It is a huge milestone to start school, right? It could be their first day of kindergarten or the next year of growing up too quickly, but that morning rush is a parenting tradition every parent knows. We are in the kitchen, coffee is getting cold, we are trying to make a meal, which is healthy, will not get wet by noon, and, above all, will be eaten.
There is some silent love in a packed lunch box. It is a small slice of home that we give them in the great world. However, to be quite frank, it is not that easy to maintain variety and healthiness every day. And that is where the magic of a 4-compartment lunch box comes in. It is not a container but a canvas of balanced nutrition.
The following are five nutritionist-approved methods of maximizing those four portions and remaining sane.
5 Ideal Ways to Pack a Lunch Box For Your Kids
Here are some of the ideal ways via which you can pack the lunch box for your kids.
The Main Event (Largest Section)
The hard work normally occurs here. To maintain the energy levels constant during the school day concentrate on complex carbohydrates and lean proteins. Rather than a simple sandwich, consider an colorful pasta salad with rotini, cherry tomatoes, and chickpeas.
The beauty of a 4 compartment lunch box with a star is that the compartments ensure the main item does not touch the sides. You can stuff a wrap with a whole-wheat turkey and cheese wrap here in case your child loves wraps. It is also tight fitting to make sure it does not roll away before the first bell sounds.
The Power of The Crunch
Children are sensory eaters. The difference between a full belly and a returned lunch can be the satisfying crunch. In the second compartment, target fresh, bright vegetables. Classic is sliced cucumbers, bell pepper slices, or baby carrots.
When you have a fussy eater, give a try to deconstructed salads. Instead of combining all these, allow the vegetables to shine through. This segment contains the much-needed fiber and vitamins that maintain their immune system healthy through the period of flu.
Nature’s Candy: The Fruit Zone
The third compartment is the ideal place to keep seasonal fruits. It can be sweetened with berries, grapes or sliced apple (with a small sprinkling of cinnamon to prevent browning) to give it a natural sweetness that will not leave you feeling as low as sugar does.
The dietitians tend to recommend eating the rainbow and it is affordable to keep a record here. When the primary dish is green, and the vegetables are orange, add some purple grapes or red strawberries here to balance the nutritional value.
The “Brain Booster” Snack
The tiniest part of your 4 compartment lunch box is usually the most adaptable. This is the "extras" that give energy to the brain. Consider good fats and proteins: a small handful of walnuts, a hard-boiled egg, or even a spoonful of hummus to dip those veggies in section two.
A small part of yogurt with some pumpkin seeds or a square of dark chocolate may also transform the lunch into something special. It is that last bit that makes them have sufficient gas in the tank to carry on with afternoon activities and sports.
Texture and Temperature Control
Texture is one of the largest causes of school lunch going to waste. Nobody enjoys a hot grape or a moist cracker. Four hours later, think about how the food will conduct itself when you are packing your 4 compartment lunch box. Silicone liners can be used to further give sub-sections to the dry snacks such as pretzels or popcorn, and be well out of the reach of the moisture contained in the fruit.
Why Basil Makes Every Lunch Better?
The solutions to our problems should not complicate our lives at the end of the day but simplify them with the help of the tools that we use. And so, this is why we invented the Basil Bento Quad. Our signature 4-compartment lunch box is leak proof, durable and the ideal size with the right amount of food to satisfy the nutritional demands of growing bodies, designed with both parents and kids in mind.
We think that feeding your kiddo should not be a task. When you pack a meal with Basil, you are not only packing lunch but a day of discovery, laughter, and development.
Are you prepared to make a morning upgrade? Shop the Basil Bento Quad and begin packing with ease!