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Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

Packing 180 lunches (or more if you have multiple lunches to pack!) can be a daunting task. How do you continually ensure your kids are getting healthy, delicious options? 

Michelle Dudash, Registered Dietitian, Chef and Creator of Clean Eating for Busy Families, shares recipes and ideas to satisfy the kids! 

1. Michelle’s Momables Lunches:

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas


•    Mini Pizzas with RAGÚ Simply Sauce and Cheese, 100% whole-wheat sandwich rounds or Mini Bagels. RAGÚ Simply contains no added sugar and 100% olive oil, plus kids love it.
•    Turkey meatball skewers with sauce. Bake your own ahead and store in freezer or buy them pre-cooked and frozen.

And keep that lunch cold while nourishing your kids!
POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

•    Freeze an 8-ounce bottle to keep the lunch cold!
•    Michelle works with POM Wonderful and loves it because each 8 oz bottle contains the juice of two whole pomegranates, and nothing else– no added sugar, fillers or preservatives.
•    While antioxidants can be found in many fruits and vegetables, an in vitro study at UCLA found that pomegranate juice has, on average, more antioxidant capacity than red wine, grape juice, or green tea.
•    POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is a good source of potassium, an important electrolyte for healthy muscles, which is great for kids who are active.

2. Afterschool Snacks:
Wonderful Pistachio snack packs

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

(Michelle always keeps a bag of the no shells pistachios in her purse, too, as a back-up.)
•    Nearly 90% of the fats found in pistachios are the better-for-you mono and polyunsaturated type. Plus, they provide a good source of protein and fiber, for a trio that can help keep you fuller longer.
•    They’re the Colorful Nut – those greens and red-purples are from antioxidants
•    Unlike potato chips, pistachios offer a good source of protein and fiber, with more than three times as many pieces per serving. Pistachios give you 49 nuts per serving; compare that to just 15 potato chips per serving (and who eats just 15 potato chips?).
Updated Ants On a Log with Greek yogurt, pistachios, and halved grapes

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

Hot new bars on the market:
KIND Kids:
These GF bars provide at least 1/2 serving of whole grains from oats, sorghum, and quinoa. Kids love them!

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

LARABAR Kids Brownie
Gluten-free. Made with buckwheat flour, honey, chia seeds, and other wholesome ingredients. 

Nature’s Crush Microwave Popcorn
•    Real herbs and spices, with a gourmet taste.
•    Vegan and whole-grain. 
•    Flavors: Original Blend 23, Lemon Pepper Garlic, Rosemary Basil Garlic
•    Made with simple ingredients.
•    Soon to be available at major retailers. In the meantime, buy online.

Moon Cheese

Back-to-School Lunches and Snack Ideas

•    Looks and crunches similar to a cheese puff, but the only ingredient cheese! 
•    Flavors: Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Gouda.
•    6-7 pieces are just 70 calories, with calcium. Very low carb.

3. If your kids are begging for a treat in their lunch:
Emmy’s Organics Cookies

•    Each cookie is 6 g sugar or less, plus is vegan, GF and soy-free, making it suitable for a variety of dietary needs.
•    Flavors: chocolate chip, peanut butter, and lemon ginger

Go to www.michelledudash.com for more recipes.