Back-To-School Breakfast and Lunch Ideas…Easy, Affordable, Healthy, & Delicious

Getting back to a school routine can be tough. Planning breakfast and school lunches doesn’t have to be. I think the most important things I heard from local moms were that meals needed to be something their child would actually like and eat, be easy to prepare, be easy on the budget, and quick to fix. If your child is a picky eater, don’t force new foods on them during the school week. You want them to eat so they can concentrate during the day. 

EASY BREAKFASTS – 

Breakfast can be a stressful time with trying to get the kids up and dressed, homework and books to be found, maybe a bit of squabbling if you have more than one child, finding the car keys, much less making sure everyone eats something healthy before leaving the house. I remember some of my own personal stress about breakfast when my own son was young was trying to force him to eat what I believed to be what “good moms” made. Like a full plate of eggs, bacon, fruits, toast, along with a glass of milk and orange juice. Or otherwise he’d starve to death! But my son didn’t like eggs in the morning or even a full stomach first thing upon waking and for a while there, it made for heated mornings. Not a good way to start off the school day. Eventually I figured things out that worked for our family, like letting him have leftovers or just nibbling on his favorite fruits and nuts. He was more of a grazer than a full-on-meal kind of kid.

Point is, I think it’s more important to work around your child’s likes and preferences (as long as it’s healthy and not sugar-laden), rather than start the day off arguing and stressed and trying to force them to eat something they don’t want or like.

Here are just a few ideas that hopefully help or at least spark some ideas. 

SNACK PLATES FOR TODDLERS 

Easy to eat, lots of variety, tailored to your toddler and his or her likes. Proteins like hard-boiled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, or cheese sticks, along with fruits and dry healthy cereals or toast sticks. If your child likes healthy nuts like almonds or seeds like hemp, flax or chia, sprinkle on the cottage cheese, eggs or yogurt for additional nutrition.

SPINACH SMOOTHIES

Spinach Smoothies….Quick, Inexpensive, Nutritious….AND Better Than I Thought!

• “MiMi” (Colorado Springs grandma) makes a double batch of homemade waffles on Sundays and fries up sausage and bacon that she keeps refrigerated. During the week she simply heats them up and serves with eggs easily made that morning along with fresh fruit options. n the mornings she can heat and easily serve with eggs and fresh fruit options. 

EASY OVERNIGHT OATS

This is a very simple and basic recipe that you can add to and customize to your own personal likes. I have celiac disease so I use certified gluten-free oats. If your child has dairy allergies you can easily sub a non-dairy yogurt and non-dairy milk like almond or soy milk. You can add the fruit before you fridge overnight or add fresh fruits and nuts in the morning. To keep this budget-friendly, use seasonal fruits. (If you don’t have a mason jar or want to make a big batch for the week, simply use a bowl with an airtight lid.)

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup rolled oats 

1/2 cup milk of choice

1/4 cup plain yogurt (I like to use Greek yogurt)

1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey

(Optional ingredients…2 teaspoons chia, flax, or hemp seed, 1/4 cup chopped up fruit like berries, apples, etc., 1/4 cup almonds, walnuts, etc., sprinkle of cinnamon…and the list goes on!)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix oats, milk, yogurt, and syrup or honey in mason jar. Add additional ingredients (or wait till morning) and refrigerate overnight. Shake good, stir in fruit and nuts if adding that morning and enjoy!

YOGURT PARFAIT (Or Cottage Cheese)

You can assemble these the night before, a few days ahead or quickly in the morning. Layering this creates a parfait look but if you don’t have time, just toss it all in a bowl. It’s still going to taste great!

Make a bottom layer of yogurt, top with granola or nuts, add a layer of your favorite fruit and repeat layers. I like to use cottage cheese, nuts, and berries for a quick and fuel-filled breakfast or even snack. Add hemp, flax, or chia seeds if desired.

SCRAMBLED EGGS can be cooked in a couple of minutes for an easy and simple breakfast option. Add leftover veggies or meats, cheese, or slice up your favorite fresh vegetables. I like to chop up vegetables for the entire week in one day and store in the fridge for quick and easy healthy add-ins. Serve on an English muffin or bagel if desired. Add a side of fresh fruit for extra health benefits. 

