4 Fantastic and Easy Options for Summer Day Camp Lunches

Are your kids tired of the same old peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? You want to make sure that your children eat a nutritious lunch, so it can be frustrating when that carefully packed meal returns home untouched. If you’re struggling to make healthy and delicious lunches, try these four fantastic and easy options that are sure to please kids of all ages.

Salad Shaker Cups

Plastic cups aren’t just for your morning latte. Get your kids to eat their veggies by packing a fun salad in a clear plastic cup with a lid. Just stack lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and any other favorite produce. At lunchtime, your child can pour on the dressing and shake up their salad. You can repurpose your fast-food cups or purchase a reusable one for this healthy treat.

DIY Pizza Kit

Do your kids love those lunch kits that let them create their own pizza? While those kits are fun and tasty, they are also expensive and loaded with sodium and sugar. However, you can make your own healthier version by putting pizza sauce, toppings and a couple of toasted kaiser buns in a divided container. Balance the meal with some sliced fruits and veggies and a carton of milk.

Tortilla Pinwheels

Flour tortillas are a great alternative to boring bread. Just spread a large tortilla with mayonnaise, pile on the toppings, roll and slice for pinwheels that are sure to make lunch a blast. Secure each pinwheel with a child-safe plastic pick and an olive. Serve in a bento box with other treats like cheese cubes, fruit slices, nuts and a piece of candy.

Corn Dog Muffins

Kids love corn dogs, but battering and frying them is messy and time consuming. Make an easy corn dog alternative by mixing up corn muffins and poking a hot dog slice into the middle of each one before baking. Serve with honey mustard dipping sauce, fruit and milk for a balanced meal that feels like a fun treat. Have a vegetarian in the family? Stuff your corn muffins with fried tofu or sautéed mushrooms instead.

Is your family always rushing out the door in the morning? Try preparing lunches the night before to save time. If you have multiple children, give them each a lunch box with their name on it so that nobody grabs the wrong lunch. You can also meal prep ahead for the whole week if you have extra time on weekends.

By Lizzie Weakley

Lizzie  is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.