I realize that it’s July still, but Smalls starts Kinder this year. While we are going to continue to homeschool, we also have the opportunity for him to participate in an amazing homeschool supplement program three days a week.
He is absolutely thrilled. Mostly because that means he gets to use his Planetbox again.
Make Lunch Box Planning (And Packing!) A Participatory Event
I’ve always encouraged Smalls to do as much for himself as he [reasonably] can. He’s been dressing himself since he turned 2, and when he learned that he was cleared to go back to school (after a round of cheering and screeching like a howler monkey), the first words out of his mouth were: “I need to find my lunchbox.”
Of course, this was music to a mom’s ears…but if you’ve been feeding kids for very long, you know that they can be extremely picky. We found that when we first started the Whole30 he was adamantly opposed to anything that remotely looked “healthy” in his mind.
At first I let it slide, but then as we ran out of his favorite “snacks” he was forced to try new things. And you know what? He found that he actually liked most of the food! Smalls is someone who likes to think that there is variety in his food. But the child will pick cold cuts and grapes all year long.
Offer Variety And Options
Like I said, Smalls would love to think that he has variety, but in reality, he’s a creature of habit. I’m okay with that. Ish is the same way. I like to have something different for lunch each day, but in this house, I’m in the minority.
So, although I will offer choices, I will make sure that they are limited and in the scope of what Smalls likes to eat.
Paleo School Lunch Box Ideas
Proteins
- Tuna
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Ham
- Turkey
Vegetables
- Cucumbers
- Sugar snap peas
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Sweet potato
- spinach
- Kale
- Broccoli
Fruits
- Apples
- Melons
- Berries
- Avocados
- Grapes
- Applesauce
- Tomatoes
Nuts
- Cashews
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Hazelnuts
I’m considering allowing some paleo tortillas, all natural fruit strips and the occasional cheese stick or round, but we’ll see. So far he’s been okay without them, and I’m not going to offer them unless we experience a major meltdown or his diet becomes severely restricted again.
And leftovers are always, always on the table! He and The Baby both absolutely love Egg Foo Young, so I can see that making a frequent appearance, along with egg cups.
Bring Your Kids Shopping With You
Smalls loves to go grocery shopping…and not just for the HEB Buddy Bucks (if you don’t life in Texas, you’re seriously missing out!). He loves to get to choose WHICH deli meat he buys, he picks his own fruits and veggies, and he always, always pushes the cart.
I have found that he’s far more likely to eat foods that he chooses himself. Obviously, I do provide some guidance.
Now, I’m definitely not crafty like some moms out there. But that doesn’t mean I can’t add in some melon balls, or use paleo tortillas to make him some pinwheels sandwiches. I’m sure that I’ll finally put my silicone muffin cups to good use as well.
If we stick to my self-imposed rules, lunch packing should be a breeze.
I just need to make sure that the foods he chooses (he’s already telling everyone that he makes his own lunch!) are healthy-which is easy because we cleaned out the cupboards and tossed anything that wasn’t within our Paleo diet yesterday!
