Creating a healthy, organic lunchbox

 

I have a new job title now – Teacher’s Assistant. I help out with a Kindergarten program at a local school.

In the past my jobs made it so that I was home for lunch every day. A prior part time job had me home by 1:00 PM every day. Last year my schedule had me working 7:00 – 9:00 AM / 2:45 – 5:00 PM. That meant I was once again home for lunch.

This year my schedule is different. Now I’m at work at lunchtime. I don’t have an official lunch break. I have to eat lunch while the kid are napping.

Packing my own lunch is something I haven’t had to do in ages. Even prior to getting married I was home for lunch or ate lunch at school (college).

We’re closing in on almost two months of school already, and I’m still trying to get into the “swing of things” with taking lunch to work with me. I just got a lunch box (bag) last weekend! I was using one of my tote bags for my groceries before that.

I found that it’s not always easy to pack a healthy lunch, let alone one that contains organic, better-for-you products. I try and make my lunch as healthy as possible. Not only for myself, but also to set a good example for the children I work with. They won’t find me eating chips, cookies or candy, or bringing in a bag of food from a fast food restaurant.

Are you familiar with the brand Santa Cruz Organic?

 As a pioneer organic brand, Santa Cruz Organic® was the first to have a wide range of organic, 100 percent juices and blends and the first juice processor to use all organic fruit sourced from growers certified by an independent, third-party certification organization.  With a history of developing innovative products, Santa Cruz Organic currently offers more than 60 organic items ranging from organic fruit juices and lemonades to organic fruit sauces, chocolate syrups, peanut butters and fruit spreads.

All Santa Cruz Organic products are Certified USDA Organic Non-GMO Project® Verified.

Santa Cruz Organic delivers products perfect for people who want to make their lunchtime both tasty and nutritious, including lunches for their children.

Santa Cruz shares some great tips on how to create a a delicious organic lunch box.

• Be prepared. Busy schedule? Make a big batch of PB&J sandwiches with Santa Cruz Organic Peanut Butters and Fruit Spreads ahead of time and freeze individually. Just take one out of the freezer each morning and pack – by lunch time it will be thawed and ready to go.
• Get organized. Create a lunch packing station with lunchboxes, thermos and reusable containers to simplify morning prep and get kids to school on time.
• Reduce waste. A lunch box with compartments reduces the need for extra packaging and keeps food neat and organized.
• Don’t forget produce. Nutrient-packed fruits and veggies should be part of every meal. Try individually packaged Santa Cruz Organic Cinnamon Apple Fruit Sauces and Squeezable Pouches for yummy fall flavor with no added sugar. As an added bonus, each 4-ounce sauce cup provides 100% recommended daily intake of Vitamin C.

I have some additional tips I’d like to add when it comes to making lunches for children.

When I made lunches for my kids I would create little “packs” so that it was easier for me to grab things or allow my kids to create their own lunches. For example, I would fill little containers with baby carrots and keep them in the fridge. My kids could grab one for their lunch if they wanted carrots that day. I also did that with other fruits and vegetables.

I would do the same for snack items. I would put 1-3 cookies (depending on their size) in a container or reusable bag so that they were ready to toss in a lunch box without having to do it the morning of.

My kids always had the following in their lunch boxes – protein, carb, fruit, vegetable, water and a treat (cookies, chips, crackers…). They knew that they had to eat the protein first (the carb was the bread/roll it was on), then the fruit and vegetables, followed by the treat. That way I knew they ate the good stuff first before eating any of the non-healthy foods.

Once the nurse at my kid’s school called to compliment me on the healthy and nutritious lunch I packed for my kids. She said even as a nurse she didn’t pack such healthy lunches for her kids. That made me feel good.

I enjoy Santa Cruz Organic’s peanut butter and fruit spreads. To me they taste fresh and homemade. They don’t taste like the mass produced products you normally find on store shelves. I think their products taste like they were just made. Their flavors are also true – not artificial tasting.

I enjoy PB&J sandwiches, and I make them often for lunch. I just have to eat them in the hallway because our room is strictly off limits to nuts due to allergies.

I also enjoy the brand’s peanut butter and fruit spreads in the morning on my toast for breakfast.

I often bring applesauce to work with me in my lunch. I find it less messy to eat than an apple. I work with kindergartners, so I’m often covered in glue, glitter and paint – I don’t want to add fruit juice to the mix. Ha Ha. It’s also good because it doesn’t need to be kept refrigerated. It’s a convenient “on the go” snack option.

For more information about Santa Cruz Organic products visit SantaCruzOrganic.com. You can also find the brand on social media. Their links are found on the top right of their home page.

Do you have any lunch making tips you’d like to share?

How do you keep your lunch box healthy?

Feel free to share your thoughts. I always enjoy hearing from readers.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.