It’s that time of year again! Are you ready for it? The kids are heading back to school soon, and it won’t be long before they’re asking you what you’re going to make them for lunch. That means we’re once again faced with the age-old dilemma: how do we give our young ones the healthy, organic lunches they need in fun and creative ways, while keeping the food fresh and our kids happy and excited?Worry not, fellow Moms! I’ve got a few school lunch box tips for your toddlers that are sure to be a hit. So, jot these ideas down or print this page and stick it to your fridge—it’s going to be a long school year, and you’ll thank yourself later! Thanks to the variety of products by Horizon Organic, I'm able to pack easy healthy lunches.

School Lunch Box Tip #1

Avocados! Have you ever cut open a perfect avocado? It’s like a healthy hidden treasure—the beautiful green color, the smooth texture, it doesn’t get much better than that! Pack it in a lunch box, however, and its appeal disappears within hours. You’re left with a browning lump of mush. Solve that problem with a little squirt of lemon while packing, and you’re good to go! No browning, no mush, just perfect avocado. If you don't have a lemon, use some olive oil. That works too!

School Lunch Box Tip #2

Your little diners require a fine beverage to complement their meal. Growing in popularity are individual boxes of shelf-stable milk, most notably sold by Horizon Organic. With no hormones or antibiotics, organic milk is the clear winner when it comes to your kids’ moo-juice. Add to that the fact that shelf-stable milk is UHT (ultra-high temperature) pasteurized, which kills more bacteria, prolonging shelf life, and you’ve got the healthiest bovine beverage for your kids in easy-to-pack boxes! You won't need to refrigerate it. Just remember you'll have to refrigerate it if you open it.

 

School Lunch Box Tip #3

If your kids are anything like mine, they love their apple slices! Unless they’re freshly cut, then it’s no go. Dipping them in a little orange juice works every time. (The apples, not the kids!)

Slicing up apples causes an enzyme in them to react with the air, causing browning. But the citric acid in orange juice slows this process. So, when your kids are ready to rummage through their lunch box for some goodies, their favorite snack is waiting for them in pristine condition!

 Keep in mind that apples are the one fruit covered in the highest levels of pesticide residue. One of the reasons so many chemicals are used? So they don’t brown as quickly! Thanks, but no thanks. It’s organic apples with a splash of OJ for my boys.

 

 

School Lunch Box Tip #4

Now how about sandwiches? I know some toddlers are super picky—diagonal cut, no crust, no holes in the bread, it goes on and on. I think the hardest part about sandwiches is that all the contents falls out. Uncrustables is nothing new, but with all the peanut free schools around, it's hard to pack the traditional pb and j. Try adding organic deli meat or even just Horizon American cheese and make a crust less sandwich yourself!

First you'll want to use a glass or bamboo cup. You can even use a large cookie cutter. Use the glass as a mold to shape a circle then fill it with whatever you like, making sure to give yourself a little space to pinch the sides.

Top the second half of the sandwich and using your hands pinch the sides (watch video for clarity). Then you'll want to use a fork to seal the sandwich together.

 

School Lunch Box Tip #5

 

Speaking of OJ, my kids love getting an orange in their lunch boxes. But they have a heck of a time peeling them, and frankly, so do I! But take a look at this sweet little hack: Slice off the top and bottom, cut through to the center, and pull apart. This accordion-style method of preparation makes it easy for your kids to enjoy, without little orange-peel confetti all over the place when they’re done!

This easy way to peel an orange is genius!

 

Let’s face it, our toddlers are picky. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to pack their lunch boxes with processed junk food and sugary drinks. They’re at the perfect age to learn the right way to eat, and with school lunch box ideas like these, teaching them has never been easier! Lastly, use these silicone containers to separate foods and make it more fun!

Thank you Horizon Organic for sponsoring this post.

Check out these Corn Dog Donuts for lunch boxes too!

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