Now that school is back in session, there are so many things that I have to remember on a daily basis. Like packing a lunch. Of course my kids are older and make their own, but I do have to remind them to every single evening. In fact, just last night I did that – but I forgot to tell both kids, you know thinking that the other would tell him. The joke was on me because this morning when I asked Lil Man if he had his lunch, he said “it’s in the fridge”, then went to grab it and wouldn’t you know, it wasn’t there. Go figure!
I want my kids to eat a good lunch that’s not chocked full of junk food. So each day, they take a sandwich, a piece of fruit, some crackers and I’ll let them take one other snack. I usually send a juice pouch since they keep their lunches in their lockers. Then I heard about the shelf-stable milk boxes from TruMoo and thought my kids might really like them!
TruMoo shelf-stable milk is found right in the juice aisle and comes in single serve, 6 or 12 packs. There is no need for refrigeration for these babies! The milk boxes are slender and a bit taller, making them easy for little hands to grip onto. They don’t contain high fructose corn syrup and offer 8 grams of protein. They’re available in plain, vanilla and chocolate 1% lowfat varieties.
- Instead of a juice drink pouch, opt for a flavored shelf-stable milk box, which provides all the benefits of milk including 8g of protein, Vitamins A and D, and calcium, without high fructose corn syrup or any artificial colors or flavors found in many juice drink pouches. TruMoo single serve milk boxes are a great option. They are available in three flavors kids will love ? chocolate, vanilla and plain low-fat varieties, and are free of artificial colors and flavors.
- Try to include at least one item from each of the five food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and lean protein, to help ensure a balanced meal.
- For a time-saver, sandwiches can be prepared the night before. Put sandwiches in reusable sandwich boxes instead of aluminum foil to prevent them from getting crushed or soggy.
- Bite-sized fruits and vegetables are an easy way to add a nutritious and fun staple to lunch boxes. For picky eaters, a favorite dip like low-fat ranch, peanut butter or hummus can help make sure those fruits and veggies quickly disappear.
- Choose leaner lunch meats like chicken, turkey, and tuna in water, or choose a hard-boiled egg, beans, or edamame as great protein alternatives. This way, kids can get protein with less fat and calories.
- Keep cold food cold and hot food hot ? keeping foods at safe temperatures will prevent the growth of unhealthy bacteria. Ice packs and insulated containers are key.
- Instead of potato chips, try something different with the same amount of satisfying crunch such as: baby carrots, whole wheat pretzels without salt or baked sweet potato chips.
- Liven up the lunchbox with fun-shaped sandwich and vegetable cutters. Lunchtime should be fun for kids, and they?ll be thrilled to find a butterfly- or dinosaur-shaped sandwich in their lunch.
- Use leftovers, but change up the presentation by putting meat on whole wheat bread or pitas with sliced tomato or create a rice bowl with leftover veggies and protein.
- Variety is key to keeping kids happy at lunchtime. Avoid boredom by offering new meal and snack options daily or weekly.
Lil Man wasn’t feeling well and stayed home from school the day I found these. It was gorgeous day outside, which we don’t have many left of – so I had him go on the front porch for a little bit, just to get some fresh air. Sick or not, fresh air is needed! Since he was thirsty, I grabbed one of the TruMoo shelf stable milk boxes for him to try out. He loved it and didn’t even know the difference between that and the refrigerated TruMoo – just that this one was in a box!
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Buy It!
You can buy TruMoo shelf-stable milk in the juice aisle at your grocery store!
Check out FamilyHype for help choosing the best milk for pregnant women.
