Today is the day! My kids are going back to school which is mind boggling to me. I have no idea where the summer went and I have mixed emotions about watching them go back to school.

I am one of those Moms. I organize up a storm leading up to the first day of school and have a goal of packing healthy lunches all year long. Truth be told, by the time May comes around, their lunches barely resemble lunch. But I start the year off strong! Haha!

Mornings are non-stop busy. We have a theory in our home and it works for us. As a mom, I make sure that they get a healthy breakfast and they pack their own lunches (the night before!) 

Here’s the thing — kids are fickle. One day, they love a certain granola bar and the next day they despise it, for some odd reason. They tire of certain foods and so I switch up their choices often. I give them a lot of different options to keep lunch interesting. I always make sure there is protein, carbohydrate, and a fat source to help sustain their energy for all day. One thing my kids have grown to love is WARM LEFTOVERS. Invest in a good thermos. 

So I am sharing a list of some healthy school lunch ideas for kids as well as a recipe for my homemade quiche muffin bites. (kids love them) 

Healthy Lunch Ideas

Main Meals

Dinner leftovers (chili, soup, meat/potato/vegetable)
Pita Bread + Hummus
Cheese + Crackers
Turkey + Cheese Roll-ups
Almond Butter + Jam Sandwich (or nut-free option)
Cheese Quesadilla
Hard Boiled Eggs/ Egg Bites
Pasta Salad
Meat + Cheese Kabob
Turkey + Cheese Sandwich
Bagel + Cream Cheese
Protein pancakes/waffles
Yogurt + Granola + Berries

Sides and Snacks

Chips + Guacamole
Chips + Salsa
Granola Bars
Protein balls
Pretzels
String Cheese
Trail Mix
Lara Bar or Cliff Bar
Fruit Leather
Fruit Snacks
Popcorn
Crackers
Fruit Cup
Pudding Cup
Graham Crackers
Cookies
Rice Krispies Treats

Fruits/Veggies

Apples
Strawberries
Grapes
Peaches
Blueberries
Raspberries
Natural Applesauce
Mangoes
Melons
Baby Carrots
Cucumbers
Grape Tomatoes
Edamame
Snap Peas
Celery sticks

Lunch Option #1 

Turkey, Cheddar + Lettuce Roll-up Fresh Berries
Yogurt
Nut-Free Snack Mix

Lunch Option #2

Hummus + Pita Bread
Cottage Cheese
Cucumbers
Sliced Orange

Lunch Option #3

Hard Boiled Eggs
OR Egg Bites
Baby Carrots + Ranch
Pretzels
Peaches or Applesauce

Egg Bite Recipe

Makes 6 Servings

Ingredients:

5 Eggs
4 slices Bacon, Cooked (chopped)
1/2 cup Gruyere Cheese (shredded) Or any cheese
1/2 cup Baby Spinach (chopped)
1/8 tsp Sea Salt 

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 400ºF (205ºC) and grease a muffin tray or use a silicone muffin tray. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Portion the mixture into the muffin tray, filling each cup about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until set. Cool for five minutes, and enjoy!

Notes: 

Leftovers – Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to four days.
Serving Size – One serving is equal to one egg muffin.
Dairy-Free – Omit the cheese or use plant-based cheese.

Good Luck! We hope to see your healthy school lunches on instagram — Tag us @thewombbrucecounty

Karri-Anne Cameron

Registered Holistic Nutritionist