Never Pack This In Your Child’s Lunch + Back-To-School Recipe

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The quality of food served by school lunchrooms across the country is appalling. Although my little one isn’t in school (yet), I am saddened that many school districts feed children hot dogs, greasy pizza, and nachos for lunch. How this has even become acceptable is the subject of a future investigation… but in the meantime, do whatever you can to take control of the situation by packing your own lunches.

People who eat homemade food avoid thousands of unnecessary food additives they’d otherwise be exposed to. If your kids are away from home during lunchtime Monday through Friday – that adds up to about 22 lunches a month… or 22 opportunities to choose something healthy and homemade. Think of all the GMOs, preservatives, and other chemicals your children can avoid by packing a lunch. 

But… don’t go down the path of buying all those conveniently packaged “Back To School” snacks and drinks that line the shelves at the grocery store. Not only do they get expensive, but they’re just as unhealthy (maybe worse) than what they serve in school lunchrooms, filled with GMOs and additives to avoid like BHT, TBHQ, artificial colors, flavors, and tons of added sugar…

It’s especially ridiculous they keep selling products with yellow 5 and red 40 which are linked to hyperactivity in children (requiring a warning label in Europe). How are children expected to pay attention to learn in school after eating food like this?

Even organic packaged foods can be extremely processed and unhealthy without any real nutrition. Take the new Organic Lunchables for example. These might be certified organic, but I’d NEVER buy them…

When children grow up eating processed foods regularly, they grow up less likely to crave fresh foods like fruits and veggies. I want to teach my daughter to love all that real food has to offer, the tastes, the textures, and the amazing nutrition that it provides her body – and not trick her tastebuds with processed foods full of added sugar and fake flavors. 

When my daughter starts going to school, this is the type of REAL FOOD lunch I’ll make for her…

It’s not complicated or expensive… just a simple wrap, some fresh fruit or veggie sticks, and baked homemade chips.

The main course in this lunchbox recipe are some fun Hummus Roll-ups that you can put together the evening before so it’s all ready to go in the morning. I like to make my own hummus because most store-bought versions are made with GMOs and inflammatory oils (like canola and soybean) instead of olive oil. This is my go-to hummus recipe. If you buy store-bought hummus, just look for one that is organic and made with olive oil. 

To assemble your Hummus Roll-ups, start out with either an organic sprouted grain or coconut wrap (I like to use these ones by Food For Life, found in the freezer section at most natural food stores). Spread on a couple spoonfuls of hummus and top it with a couple slices of cheese and crunchy romaine lettuce. Thinly slice a cucumber lengthwise and layer it on top…

Then just roll it up tightly and cut into pinwheel slices that are easy for little hands to hold and eat…

Food Babe's Hummus Roll-ups

 

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons hummus
  • 2 slices cheese or avocado
  • 2 romaine lettuce leaves
  • 4-5 slices cucumber, cut lengthwise
  • 1 sprouted grain wrap (gluten free: use coconut wrap)

Instructions

  1. Spread 2 tablespoons of hummus down the center of the wrap.
  2. Top with the cheese, lettuce and cucumbers.
  3. Roll tightly and cut into pinwheel slices.

Notes

**Please choose all organic ingredients if possible.**

3.4.3177

 

Instead of traditional potato chips, try baking up these parsnip chips… They’re healthier, inexpensive, and taste even better than store-bought chips!

All you do is thinly slice a couple fresh parsnips and spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment…

Drizzle them with a touch of coconut or olive oil, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, and bake at 375° for about 10 minutes. Take them out when the edges start to get brown and crispy.

Food Babe's Parsnip Chips

 

Author: Food Babe

Serves: 2

Ingredients

  • 2 parsnips, julienned
  • 2 tablespoons coconut or olive oil
  • Sea salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Place the julienned parsnips on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
  4. Place in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges start to become browned and crispy.

Notes

**Please choose all organic ingredients if possible.**

3.4.3177

 

To pack this lunch box, I used containers by my partner Ukonserve… they’re non-toxic and leak-proof…

I’ve personally used Ukonserve’s containers when traveling for years, and their divided lunch containers are PERFECT. You can put sandwiches, sliced fruit and veggies in their own little leak-proof compartments, and then tuck it into one of these lunch totes made from recycled plastic bottles!

Unlike other storage containers and baggies, Ukonserve’s containers don’t leach toxic chemicals into food and are free of BPA, phthalates and lead. Since I’m such a big fan of their products, my team was able to negotiate a limited-time discount for the entire Food Babe Army…

Get your lunch boxes ready with…

  • Food Kozy Wraps – Get rid of plastic baggies for good! These wraps are reusable and great for wrapping sandwiches.
  • Glass & Silicone Water Bottles – Instead of buying packaged juice drinks full of sugar and fake flavors, fill these up with filtered water instead. If you have kids in sports – these are a must-have!
  • Ice-Packs – These non-toxic gel packs keep lunches cool.
  • Eco-Friendly Lunch Totes made from recycled plastic bottles!
  • Divided Containers – These leak-proof containers make packing sandwiches and sides easy. 

Pick up your lunchbox essentials here – and don’t forget to enter the code “FOODBABE” at checkout to get 20% off – Ends Monday 8/21.

If you know anyone who would love some back-to-school lunch tips like this, please share this post with them! 

Xo, 

Vani

Posts may contain affiliate links for products Food Babe has approved and researched herself. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same (or at a discount if a special code is offered) and Food Babe will automatically receive a small referral fee. Your support is crucial because it helps fund this blog and helps us continue to spread the word. Thank you.



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