend, for that bag of chips the apple was supposed to replace. Regardless of what type of schooling your child receives, he has to eat lunch.

Here are a few suggestions to try that will ensure your child gets the nutrition he needs while also making lunch something he excitingly looks forward to everyday.

1. Menu plan with your child.
Take the time to plan one month worth of lunch menus. Make three columns and label as “main course,” “snack, and “treat.” The two of you can create meals that combine your child’s favorite foods and choices that are also nutritious. Creating this one month menu may take a while, but once it’s done, you can use as a reference to follow or if your child is old enough, he can use when preparing his own lunch. Update as new food options are made at home or products are discovered.

My favorite, favorite, favorite is Vegan Lunch Box. This book is GOLD! I was able to get a reasonably priced first edition, but the second edition is worthy too and quite affordable. Jennifer McCann uses Bento style presentation and lunch is a treat everyday.

2. Have fresh fruit and vegetables available around the house to eat on a regular basis.
Children eat what is available when they get hungry. They may not like every fresh fruit or vegetable you provide, but through it being offered more frequently they may acquire a like or love, causing them to make better nutrition choices. Try to purchase items that are locally grown, because this provides an opportunity for your children to learn about what grows seasonally in their area, and also teaches them the value of buying locally.

3. Find alternatives for those “yummies” typically high in fat and sugar.
I’ll eat a few chips, but I don’t have to have them. I am also the last person (a.k.a. the “cupcake queen”) to be educating anyone on reducing sugar in their diet. Popcorn makes a great snack. My husband pops kernels on the stove every movie night and if there is any left over, our children eat it as a snack throughout the week. Newman’s Own also has some noise making alternatives with their line of pretzels and soy chips. (Tip: When Nell and Paul are on the label, then it’s organic. When only Paul is on the label, it’s natural and not organic.) Mary’s Gone Crackers also offers crunchy wheat-free and gluten-free alternatives.

Newman’s Own also has tasty sugar treats that you can feel great about offering your children. Of course you can always offer a piece of fruit which can be served single or accented with yogurt, granola, etc. Take a look at My Sweet Vegan if you enjoy cooking. If you can pull yourself away from the delicious looking pictures, then there are some great recipes of desserts that travel well for lunch. One of the great things about cooking your own food is that you can make adjustments (ex: sugar substitutes – honey, fruit – address allergy issues, etc.)

Now, the menus are planned so let’s outfit with style and consciousness that matches what is being served.

Dress Your Food To Go
Although many of our lunches are eaten at home, we have great field trips planned for this school year, so these lunch boxes are going to come in handy. Laptop Lunches are practical and reusable lunch boxes created by moms Tammy and Amy to “promote better nutrition and waste reduction.” They continue their efforts by offering volume discounts to schools and organizations wanting to do the same and have created a program called Waste-Free Lunches. This is a program that is parent-organized where they work with their children’s schools to reduce lunch waste. Learn how to get involved.

Sipping Safe
We drink a lot of water and have run out of our make-shift, reusable drinking containers. I kept putting off ordering our reusable containers from Kleen Kanteen (for mom and dad) and Sigg (for the children) and am glad I finally did it. These containers are environmentally sound and are also good for storing liquids other than water. My children had fun choosing their cup from the variety of choices in the children’s line.

Messy Mouth be Gone
Fabikins is another mommy business whose mission is to “provide high quality planet friendly napkins and products to help minimize the environmental impact of paper waste.” Not only are these napkins stylish, but they can be personalized with your child’s name. No messy mouths or dirty hands here.

There is no guarantee your children will enjoy planning their lunches or that their lunches won’t be traded, but you are building a foundation. It’s a new school year and since their minds are open to the new lessons they will learn in school, take advantage and add another lesson they can learn at home; green and natural living.

Additional Resources:

Great Recipes for Menu Planning with Your Children
Brown Bag Success
The Laptop Lunch
The Top 100 Recipes for a Healthy Lunchbox

Traveling Containers
Eco Bags
To-Go Ware
Bambu

Laugh, learn, and live more green and natural with Jennifer at Little Green Secrets where country living is a little easier. Subscribe to her blog here and enjoy great recipes for delicious vegetarian food that will make your mouth water, her experiences in homeschooling, and a few (ssh!) little green secret challenges she faces everyday.

An original post written for 5 Minutes for Going Green.

6 Responses to Green and Natural Lunchbox
  1. Grace
    August 18, 2008 | 10:12 am

    I ended up purchasing Lock-n-Locks for my daughter, who is in 3rd grade and is interested with having a variety for lunch. What I’m liking about these containers the ease of opening along with the little seal around the rims that keep salad dressing from leaking out. To keep from getting into a rut, I’m going to some “Bento” sites to get fresh ideas on what to pack and how to make things looking appealing.

  2. Tammy and Parker
    August 18, 2008 | 10:15 am

    What a great post. All of my kids, and my husband are packing lunches for school this year. The Bento boxes can be a bit expensive, but I’ve found my kids love to use simple and inexpensive silicon muffin pans in their place.

    We are a tad bit cheap at our house.

    My husband likes to brag that during all the years he was in school and all the years he’s been either a teacher or a Principal, he has never once had a school lunch. lol.

  3. Jessica (Surely You Nest)
    August 18, 2008 | 1:57 pm

    So timely – I just yesterday brainstormed lunch ideas with my DD for kindergarten. Thanks for the great tips – I’m headed to your menu planning links right now!

  4. Arianne (To Think Is To Create)
    August 18, 2008 | 7:37 pm

    Fantastic resources, loved this!

  5. Jennifer (Little Green Secrets)
    August 19, 2008 | 12:14 am

    Tammy,

    I’m all for affordable. Something you may consider as a fun project for your children is making a lunch bag http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=247. I know you’re already quite busy, but if you have scraps, and some eager children, then they may enjoy this project which can be personalized.

    Grace,

    Take a look at the Vegan Lunchbox blog http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/ (look in the archives) which preceded the book. There are so many great meals that Jennifer packed for her son. The pictures are appetizing and there are three years worth of meals that should keep you busy and excite your daughter each time she sits down for lunch.

  6. rObrak
    December 8, 2009 | 11:57 am

    Hey, I know an incredible site that offers an economical eco-friendly stainless steel container. You can visit Happy Tiffin It’s convenient to use, reusable, long lasting, portable, easy to clean, and safe. I truly believe that you can save more than spending a lot by using this stuff. ;-)