It's back-to-school season once again and during this time of the year, parents return to the kitchen with a familiar problem - what school lunches would be easy and healthy to prepare for the kids?
The primary consideration for school lunches must, of course, be nutrition, according to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, but there are kids who are picky eaters and if you've got one of them, it's a challenge to create meals that are both enticing and healthy at the same time.
Wraps are a deviation from the usual sandwiches, which offers a variety for any child's choosy taste palette. However, some dietitians have stated that store-bought or restaurant wraps are higher in calories than sandwiches, according to GQ Magazine. Homemade preparations are better, as parents can carefully choose healthy ingredients.
"The first ingredient should be 'whole.' Whole wheat flour, whole rye flour. This ensures you are eating a whole grain product. This means that you are getting the fiber, minerals, and nutrients normally found in the actual grain before processing. The other ingredient to look for, so you can avoid it, is hydrogenated oils," said dietitian Carrie Jennis in the GQ report.
Below are some easy and healthy recipes you can do for your children's school lunches. You can adjust the quantity of the ingredients to your needs.
Ham and Cheese Wraps
from Practical Mommy
Ingredients:
- 6 inch fajita flour tortillas
- Shredded cheese
- Hillshire Farm Naturals Honey Roasted Ham
* You can verify the nutritional information for this product via Hillshire Farm.
Procedure: Simply lay out the ham on the tortillas and sprinkle this with shredded cheese. Microwave for not more than 20 seconds, or at least when the cheese starts to melt. Then roll this up while warm.
Low-Carb Pesto Chicken Wraps
from Peace, Love And Low Carb
Ingredients:
- 2 Large Low Carb Tortillas
- 12 oz. Chicken Breast - Cooked and Cubed
- 4 Slices Thick Cut Bacon - Cooked Crisp and Crumbled
- 1 oz. Red Onion Chopped
- 4 Strips Roasted Red Peppers
- ½ Cup Mayo
- 2 Tbs. Pesto
Procedure: Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and simply spread this out in the tortilla. Bake for at least 15 minutes.
Peanut Butter, Banana and Granola Wrap
from My Recipes
Ingredients:
- 2 large bananas
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 4 8- or 9-inch whole-wheat wraps
- 1/2 cup granola
- 4 large dried apricots, chopped
Procedure: Slice bananas into cubes. Place in a bowl and then add lemon juice. Spread butter on to the tortilla wraps, then place the bananas afterwards. Sprinkle with granola and apricots before rolling it up.
