It’s been awhile since I’ve shared packed lunch ideas, and given that we’re almost to Spring Break – I think it’s high time!

Below are 10 of the lunches I’ve packed for Lucy lately.

You might notice they’re a little low on veggies, a little high on refined carbs, and don’t include any mixed dishes. Well, that’s because Lucy…

• Is more of a veggie-eater at dinner time, so I don’t send her with tons of veggies at lunch time (when I do, they often come back home uneaten) and instead amp them up later in the day.
• Is really into white carbs right now (Who isn’t?). I’d love for her to eat more sprouted, in-tact grains, but I don’t have the energy for Carb Wars at the moment.
• Loves cheese and yogurt. These are her favorite (or only?) sources of protein, along with the occasional beans.
• Doesn’t care for foods when they’re mixed together. Sigh.

Rather than fight the above, I’m just going with it. I notice that when I don’t make a big deal out of stuff, it tends to taper off and she starts trying new foods again or eating more of a variety. In the meantime I’m continually offering lots of veggies, plant-based proteins, and new combinations whenever I can.

What school lunch foods have your kids been loving?

Nature’s Path flax waffle with butter, mango, strawberries, and a Colby jack cheese stick.

Annie’s Shells with White Cheddar, organic/fair trade golden tomatoes, pink lady apple slices, Pamela’s fig cookie.

Olive bread with butter, raspberries, golden tomatoes, organic string cheese, Stonyfield Greek & Chia yogurt.

Seaweed snack, pear slices, YoBaby vanilla yogurt, honey wheat pretzel sticks.

Ham & cream cheese wrap, organic kefir pouch, purple carrots, orange slices.

Pita bread with homemade pesto for dipping, almonds & pink yogurt raisins, white beans, strawberry slices.

Cream cheese & honey sandwich, Fork in the Road ham, Bosc pear slices, trail mix.

Annie’s mac & cheese, trail mix, grapefruit slices, white beans with olive oil, rainbow carrot “coins.”

Applegate turkey, Colby cheese, strawberry slices, snap peas & tomatoes, pita bread stars with hummus & olive tapenade.

Heart-shaped quesadilla, refried beans, brown rice, raspberries, Honest Kids drink (b/c it was so hot out!).