Have you ever heard of fat actually being good for you? Most people think that low fat and nonfat items are healthier, but you’ll be interested to know that some fats are necessary and are especially good for the brain. Here is a list of 5 lunch box ideas that contain healthy fats for kids that promote brain development.
Lunch box idea #1. Avocados contain healthy fats for kids to develop healthy brains
Avocados are full of good monounsaturated fats. Add avocado to your child’s favorite sandwich. It goes great on turkey, egg salad or chicken salad. Another great idea is to cut an avocado in half, remove the pit and then fill it with anything that sounds good. You could fill it with tuna salad with green onions sprinkled on top or bacon and tomatoes like a BLT. Whatever you choose to put in the avocado it is easy to eat with a spoon and it becomes something exciting and different from the typical sandwich.
Lunch box idea #2. Nuts and nut butters make great snacks full of healthy fats for kids
Nuts are full of good fats as long as you don’t buy ones with added oils and other additives. For kids with peanut allergies there are other nuts and nut butters available like almond butter and cashew butter that go great on sandwiches or as a special spread for fruits and veggies. Some schools do not allow peanuts on school grounds because of allergies; so make sure to check before sending nuts in your child’s lunch!
Lunch box idea #3. Fish is full of fatty acids, which are healthy fats for kids and their brains
Tuna fish is great because you can mix lots of yummy things into it to make your kid’s sandwich just the way they like it. Try adding diced up pickles, celery, green onions, apples, raisins or even cashews for additional crunch and more healthy fats. Another simple sandwich idea is smoked salmon with cream cheese on a bagel or a roll. Tuna fish and salmon contain fatty acids that are necessary for proper growth and brain development.
Lunch box idea #4. Grass fed butter is a good source of healthy fats for kids
Grass fed butter contains certain vitamins that are not found in other butter alternatives like margarine. By spreading grass fed butter on the sandwich bread before placing the other ingredients in the sandwich, the sandwich bread will be kept from getting soggy. Adding grass fed butter to cooked vegetables, scrambled eggs, desserts and more also adds rich flavor and nutritious vitamins and healthy fats to your child’s diet and will give them even more brainpower.
Lunch box idea #5. Full fat yogurt is a delicious dessert option full of healthy fats for kids
Full fat yogurt if full of healthy fats and probiotics that are not only good for digestion but are also good for your kid’s brain. Try making this delicious dessert for your kid’s lunch. Prepare a fruity parfait in a plastic container for your child’s lunch. These can be made by layering fresh or *frozen fruit between layers of plain, full fat yogurt, sweetened with honey. You can even pack a little container or plastic baggie filled with crispy granola that can be added to the parfait when it’s time to eat. This ensures the granola won’t be soggy before lunchtime.
School is now in session, so you can put these healthy lunch box ideas to use when making your kid’s school lunches. Here is an instructional video made by a health conscious teen that has even more lunch box ideas. This is especially helpful for teenagers who make their own school lunches and want some healthy ideas.
*Tip: using frozen fruit will keep the yogurt cold until lunchtime.
