School is back in session, fall has officially arrived and we're no longer making bread from scratch (thank-god for that)
But you know what never goes out of style?
The need to fuel your kiddo's lunchbox with foods that will get their super-smart brains working at their full potential.
And don't worry these are all recipes that are:
1. Quick & easy to make
2. Filled with key nutrients
3. Delicious, even to kids with sophisticated tastes! (Sort of like our Melty Tabs!
So, let's get to it.
Here are 5 Brain Power Lunch ideas that’ll get your kiddos ready for learning!
Mixed Berry Oatmeal with Seeds
This first “lunch” is really a breakfast idea, but hey, who said you can’t have breakfast for lunch! You can pack it in thermos to keep warm for lunchtime. Or, start the day off right with a healthy, brainy breakfast.
Recipe: Prepare your favorite oatmeal and mix in berries, seeds, nuts, or sugar-free nut butter (such as almond butter).
Why we love it: For starters, oatmeal is generally kid-approved so there’s no mealtime battles here. You can also find oatmeal fortified with Vitamin D to keep those levels healthy. Especially as we enter into the cooler seasons with less sunlight, getting Vitamin D from other sources will become more important for our kiddos.
The added berries, nuts, and seeds also provide plenty of antioxidants and Vitamin B6 — the vitamin shown to help our kiddos focus! And if your little one won’t eat nuts or seeds, you can always use nut butter instead, or grind the nuts and seeds in a food processor.
The DIY “Lunchable”
Kids love lunchables. And when you create your own, you control the nutrition! The DIY Lunchable is also super easy to prepare and clean.
Recipe: Thin sliced turkey breast or chicken breast, cheddar cheese (grass-fed optional), grapes, whole wheat crackers, sliced carrots and bell peppers.
Why We Love It: Chicken is high in Vitamin B6 — that key nutrient for ultimate brain power remember! And the sliced carrots and bell peppers give our kiddos the extra exposure to healthy options. Remember what Pediatric Registered Dietitian, Danielle Zold, says about how to encourage Picky Eaters to try new foods:
“It can take 15 - 30 exposures for a kid to try a new food.”
So even if you don’t think your little one will eat the healthy food, continue to offer it and get those exposures up!
Salmon and Cream Cheese Sandwiches
Salmon isn’t generally a kid-friendly food, but it’s so high in Vitamin B6 we just had to include it as a Brain Power Lunch Idea!
Recipe: We got the recipe from the amazing creators at The Spruce Eats. It includes whole-wheat bread, smoked salmon, and cream cheese.
Why We Love It: Salmon is high in Vitamin B6 and Vitamin D, and loaded with omega-3s and iron. The cream cheese in this recipe also offsets the strong flavor of the salmon and helps introduce our kiddo to a new food.
If you’re feeling adventurous, then we highly recommend adding salmon into your kiddo’s diet!
Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups
Bananas make the list when it comes to the few fruits our kiddos love — making these Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups a no-brainer! (pun intended!)
Recipe: Bananas, Peanut Butter (or any type of nut butter), whole-wheat tortillas, and sugar-free jelly.
Why We Love It: Not only are bananas a kiddo’s BFF, they’re also high in. . . you guessed it. . . Vitamin B6! And if you swap the peanut butter for sugar-free almond butter, you get an extra boost in vitamins and minerals.
Chicken Quesadillas
These are easy to eat and easy to make! They’re also one of those foods that aren’t *usually* a Picky Eater battle. And well, us parents need a few of these go-to’s!
Recipe: Chicken Breast (cubed or shredded), cheddar cheese (grass-fed optional), whole-wheat tortillas.
Why We Love It: Can you guess where the Vitamin B6 is in this recipe? It’s in the chicken — making this a Brain Power Lunch!
Let us know if any of these Brain Power Lunches make it to your meal planning this school year by tagging us @RenzosVitamins.