Making a School Lunch for Your Teenager

Purchasing food for a teenagers lunch really requires their input. Typically, they will want to pack their own lunch and for the most part they are quite capable. What many parents fail to realize is that lunch is very social for many teenagers. Often, they set up social rules on what is and is not cool to do at lunch time. Naturally, you want your child to eat a nutritious meal and there are many things that you can do to help them prepare their lunch without having them stick out like a sore thumb.

Every high-school cafeteria is different. When I was young it was taboo to even bring your lunch to school, but if you had to, you brought it in a plain brown paper bag. A few years back, retro style lunch boxes were in, so it was totally acceptable at that point to bring your own lunch box. My point with this is that times change and our teen will know best what is currently acceptable in their school's cafeteria. I am not suggesting that kids have to conform or do whatever it takes to be popular. However, they need to feel comfortable with what they are doing, so again let them take the lead on this one.

When you and your teen go shopping for lunch items , there are a few things to keep in mind. Most teens wouldn't be caught dead eating things like peanut butter and jelly in front of their friends. Additionally, it is far more acceptable to eat your sandwich on a roll than on bread. Salads are a great idea for the teen lunch. Many stores sell tupperware that is specifically designed for taking salad to lunch. You can by dressing packets so they can apply the dressing at lunch time or put dressing in a separate container. For a beverage, try bottled water or canned juices. Juice boxes are not large enough for most teenagers and often they are not considered cool. Baby carrots with ranch dip is another great lunch idea for teens. Also try cheese and crackers or making a sandwich wrap. Be creative and listen to your teens suggestions while shopping.

By the time they reach their teenage years most children are going to have pretty distinct likes and dislikes. They will most likely tell you what they do and do not want in their lunch. Preemptively making them a part of that process will save from arguments later and give you the opportunity to infuse some nutrition into their lunch.