In keeping with our healthy choices series, here is a quick, easy lunch made with a few “swap-outs” and highlights a tip: presentation!
When your bag of “healthy eating tricks” is empty, try a unique, fun presentation. If your son loves to build things, present him with whole wheat crackers, low-fat cheese, and some fruit pieces to “build” his own lunch! If your daughter is a dreamy-eyed princess fan, try this:
Lunch fit for a princess:
Here’s what you need:
2 slices of whole grain bread
“Simply” or “natural” peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter)
Fruit spread (I use Smucker’s Simply Fruit with no added sugar)
Fun sandwich cutter (I got the crown from Michael’s craft store)
Fruity Cheerios
Pretzel stick
Fresh strawberry slices
I won’t bore you with PB&J assembly instructions. Use the cutter to make a fun shape and peel the bread off slowly. I used fruity Cheerios to make the crown decorations and then dipped the top of a pretzel stick in peanut butter. I did add some rainbow sprinkles to make it look cute (I couldn’t think of anything healthy to add “bling” but I’m open for suggestions!). Arrange the crown and scepter/wand on a plate and use the strawberries to make a heart (or any shape you want).
Really simple, I know, but hopefully it illustrates how just a few small swap-outs can make a healthier meal and how presentation can help a child get excited to eat (so they actually consume the healthy lunch you make).
Want to learn more tips to help get your kids eating healthier? Here is a 3-part series on tips and tricks for getting healthy foods into their diet (and their mouths!):
Let them eat cake 3: Getting healthy foods into kids’ diets
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