The Lifelong Benefits of Preparing Healthy School Lunches

On an average weekday, children spend nearly a quarter of their time in school. When you add travel, after-school activities, and extracurriculars, their days become even longer. With all this time spent learning and being active, kids need the right fuel to power them through. A nutritious lunch provides the energy, nutrients, and essential vitamins and minerals that help them stay focused and perform their best.

In this blog, we will dive into the lifelong benefits of preparing healthy school lunches, what makes a lunch truly nutritious, and share some tasty suggestions for you to try!

Help Your Child Prepare Ahead of Time

Involve Others in Planning and Preparing Meals

Involving your child in lunch preparation doesn’t just lighten your load—it’s also a fantastic opportunity to talk about their preferences and eating habits, ensuring they’re excited about the meals they’ll enjoy. Beyond that, it’s an excellent way to help them build lifelong skills that will serve them well in the kitchen and beyond.

When your child helps with meal prep, they gain valuable skills, including:

Reading and adapting recipes to fit their tastes
Understanding the basics of nutrition and making healthier choices
Following instructions
Measuring ingredients by volume, weight, and area
Using their senses to assess the ripeness of fruits and vegetables, and spot signs of spoilage
Making use of leftovers
Creating healthy meals
Shopping smartly and sticking to a budget

Cooking is a great way to get your child moving and helps them develop fine motor skills through tasks like chopping, mixing, measuring, pouring, and portioning. These physical activities are crucial for food preparation, but the benefits go far beyond the kitchen.

When you involve your child in cooking, you're also touching on important subjects like math (through measuring and portioning), reading (following recipes), science (understanding how ingredients react), and even social studies (learning about different cultures and family traditions). It’s a hands-on learning experience that not only teaches practical food skills but also strengthens your bond as you create new memories together.

And remember, it’s never too late to start teaching your kid's food skills that will last a lifetime!

What Makes a Healthy Lunch?

A healthy lunch is all about balance. It should be high in fibre, packed with protein, and low in sugar to give your child the sustained energy they need to power through their afternoon classes with enthusiasm!

Canada’s Food Guide outlines what goes into a healthy lunch and provides helpful resources to help create nutritious, satisfying meals for you and your child: