The weekends can be hectic with busy family schedules. We’re sharing some of our favorite lunches that your preschooler and whole family are sure to enjoy! If your child shows some hesitancy around trying new foods, check out our guide to help your child expand their palate.
Colorful Pasta
Add an extra nutritious boost to simple pasta lunches by pureeing veggies such as kale, spinach, or peas to make green spaghetti! You might follow this colorful, delicious dish before afternoon nap time with a reading of “Green Eggs and Ham!” Or, if tomatoes are in season, try this viral baked pasta sauce that’s garden-fresh and full of flavor. In the fall, swap it out for butternut squash pasta. You can pick up pre-cut squash or use squash puree to speed up the process.
Mini Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards are a great way to serve up a variety of food options in a creative, easy, and affordable way. For children, ditch the cutting board and use a muffin tin or small paper cups. Fill the cups with whatever foods you have in your pantry or fridge. Cheese, yogurt, cut fruit, veggies, or crackers — the options are endless!
Unique Sandwich Shapes
Pinwheels or roll-ups are a creative way to put a brand-new spin on the classic lunch staple. Get versatile and try rolling up turkey and cheese in a spinach tortilla. If your child doesn’t like turkey, swap it out for ham or chicken. You can also use cookie cutters to turn straightforward sandwiches into delightful shapes. Check out these recipes for more ideas:
Baked Patties and Dip
These child-friendly baked chickpea patties or sweet potato patties are packed full of flavor and nutrients, so they’re a great option to serve to your children for lunch! Pair them with a delicious dip, like hummus, baba ghanoush, ketchup, greek yogurt, or aioli to make lunchtime even more fun. These patties are freezer-friendly, so bake up a big batch and pull them out anytime you need a quick lunch. You can even defrost them overnight, and they’ll be ready to go the next day!
Quesadillas
You can get creative with the ingredients you toss inside a tortilla to create new flavor combinations your child will love. Once you’ve decided on your quesadilla, we have a tip to help busy families save time: Instead of making individual portions, save time by making one huge quesadilla on a baking sheet and then cutting it into individual slices for each member of the family. These can even be frozen and heated for easy meals later in the week. Here are a few quesadilla recipes we love:
One Meal Down, Two to Go!
If you would like some breakfast and dinner ideas, check out these ten easy dinners to try and these nutritious breakfast ideas for a full day of delicious options for your family.
The Gardner School Helps Grow Healthy Bodies and Minds
The Gardner School uses a variety of learning tools to help children understand the joys and importance of healthy eating and food preparation. We provide healthy and delicious lunches that allow every student to thrive during their busy days at school.
To learn more about why parents and children love The Gardner School, visit our website or schedule a tour today.