Kids get bored easily, but it can be tough to come up with new lunch ideas. Make lunchtime fun - and easy! - by following these meal-planning tips from Virginia, the Assistant General Manager at the Toronto Kingston Road YMCA.
In September 2013, Virginia's two boys were both starting full-day school for the first time. She realized she would have to start packing lunches for her whole family every day - a daunting task she expected would become stressful and time-consuming. To take the pressure off, Virginia decided to plan out a list of lunches that were both nutritious and delicious.
In August, she made a calendar detailing all of the lunches she was going to send her kids to school with in September. Virginia's been drawing on this stockpile of family favourites ever since! Whenever she runs out of fresh ideas, she knows where to turn.
Here's the meal plan Virginia made for her kids' first week of school. Borrow ideas from her list, or get inspired to build your own calendar so you'll never have to stress about lunch-packing again!
Be sure to check back next weekend for another week's worth of lunch ideas from Virginia! And for more meal planning tips, visit the YMCA of Greater Toronto's Facebook Page, where we post new ideas every week!
In September 2013, Virginia's two boys were both starting full-day school for the first time. She realized she would have to start packing lunches for her whole family every day - a daunting task she expected would become stressful and time-consuming. To take the pressure off, Virginia decided to plan out a list of lunches that were both nutritious and delicious.
In August, she made a calendar detailing all of the lunches she was going to send her kids to school with in September. Virginia's been drawing on this stockpile of family favourites ever since! Whenever she runs out of fresh ideas, she knows where to turn.
Here's the meal plan Virginia made for her kids' first week of school. Borrow ideas from her list, or get inspired to build your own calendar so you'll never have to stress about lunch-packing again!
Week 1
Monday:
- Chicken and avocado wraps on whole wheat tortillas
- Celery sticks and cheese
- Fruit salad
Tuesday:
- Tuna sandwiches on whole wheat bread
- Cucumbers with hummus for dipping
- Plums
Wednesday:
- Spinach quiche
- Pita with hummus for dipping
- Apple slices
Thursday:
- Boiled eggs
- Cheese and crackers
- Corn
- Grapes
Friday:
- Cream cheese and cucumber whole wheat wraps
- Carrot sticks and salsa
- Pears
Be sure to check back next weekend for another week's worth of lunch ideas from Virginia! And for more meal planning tips, visit the YMCA of Greater Toronto's Facebook Page, where we post new ideas every week!
