Are your kids part of the picky eaters club? It’s a thing… seriously!
Luckily, my oldest has outgrown it (can I get an AMEN!), but my younger two kids are as picky as can be, which makes preparing school lunches and snacks a challenge. Fortunately, I’ve found five different meal ideas that I can rotate between – at least until they start disliking one of those items, because… KIDS!
The main thing that I always make sure that they have in their lunches is protein. I find it’s key to keep their energy up so they can concentrate when they have to run around, without crashing. Packing items with whole carbs that are high in fiber is another great way for them to get their energy, which is where 100% whole wheat sandwiches and wraps come in handy. Fruits and veggies are other great carbohydrate items. However, my kids don’t always eat those at school, so I top them up on those items after school… but I digress.
But, the challenge is putting protein and carbs together in one meal. Enter: sliced-meat wrap / sandwich (plain please). The best part is that it’s easy to prepare, so I often get my kids to help me make it. They are more likely to eat their food when they’re involved, and honestly, it’s one less thing for me to do (I call that a win-win!).
This summer, we started using Piller’s line of products, including their Smoked Chicken Breast sliced meats (extra lean for more meat protein and gluten free), and their Smoked Turkey Bites (makes for a perfect snack). Both these products can be found at your local Wal-Mart. Piller’s products are great for hosting too. Just put a variety of sliced meats out with sliced bread for a ‘make your own’ sandwich meal. Include crackers, a variety of vegetables, cheese and condiments. We did this a few times in the summer at the cottage and it was a hit with both the kids and adults.
I love that the Piller’s brand stands for family and community (two very important things to me). They are a family-business, offering products that are allergen free, gluten free and made with quality ingredients.
What are your go-to items for school lunches and snacks?
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Piller’s Fine Foods. The views and opinions expressed in this blog, however, are purely my own.