Summer vacation will be ending soon. With it, kids will return to school, some attending in-person for the first time in over a year.
Not only is this an adjustment for young students everywhere, but for their parents who have fallen out of practice of making and packing lunches. Figuring out varied meals that children will actually eat can be a challenge when first getting back into the routine. But if you aren’t sending the young ones through the cafeteria line, being a packed lunch expert is a priority. So this year, add more dairy to your kids’ lunch for a simple, yummy mealtime they will look forward to each day.
While a cheese sandwich is a classic and simple lunch, there are other cheese options throughout the week. Bake your choice of thinly sliced or shredded cheese for tasty cheese crisps or sprinkle shredded cheese and veggies in a sliced pita. Savory cheese cubes can be packed on their own or as part of a snack mix with pretzels, dried fruit, and nuts.
Single-serve yogurt cups are a sweet option with plenty of flavors to choose from, like fruity peach or the more unusual peanut butter and jelly. However, yogurt can be included in other lunchtime foods. Use yogurt as a condiment for a turkey sandwich, a creamy base for soup served in a thermos, or as a dressing for a side salad. You can even send sliced veggies or fruits to be served with a dairy-filled dip, like this Creamy Avocado Hummus or a light Peanut Butter Whip, both using Greek yogurt for a smooth consistency.
Of course, packing cold milk is another easy way to add more dairy to lunchtime. Regardless of if you choose plain milk or flavored milk for your little one, all cow’s milk includes 13 essential nutrients.
This year, pack a lunch that will leave you wondering why you didn’t turn to dairy for a satisfying lunch sooner.