5 Honest Truths about School Lunchbox Snacks
From the perspective of a Pediatric Dietitian Mom of two
1. Messy snacks mean messy lunchboxes
Good intentioned healthy snacks like yogurt or cut fruit are often the culprit of receiving a wet, sticky lunchbox at the end of the day. You don’t need to stop sending these foods. The key is to find a reusable container that your child can both open AND CLOSE. Practice at home in the evening and let your child know that they need to securely close the containers when they are done.
For little hands, I love container lids that turn to open and close, instead of the ones that you need to push hard to seal.
2. Time consuming cutesy snacks. Who are they really for?
The truth is that making snacks look perfect is more for us than for them. I feel this, to my core. I know it can make us feel like good parents, and if you want to do this, go for it.
But please know that if you don’t, you are still a good parent. Find other ways to make them smile at lunchtime. Send jokes or a little note to remind them that they are loved.
3. Litterless lunches can be a pain but are necessary for schools
School: “your child will come home with all their lunch garbage.”
Me: “I thought my days of being my child’s receptacle for all things garbage were over?”
School: “No. They are not.”
Tip: Send a reusable sandwich bag for them to put their wrappers/unfinished food into.
4. Snacks with complex carbohydrates/fiber, protein and fat will keep them feeling fuller longer
Children use the energy (calories) from their food to fuel their brain and body. But it’s very important to consider which nutrients those calories come from.
Snacks that are a source of complex carbohydrates (i.e. no added sugars), protein, as well as fat, are hard to find. Cerebelly Smart Bars are a great option that have all three, plus they have the added benefit of 16 brain-supporting nutrients. I love them because they are nut-free, major allergen-free, mess-free, and keep kids’ tummies satisfied. (Truth: for a while. Then it starts all over again, sorry)
5. Absolute restriction of a snack food your child asks for may result in glorifying that food
Has your kiddo ever asked for a snack that you know doesn’t contain useful nutrients and is likely full of sugar? Every parent/caregiver will have a different gut response to this request, and there is NO RIGHT or WRONG here.
But to the point of this article’s theme of ‘honest truths’, remember that 100% avoidance of these types of foods can result in glorifying them in your child’ eyes. Children are like adults in some ways, and this is one of them. We all want what we can’t have.
So, what to do? Here’s a couple of suggestions:
Provide a variety of no–sugar added, nutrient dense snacks every day, and sprinkle in a variety of child requested snacks on occasion (even if they have no nutritional value).
Crucial nutrients for growing children, like protein, iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin D, can come from foods you offer most often. The early years are a window of opportunity for important brain development to occur, so finding ways to provide children with meaningful nutrients is important.
BUT, if your child is fixated on missing out on a particular food that they’re not allowed to have, then this ‘can’ (for some children, not all) result in unnecessary distraction at school.
Take the snack food out of the wrapper before putting it in the lunchbox.
Sometimes a desire to have packaged food is about the packaging itself. They are often enticingly colorful, and it can feel like a fun treat to kids. You can minimize this by taking the child-requested snack item out of the wrapper, and then putting it in their lunchbox.
Now over time, you can change up the snack, and if possible, replace it with a homemade baked item or similar nourishing snack.
Cerebelly Smart Bars
Looking for a snack that won’t crumble all over your car or living room floor? Our toddler smart bars have a chewy texture that both parents and kids will love. Packed with wholesome ingredients like sweet potato, banana, blueberry, and carrot, they’re the ultimate veggie-first snack for your little ones. Most importantly, Cerebelly smart bars for toddlers provide 16 key brain-supporting nutrients your little one needs during each critical period of brain development as they grow.
Have more questions? Send us an email at support@cerebelly.com and we will be sure to get back to you!
