We may still be in the dog days of summer, but school has started! Which means that making school lunches is part of the weekday morning routine again. Believe it or not, lunchtime is a huge opportunity to help your kid grow and learn. A high protein, nutritionally balanced lunch is crucial for concentration, energy, and retaining information.
Many of us are trying to cut down on our meat consumption these days (especially if you’re an avid Netflix documentary watcher!), and finding protein sources can be a challenge. Try adding some of the following ingredients and ideas if you’re looking for mighty meals without the meat:
- Almond, peanut, and sunbutter
- Slather any sort of nutbutter onto bread, toast, apples, crackers, rice cakes, and tortillas for some long-lasting energy on the playground! Sunbutter is perfect for peanut and treenut allergies!
- Hummus
- Hummus isn’t just for carrots people! Use hummus on sandwiches, in burritos, with pita chips, and as a dip for any and all vegetables!
- Cheese
- Cheese is actually your secret weapon when it comes to getting kids to eat their vegetables. Did you know that melty cheese basically makes everything ten times more delicious? Try melting cheese on broccoli or cauliflower and see what happens.
- Tofurkey
- It looks like lunchmeat, but it’s not! Along with a slice of cheese, you’ve got a high protein sandwich!
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Deviled eggs are back in style, with a twist. The filling in a hard boiled egg doesn’t have to be egg yolks and mayo! Try mashing up egg yolks, Greek yogurt or hummus! Or forget the egg yolks all together and spoon in some peanut butter. It sounds weird, but trust me, it works.
- Greek Yogurt
- Greek yogurt is extremely high in protein and boy is it versatile! Greek yogurt can be both savory and sweet. Add some granola and raspberries (or really any sort of fruit) and you’ve got a breakfast parfait! You can also add cinnamon and honey for a creamy treat. As a savory option, simply add ranch seasoning for a healthier veggie dip.
