It’s that time of year again: School is on! For parents and children, it can be an exciting yet stressful time, but hopefully we can take the edge off. From school supply checklists to how to engage in your child’s academic experience, there are tons of ways to prepare.
Academia aside, it’s time to talk about school lunches. Depending on your state’s climate, your kid may have to deal with the summer heat well into fall. Probably not the best idea to send them in with a flask of soup and tater tots. Light and juicy foods are the way to go.
Foods that are high in water, such as fruit, hydrate the cells in the body, bringing down your body temperature. So anything cool to the touch and moist is perfect. Send your kids off for a day of learning with these healthy, tasty, and heat-friendly lunches. Pop in their favorite juices, flavored waters, or smoothies, and you’re good to go.
Cotton Candy Grapes
Normal grapes are fab, too, but there’s no fruit a kid will like more than cotton candy grapes. These candy-like grapes are made naturally by breeding various grape species, so there’s no added chemicals. Despite the name, they’re actually just as nutritionally packed as normal grapes. There is more sugar in them, but just like every other food, moderation is key. According to NorthShore.org, they contain antioxidants and are high in water, and they are known to lower blood pressure and alleviate inflammation in the body. Freeze them for some extra summer decadence, and pop them in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack.
Cucumber Sandwiches
Cucumber sandwiches are not the most exciting meal, but they're a great source of hydration and carbohydrates, and they're filling. Paired with your child’s spread or sauce of choice, this is a very light yet filling sandwich, perfect for hot weather. Grab a cookie cutter to shape the sandwich into a cute shape — a heart, flower, frog, Grogu, Hello Kitty, anything. There are also full bento box kits that will help you create adorable sandwich and snack designs with ease. Be sure to keep the crusts and add a dipping sauce so your kid can still reap the nutritional benefits of the crust life.
Watermelon Slices
If freezing fruit isn’t an option, then opt for watermelon slices. Their crispy and watery texture keeps very cool in hot weather and almost mimics the crunchy feeling of eating ice. Well, if ice were juicy and delicious, that is. Watermelon is rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A, and lycopene, which is especially healthy for your child's skin, nails, and hair. It is also known to boost digestion and lower the risk of heart disease. Other fruits in the melon family are also just as healthy. Surprisingly, watermelon retains only about 20 grams more water than a banana, so if your kid is pretty anti-melon, a good banana will also be heat-friendly.
Veggie Sticks and Peanut Butter
Give your kid healthy dipping sticks with a dip of something a little more scrumptious. Celery retains a lot of water and goes perfectly with peanut butter. Carrot sticks are the perfect alternative if celery is a little bitter for your kid, as carrots are a lot sweeter. Storing either or both veggies in water before adding it to their lunch boxes will help keep them as crispy and fresh as possible. There are tons of ways to make dipping sticks fun by cutting them into cute little shapes or creating kebabs. If peanut butter isn’t your kid's thing, there are plenty of homemade dips that are the perfect addition to any veggie stick.
Dressed Lettuce
For either in a sandwich or as a side, picking out the whitest, crunchiest parts of a nice iceberg lettuce makes for a hydrating addition to any lunch. Lettuce doesn’t really taste like much on its own, hence why it’s not usually a kid staple, but dressing it in their choice of dressing or spread will make it infinitely tastier. You can even make an activity out of it in the evenings. Cheddar dressings, raspberry dressings — there are tons of kid-friendly options that aren’t blue cheese with red wine vinegar, aka very adult, refined tastes. You can also use the lettuce leaves to decorate your child’s meal; make a flower or a mermaid’s tail alongside sticky rice, or use lettuce instead of a tortilla if your kid has a gluten allergy.
Frozen Yogurts
This is a great breakfast option on the way to school. Non-frozen yogurts are also a great option as they, too, retain a lot of water and are full of calcium and other healthy nutrients. But giving your child a little tub of an ice cream-esque dessert (which can also be homemade easily) will be a lovely treat. Whether in frozen pop form or ice cream form, take your kid’s favorite yogurt flavor and freeze it. If they’re feeling a little spontaneous, mix two complementary yogurts together to make a new flavor. Raspberry and banana go well together, as does passion fruit and apricot. You could even make a game of it — discover the mystery flavor!