BLENDER SPINACH BANANA MUFFINS

I love this recipe because it’s easy to make, super healthy, can be made ahead and frozen, and because it’s super versatile. Depending on the ingredients you use it can be gluten-free, dairy free, refined-sugar free, and vegan friendly. And the kids are going to love the green shade! Read on for Laura’s recipe from Joy Food Sunshine…

Banana Spinach Muffins

EASY LUNCHES

LUNCHBOX KABOBS & WRAPS

Kabobs and wraps are an easy and fun alternative to sandwiches. Again, choosing fruits and vegetables in season will save you money. You can prepare these ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge or clean and prep your ingredients ahead of time and quickly assemble in the morning. 

Choose foods your child likes and let them suggest the combinations you create. For a “cheeseburger” skewer you could add meatballs, cubed cheddar, and fill in with cherry tomatoes, lettuce, onion, or whatever they typically eat on a burger. And don’t forget a sauce if your child likes to dip.

Here are a few fun combination ideas that come from real kids…

KABOBS/SKEWERS –

Peanut butter and jelly mini sandwich with strawberry – honey dipping sauce

Black forest ham with cubed cheese and cherry tomato – ranch dipping sauce

Meatballs, cubed cheddar, pickle, lettuce – ketchup dipping sauce

Veggie and fruit skewers are fun favorites for kids who don’t like deli meats…

For pictures I used corn tortillas on all of these simply because I have celiac disease and gluten-free wraps are super expensive. I’ll use those when Lauren and I wrap and roll on air. And I left these unwrapped so you could see the combinations.

WRAPS/ROLL-UPS –

Strawberry and almond butter

Cream cheese, raspberry, blueberry, pineapple

Cream cheese, turkey, baby greens or spinach

Refried beans, cheese and guacamole

Peanut butter, jelly and banana

Hummus and shredded carrots

BUILD A BETTER SALAD – PERFECT FOR TEACHER LUNCHES OR ANYONE WHO LIKES SALAD

Here are some great tips for salad lovers. These are easy to build, quick to toss together when you’ve done some earlier prep, and a simple way to use leftovers. Added grains will make your salad more filling.

You can also make some great combinations like a bacon, lettuce and tomato salad; mozzarella balls, tomatoes, basil, lettuce, balsamic dressing and croutons; lettuce, corn, avocado or guacamole, black beans, salsa and tortilla strips…

Build A Better Salad For Optimal Nutrition (And Save A Bit Of Money)

BENTO BOX IDEAS

Bento box meals have become extrememly popular. What exactly is a bento box? Bento is a Japanese style-packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, veggies, fish, and condiments. Box simply means it’s served in a small box-like container, usually with built-in compartments to keep foods separate. (But you don’t have to have those compartments.) 

You don’t have to add fish and rice nowadays to call it a bento box, and lots of moms and dads everywhere are now creating their own versions. It can include hard-boiled eggs, meats, cheeses, pretzels, snacks, beans, veggies, fruits, meatballs, olives, nuts, whole grains…pretty much anything your child enjoys. In small portions.

To keep it balanced and nutritious aim for…

40% vegetable

30% whole grains

20% protein

10% fruit

To create a bento box you want to 

1. Start with the right container. It can be fancy or simple, just as long as it has a good, secure resealable lid. 

2. Plan ahead with cut-up veggies, fruits, cheeses, leftovers, etc. If you have to prep all the foods the day you’re packing it, it will be time-consuming.

3. Pack it as tightly as possible. The tighter the ingredients are packed, the more likely food will stay in place.

Have fun with this and remember to pack sauces for dipping.

Tomorrow I’ll have more pics and ideas on creating a bento box.

PACK A SAFE LUNCH

Foodsafety.gov says an “insulated lunch box is one of the best investments for the school year.” 

Perishable lunch foods, such as cold cut sandwiches and yogurt can be left out at room temp only 2 hours before they may become unsafe to eat. Simple ways to keep foods cold are to include an ice-pack but you can be creative (and save room) by freezing juice boxes or small water bottles or Go-gurts, which can act as your ice pack. Even a wet sponge, frozen, will do the trick!

Keep warm foods warm by sending them in an insulated thermos. Add hot water to the thermos first, drain, and then add your foods.

 

Getting back in a school routine can be rough. Planning an inexpensive, healthy, and tasty breakfast or lunch doesn’t have to be. With a bit of prep beforehand and your child’s input, breakfast and lunch can be easy and fun. Save the fussing for homework!