It's that time of year again! Back to school, back to the grind, and back to packing lunches. But brown bagged lunches arn't just for the kids. I encourage all of my clients to pack their lunch whether they are heading to the office or campus. Packing our lunch gives us the most control over our nutrition and saves us time and money in the long run. I recently had the pleasure of discussing some of favorite packed lunch ideas live on PHL17. Here are some of my highlights from the segment:
-Bento box style lunch. This is perfect for adding more variety in your little ones diet. Use what you have on hand and enjoy creating endless combinations.
-Grain bowl. Another great way to use what you have on hand or restructure leftovers from dinner. Start with a whole grain, top with a protein or plant based protein alternative, layer with loads of colorful veggies and lastly, add a drizzle of healthy fat. This can be enjoyed both cold or hot if you have access to a microwave.
-Sunflower butter sandwich. Most schools are nut free which means the classic PB and J isn't an option. Try swapping peanut butter with sunflower butter. Sunflower butter is free from the top 8 food allergens and is a great source of protein and healthy fat.
-Meal Subscriptions. I recently got to try six different meals by Sprinly. Each plant based meal is delivered fresh, requires no cooking and is equally delicious as it is beautiful.
Of course with packing comes a little more planning, so know your limits and make this task realistic. If your mornings are hectic, try packing the night before or at dinner clean up. Practice for a few weeks and you may have a new healthy habit on your hand.