Easy lunch ideas for kids using Michigan’s in-season produce
| 2 min read
Healthy breakfast? Check! Teeth brushed? Check! Homework complete? Check! Healthy (and homemade) lunch? Check!
If you are like most busy Michigan families, packing a lunch before your kids head off to school needs to be a quick process. This typically prompts parents to purchase pre-packaged lunches at the grocery store, such as Lunchables, so kids can grab lunch and head out the door to school in no time.
One of the more alluring things about pre-packaged lunches: they are easy to buy. Luckily, so are crackers, cheese, fruits and turkey slices. A ham, cheese and cracker pre-packaged Lunchables for kids have 930mg sodium and 20g fat. Plus, they typically cost more than $3 for one!
Instead, spend 30% less on a healthier, homemade version, full of nutritious locally-grown foods that your kids will love. Here are some examples of how you can turn the popular pre-made lunch at home with food from right around the corner.
Looking for more in-season produce for the entire school year? We have a full list!
In-season fruit: Pears & Cantaloupe
What you need:
– Whole grain English muffin
– Organic pizza sauce
– Shredded mozzarella cheese
– Pears, chopped
– Cantaloupe, chopped
– Healthy cookies
What you need:
– Whole grain English muffin
– Organic pizza sauce
– Shredded mozzarella cheese
– Pears, chopped
– Cantaloupe, chopped
– Healthy cookies
In-season fruit & veggie: Blackberries & Brussels Sprouts
What you need:
– Mini pepperoni
– String cheese, cut up in cubes
– Cheddar cheese, cut up in cubes
– Blackberries, chopped
– Green olives
– Baby tomatoes
– Brussels sprouts
What you need:
– Mini pepperoni
– String cheese, cut up in cubes
– Cheddar cheese, cut up in cubes
– Blackberries, chopped
– Green olives
– Baby tomatoes
– Brussels sprouts
In-season fruit & veggie: Watermelon & Zucchini
What you need:
– Ham slices
– Cheese slices
– Tortillas, cut in half
– Zucchini, baked
– Almonds
– Watermelon, chopped
What you need:
– Ham slices
– Cheese slices
– Tortillas, cut in half
– Zucchini, baked
– Almonds
– Watermelon, chopped
In-season fruit & veggie: Blueberries & Celery
What you need:
– Jif to-go cup (or 1.5 oz of peanut butter)
– Apple slices
– Ritz crackers
– Celery Sticks
– Blueberries
– Popcorn
What you need:
– Jif to-go cup (or 1.5 oz of peanut butter)
– Apple slices
– Ritz crackers
– Celery Sticks
– Blueberries
– Popcorn
In-season fruit & veggie: Grapes & Cauliflower
What you need:
– Whole grain crackers
– Turkey slices, cut into squares
– Cheese (your child’s favorite), cut into squares
– Grapes
– Cauliflower with dip
– Nut mix with dried cherries and dark chocolate chips
What you need:
– Whole grain crackers
– Turkey slices, cut into squares
– Cheese (your child’s favorite), cut into squares
– Grapes
– Cauliflower with dip
– Nut mix with dried cherries and dark chocolate chips
Photo credit: MYOP, Cracker Stackers, Peanut Butter Time, More Cheese Please, Roll it up
