By Erica F Perusse, BS
Hey there, Nourished with Emily’s family! 🍎📚 As the new school year kicks off, it's a fantastic time to get your kiddos involved in meal planning. I’ve been reminiscing about the fun times we had in our house and even those classic “eye rolls” from my kids when they weren’t too thrilled with my meal meal-planning planning ideas (you'll see what I mean soon!).
As a mom, I totally get how juggling health goals, career demands, household chores, and figuring out school lunches can be overwhelming. Even though my kids are now young adults, I remember those days vividly. Here are some tips from our family playbook that made meal planning and school lunches a bit easier and way more enjoyable:
Get Your Family Involved: The Fruit (or Veggie) of the Week!
Looking for a fun way to make eating fruits and veggies more exciting for your family? Try picking a “Fruit of the Week” or “Veggie of the Week” together! It’s a simple idea with big benefits. Here’s how it works: each week, ask your family what fruit or veggie they’d like to try. When your kids were little, you might have let them pick it out at the store—why not continue that tradition?
Letting everyone have a say in what’s on the menu makes healthy eating more enjoyable and gets everyone excited about trying new foods. It’s also a fantastic way to bond and make grocery shopping a bit more of an adventure. Whether it’s a juicy apple, a colorful bell pepper, or something new and different, involving the whole family in the decision-making process makes them feel more invested. Even now, my family still follows this approach, and we’ve seen a noticeable drop in fruit and veggie waste as a result.
So, why not give it a go? Let the “Fruit of the Week” become a highlight of your meal planning and watch how it turns into a delightful family tradition!
Deconstructing Favorites: Fun, Creative Lunchbox Ideas
Let’s chat about your kids' favorite meals! We’ve all spotted those cute bento boxes and Lunchables at the store, so why not get a bit creative with the foods they already love? Think of turning pizza, tacos, dino chicken nuggets (because who doesn’t love a meal with a side of adventure?), sandwiches, and even breakfast favorites into fun, packed lunches. By giving their go-to foods a playful twist, you can make mealtime both exciting and satisfying!
Here’s a fun idea: deconstruct those beloved meals into bite-sized, mix-and-match options. For example, if your child loves PB&J, pack some crackers along with containers of nut butter and jelly (or pureed fruit). Voila! They now have a dip-able PB&J experience. If pizza is their jam, try mini naan bread, shredded cheese, marinara sauce, and slices of their favorite toppings, like pepperoni.
You might even ask your kids about their favorite meals to get their input. With these deconstructed versions, lunchtime becomes a fun and interactive experience! 🍕🦖🥪
Dip Into New Tastes: Making Healthy Foods Fun!
Speaking of dip-able delights, here’s a great chance to introduce your little one to something new! Think raw broccoli, carrot chips, or apple slices—whatever you want to try. The key? A delicious dip! It could be their favorite dressing (ranch, anyone?), a tasty hummus (chocolate hummus is a winner!), a savory gravy (perfect for dinosaur nugget “lava”—my kids loved it), or even a light caramel sauce for apples. Let your kiddo pick either the dipping food or the dip itself. Get them excited about experimenting with new flavors—you never know, they might discover a new favorite! 🌟🥦🍏
Get creative and add a splash of color to those lunch boxes! 🍎🎨
Here’s a fun tip to add some excitement to their lunch: bring in a splash of color! If it’s October, let them add orange or black food coloring to their peanut butter for a spooky PB&J. They can choose the color and mix it in themselves! Not a fan of food coloring? No worries! Blend some fruit, like cherries, into their yogurt for a “bloody” treat. Just imagine the fun they’ll have showing off their colorful smiles at the lunch table! 🌈🦷 My family still loves doing this—green eggs and turkey sausage on St. Patrick’s Day, pink pancakes for Valentine’s Day, and so on. With each holiday, adding a splash of color makes meals extra special!
Make Meal Planning an Educational Adventure!
Make meal planning a fun learning adventure for your kids! You don’t need to dive deep into the science of digestion—just share some age-appropriate nutrition facts in an engaging way. For younger kids, keep it simple and fun. For example, talk about apples by highlighting their bright colors—red or green—and how their fiber helps keep us full. When introducing green beans, you could make a playful nod to the Jolly Green Giant or play catchy kids' songs like "Party in My Tummy" by Yo Gabba Gabba (cue the eye rolls from my boys, who were in middle school when I played that one!). Pick a fun fact about one food item each week or month and repeat it often. My youngest still asks, “Mom, what color would you like to add to your plate?” It makes me smile because he understands the importance of color (fruit or veg) and considers my preferences. Kids thrive on routines, and turning learning into a game will help them remember these nutritious tidbits!
Don’t Stress the Small Stuff: Embrace Imperfection
As a parent, I definitely overthought things and made mistakes when planning meals for my kids. Sometimes, I’d forget the most important thing: including my kids in the decision-making process. And that's totally okay! One of the biggest challenges for parents is letting go of the quest for perfection. Overthinking and striving for flawless lunches can cause unnecessary stress and lead to rigid dietary rules. It’s like when your child chooses a Scooby-Doo T-shirt, a tutu, soccer socks, and sneakers for the day—if it makes them happy and fits the dress code, let them express themselves! Similarly, if your child loves Goldfish as a snack, let them add it to their lunch. Not every meal has to be perfect to be nutritious.
Instead of stressing over every detail, aim to make mealtimes enjoyable. If your child brings home an untouched lunch, skip the scolding and ask questions like, "What did you like best about lunch today?" or "What did your friends have that sounded good?" These chats don’t have to be confined to the kitchen or dinner table—they can happen on the car ride home or during other casual moments. I found that many of these discussions took place during our car rides home from school. Open-ended questions with a touch of drama always worked wonders. Funny enough, one of my boys still does this to me today! Engaging in these positive conversations helps your child become more enthusiastic about and appreciative of their meals.
As we kick off the new school year, remember that involving your kids in meal planning can be both fun and rewarding. Whether it's picking a “Fruit of the Week,” deconstructing their favorite meals, or adding a splash of color, these activities make mealtimes enjoyable and help build healthy habits. This blog has brought back some wonderful memories for me, and I hope your family can create similar ones! We’d love to hear about your favorite family fun meal planning experiences, too!
Here at Nourished with Emily, we understand that while you're focusing on your own nutrition goals, you're also mindful of your family's needs. Embrace the imperfections, keep it fun, and enjoy the journey together. Here’s to a year of happy, healthy eating for everyone! Want some easy meal ideas that everyone will love AND make meal planning easier? Grab our brand new free guide here!
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