How to Keep Your Child From Trading Their Lunch

Make healthy, delicious, and fun school lunches for your kids that they'll actually want to eat with these 6 Tips to Keep Your Child from Trading Their Lunch Away.

How to Keep Your Child from Trading Their Lunch Away

Are you frustrated because your child keeps trading his lunch away? Do you feel like it is pointless trying to pack a healthy lunch because your child won’t eat it anyway? Packing the perfect lunch can be hard, but there are ways to make sure your child gets a lunch he will eat and want to keep for himself. Take a look below at 6 ways to keep your child from trading their lunch away, so you can be sure you pack a lunch worth the time and money.

6 Ways to Keep Your Child from Trading Their Lunch Away

1. Bring them in on the planning.

One of the best ways to make sure you send foods your child will eat is to bring them in on the planning. Let your child give you some ideas on what they would like for lunch and foods they find fun and interesting. Giving them a little control can help guide you on what works and what doesn’t.

2. Grocery shop together.

Take your child to the grocery store to explore some of your options and maybe discover foods you hadn’t thought of. This hands-on method can help a lot, and maybe you will discover some ideas and new favorites together. Need some inspiration for your shopping trip? Just head to Pinterest to see some creative food ideas or find simple lunch time recipes worth trying.

3. Get creative with foods.

Invest in some simple cookie cutters so you can make fun shaped sandwiches, make fruit and veggies shapes, or make simple cheese shapes. This is a great way to get creative with the lunches and create fun food kids will want to eat. You can find these cutters for cheap online via retailers like Amazon, like these ones.

4. Explore non sandwich options.

Lunches don’t have to have sandwiches in them. In fact, you have many other options! Consider wraps, soups, salads, trail mixes, stews, pasta, and other non sandwich options. Your kids might prefer bite sized foods and not necessarily another bread filled sandwich. Here are some lunch ideas that will help you get beyond the sandwiches:

5. Encourage feedback.

Keep communication open between you and your child so you know what is working and what isn’t. Sometimes kids are afraid to provide feedback, but encourage it. This way you can be sure you are both on the same page and not waste time or money on foods that won’t be enjoyed.

6. Invite them to pack their own lunch.

Kids may enjoy packing their own lunch, with a little guidance of course. Invite children to pack their own lunches and model how, so they can take a lunch that is tasty, healthy, and one they are sure to enjoy instead of trading away.

This school year, send lunches that your child will enjoy and get nourishment from instead of ones that will get traded at the lunch table. Give these tips a try and see if they can make a difference to your child’s lunchtime routine.

Did you like these 6 Tips to Keep Your Child from Trading Their Lunch Away? Find more on my Back to School, Kid Friendly Food, and Parenting boards on Pinterest!

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