As kids everywhere gather their school supplies parents are racking their brains for ways to pack balanced and varied lunches. This magnetic lunch chart from Martha Stewart could help.
By inviting kids to participate in their lunch planning and preparation, families can avoid drama and pack lunches that their children will actually eat. Printable files and instructions are available here at MarthaStewart.com We really like this idea and think that the addition of photographs would be useful for younger kids and make the chart more visually engaging. Pictures would also make it easier for parents and children to fill lunchboxes with colorful fruits and vegetables.
What tricks or tips do you have for streamlining school lunch preparation?
(Image: Martha Stewart)
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So, the food groups are sandwich, fruit, snack and dessert? Hmm. However, a good inspiration to tweak into a healthy version.
we use laptop lunchboxes. our kids have to choose a main dish and vegetable for the two large containers and a fruit and snack for the two small ones. they take a separate snack for the morning break.
I just finished this up, cutting out the squares this morning, when I came to sit down at the computer and check the blog! I agree that the categories weren't what I would have normally picked, but I used the Lunch Box Idea list from Wendolonia (http://wendolonia.com/blog/2009/07/15/lunch-box-ideas/) as a jumping off spot. I used the reds as the dairy category, and have asked my daughter to choose desserts on Fridays only.
In another life I would have created my own template, with categories I like better. But as I continue to reform my perfectionism, I've decided that it doesn't matter all that much and the time that I saved by NOT generating an original is time that I can use for better things.