We’ve long loved Beau Coffron’s Lunchbox Dad Meals on Pinterest. Beau has three kids, a full-time job, writing gigs and a fast-paced life in the San Francisco Bay area, and he’s still able to pull together bento-box lunches for his kids that are essentially edible artwork — and healthy and affordable, too. (Check out Woody Woodpecker made from an apple!)
Can we all carve cartoon characters into our kids’ sandwiches every day? Probably not. But here are 5 exclusive tips Beau’s shared with us to help make your student’s lunch is delicious, healthy and creative. (Hint: Get your kids involved!)
Between post-dinner cleanup and a busy morning rush, how can I plan out time to pack a lunch for my student?
There are two great tips that we use in my family. Many times we cook a little more than we need for dinner. This way we can move leftovers directly from the dinner dishes into lunch boxes for the next day. We also try and prep all the food we can at the beginning of the week. Cut up fruit and veggies all at once and store in sealed containers. This makes it easy to put healthy items into lunches in seconds. If you want to get creative, start by using cookie cutters on bread or cheese. It is fast and gives a creative touch.
How can my kids help?
I suggest getting them started when they are young. It will take a little more time, but let them make lunches with you. Also, you can involve them in the process. If you want them to eat healthier, don’t ask them what they want in their lunch. Instead, give them two choices. For example, let them choose carrots or broccoli. Then have them wash the food off and put them in the lunchbox while you make something else. This lets them be involved and gives you quality time interacting with them. As they make better choices, let them have more of a role in it. Many kids want to feel like they make their own decisions, so give them good options and let them run with it.
I’m in a lunchbox-packing rut. Where can I turn to for some creative (and delicious) inspiration? Where do you get yours?
I get my ideas from my kids. I make lunches for them based on what they are watching or reading. I also put all of my recipes on my blog, lunchboxdad.com, so parents can steal whatever ideas they want to. For even more inspiration I put many other creative parents’ ideas on my Pinterest boards. These range from easy ideas to more complex. Even if you don’t recreate the whole lunch it, might give you a few ideas to give those school lunches just a little bit of an extra special touch.
Help! I have a picky eater on my hands. What can I do to ensure their lunch is nutritious while still catering to picky palates?
We have a rule in my house that you have to at least try food that is served to you. When I started making healthy food into fun shapes, it really helped my kids to try new things. They even sometimes get surprised by what they like. Many times parents just throw food into lunch bags. I have found if you present it in a fun way, kids will at least give it a shot. If they don’t like it, then try again with something else. If they do like it, then you’ve found a new healthy favorite. That is at least until they decide they won’t eat it next week!
What are some healthier alternatives to including sweet/salty treats in my student’s lunchbox (instead of cookies, chips, gummies and the like).
Thankfully there are some great “snack” type healthy food alternatives out there now. Beyond that, I like to use dried fruit. Make sure to choose a variety without added sugar. For a little variety try making your own trail mix. Combine a few varieties of dried fruit with your kids favorite nuts. You can even add cereal instead of nuts if you are concerned with nut allergies. Also try crackers and cheese chunks for something different.
For more creative lunch-packing ideas, check out additional inspiration from Lunchbox Dad and other back-to-school Pin Picks.
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