Eat Right: Back to School Meals and Lunchbox Finds
Back-to-school for New Jammies kids means new teachers, new school clothes, new friends and new experiences. It also means brainstorming new healthy lunch ideas for culinary variety to make sure the kids are eating right.
This year year we discovered some mamas on a mission to test and find the best in eco-friendly lunch box options! Yes, I still miss my metal Strawberry Shortcake lunch box from yesteryear, but now there’s a whole world of options to choose from that making packing and storage a cinch, while living up to our eco-expectations!
Still one of my favorites, the Bento Boxes, which are BPA- and phthalate-free and 100% recyclable, are extremely popular, especially this colorful divided lunch box, as they can help with portioning and organizing. We love Bentgo Kids, an innovative bento-style lunch box designed exclusively for active kids on the go, because you can put liquid dips in it and they won’t leak into other compartments with special sealed lid.“What makes Bentgo Kids so much fun is the endless combinations of nutritious foods you can pack in the five convenient compartments,” says the company. “The largest compartment is the perfect size for a half sandwich or salad. Three mid-size compartments are great for fruit, veggies and other snack favorites. The smallest compartment is sized just right for dipping sauces. Bentgo Kids’ removable compartment tray allows you to mix and match the three fun colors to suit your child’s unique preference.”
Bentgo is also a purchase with a purpose, as the company is a proud supporter of Feed the Children. Try this Bentgo Kids All-in-One Lunch Box.
“Your purchase makes a difference in the lives of hungry children in America and around the world,” says Bentgo Kids.
Retro Mama Goes Green also has some fun non-toxic suggestions this year ranging from lunch bags to boxes! Lisa says “Many lunch boxes can contain harmful things like PVC, lead, BPA, and phthalates. And disposable paper bags cost a lot of money over time and are wasteful. Thankfully there are some great waste-free, safe options out there.”
Keep it cool with our favorite eco-friendly and sweat free ice packs from
Not only do we love their ice-packs, but this company is on a mission to save the planets from plastic straws and cups. I must confess, recently my children swayed me to purchase some fun bendy plastic straws, but now seeing U-Konserve’s options and being reminded of the large impact of small choices, I’m loving this find.
For sustainable lunch packaging, we also love Two + Two re-usable and washable sandwich wraps and snack bags. Don’t waste ziplock bags and throw away plastic! These are made nearby in New Jammies home state of Colorado, and are food-safe and eco-friendly. The sandwich wraps are easy to clean, come in fun prints, and create a great placemat for eating. The snack bags come in multiple sizes to suit any hunger!
“This young company is run by two creative moms with a passion for style, sewing, Mother Earth, and doing what’s best (and cutest) for their little ones,” says Two+Two. “Products keep food fresh and uncontaminated with a proprietary lining that is free of lead, BPA, PVC and phthalates. The various sizes of eco-friendly reusable bags accommodate any and all packing organizing and traveling needs.”
Fill the snack bags and lunch boxes mentioned above with fresh-cut veggies, including carrot and celery sticks, cauliflower and broccoli pieces, and cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices from the garden, trail mix and granola, as healthy options. I personally use them anytime I am on the go with kids as those little tummies have a big appetite all the time!
Now we’ve got all our amazing gear options, how do we making packing lunch fun, healthy, and easy on parents. We’re digging this healthy food prep web-site Gimme Delicious Showcasing colorful images of healthy, easy cooking, make ahead dishes that look amazing to eat at home or on the go. Kids will be loving the rainbow of flavors here. In addition to lunch, some of the pre-prep freezer ideas will make healthy, weeknight dinners on busy school nights ready to go!
This balanced dish is great for dinner or lunch….
Pesto Chicken Veggie Sheet Pan
Another mama that likes to keep lunch simple, veggie style is the author of Veggies Don’t Bite! blog. These quick packing lunches will keep kids coming back for more and you can put these together with ease even if you haven’t had your morning latte yet. She also has other lunch box suggestions as well as veggie loving recipes for the whole family.
We hope your school year is off to a healthy start! Eat right, play right, sleep tight!
New Jammies was born as an environmentally responsible company offering 100% certified organic cotton and flame retardant-free children’s pajamas. Learn more at newjammies.com.