Last Updated on February 15, 2021 by TheMealPrepNinja
How To Meal Prep for Kids
How do we kick off meal prep for kids, and is it really possible? Let’s kick it off on a rather strange but sad note.
A lady (name withheld) posted on Reddit that she was slammed for packing healthy meals for her son. She surprised her son by picking him up early from school only to receive some tongue-lashing from a fellow parent. Apparently, the said parent felt entitled enough to call her a b***h and that she wasn’t any better than other fellow parents. This was after her child insisted she packs him the same meals.
This begs the question!
Isn’t it a parent’s prerogative to pack healthy meals for their children? Better yet, wouldn’t you pack healthy options if your child repeatedly asks for them? In this article, we examine meal prep for kids and many other issues that come into play.
For starters, is it really possible to meal prep for kids?
We’ve always associated meal prepping with adults. Whatever the reasons are; savings-money and time, weight loss, or just eating healthy, we tend to forget that the same also applies to children. Do the math; you’ll definitely cut back on your weekly snacks and lunch expenditure when you kick off your kid’s meal prep journey. You’ll further cut down on time during those hectic weekdays when you’re in a hurry, and your world seemingly looks like it’s crumbling.
The answer is an emphatic YES! Meal prepping for kids is possible.
Planning, Planning, Planning
As a parent, you’ll definitely agree that you don’t need all the commotion at the breakfast table. It gets even worse when you are running late for work. Catering to each kid’s whims isn’t easy, mainly if they are picky eaters. Well, to avoid such a situation, you’d better include them in your planning.
Involve them in your decision making when crafting a new timetable. Help the kids come up with healthier breakfast options. This way, you’ll minimize morning wrangles. Sundays are a sure-fire way for most parents to kick off meal prep with their kids.
Remember, meal prep for kids doesn’t have to be boring, and you don’t need to be all Gordon Ramsey about it. You’ll be shell-shocked by some of the fantastic ideas your kids have. Just make them part of the process. That’s how you’ll simply tackle the busy weekly days ahead.
Most parents believe that meal prep works wonders for breakfast and lunch since they are mostly around before dinner. However, if you can handle all three, by all means, please do so.
I should warn you that you should expect some chaos and tantrums during the planning process. Typically, every child wants to outshine the other in terms of what appeals to them. Therefore, a perfect balance should be struck with each day being allocated towards each child’s favorite meal. Further, meal prep plans should revolve around activities that each child has during the week, such as; sports, discussions, etcetera, and meals to be served.
Shopping
Why not make shopping a weekly fun-time activity for the kids? Once you’ve agreed on what to buy by coming up with a shopping list, hit the grocery store and give them the prerogative of picking up each item. Teaching them what to look out for in fresh veggies goes a long way in making the shopping experience fun and fulfilling. Further, involving them in prepping the items through washing, drying, chopping, and storing will make them eager for the next shopping trip. Hell! They could even learn a few budgeting tips and tricks.
Here are some great Kids meal prep containers that are colorful and fun!
Meal Prep For Kids, and Thoughts/Assumptions That Cloud Parent’s Judgement.
There are quite a lot of assumptions that come into play when kids’ meal prepping is involved. Let’s look at a few of them;
- I just can’t do it- It’s never easy for any parent but Helloo! Planning is all you need and some elbow grease to kick it off. Luckily, you’ll have some tiny little hands to help out.
- Clearly, I’m not that organized– Again, no parent is fully organized. Pop into any typical household and see the kind of hell and confusion children stir up. You’re not alone. Ensure you make meal prepping a fun activity. Sit them down, go through each idea and take a maximum of ten minutes to incorporate their views. Hit the grocery store with them. Your spouse and house will thank you for it, believe me.
- I just don’t have the time- Sure, other parents seemingly don’t have the time too. None of us do. You just want to chill on those lazy Sunday afternoons sleeping it off recharging for the week ahead. Remember, it only takes less than an hour or two to plan. Otherwise, chaos will reign, and you won’t have it together by mid-week.
- My kids are quite the picky eaters- Whose kid isn’t? It’s a kids thing, and the sooner you realize it, the better it will be for you. You could always leverage this by letting them chose a healthier alternative that suits them. As their parents/ guardians, it’s upon us to train them early on to eat healthily. It starts with us and our choices.
It’s worth noting that meal prepped meals for your kids may turn out to be a source of frustration for you and an empty tummy for them, particularly if they aren’t digging in. They aren’t getting the required source of nutrients since their bento boxes come packed with partially nibbled portions. Sometimes, they come back with the food barely touched. Exasperating, right?
Creative Ideas to Ensure Kids Enjoy Their Meal Prepped Meals
Playing Chef
As earlier stated, it’s all part of planning. Let your child/ren come up with the menu for their meals. Having them come up with ideas creates a sense of courage, excitement, and pride to eat what’s in their lunch boxes. Let them pick up the coveted items at the grocery store as they dream up their preferred or ideal lunch.
Here is a set of Kids Plastic Kitchen Knife Set.
Let Them Pack Their Own Lunch
Beyond planning their own menu, let them individually pack their own lunches. Not only does such an act teach your kids independence, responsibility, and meal preparation skills, but they’ll be better placed or incentivized to what they’ve packed. Give them ownership of the process and allow them to choose their lunchboxes to spark their interest.
Using Cut outs
Differently shaped sandwich cutters are a parent’s best friend since they make mealtimes fun and exciting. Your kids will probably scarf down that ham and swiss cheese sandwich shaped like a dinosaur or a star compared to just being a plain old sandwich. You could also simplify it by knifing down the sandwich into smaller portions. It also works out for other items such as veggies like cantaloupe, zucchini, and carrots.
Pack Small Servings
For the grown-ups, more seems to be rather intimidating than appealing. The same applies to the kids. Run it through them, or better yet, let them pack what they can finish. It’s further essential to check what they eat all of and what they leave behind. It helps you figure out more or less what they would want in the future.
As a parent, I know it’s tempting to overpack their lunchboxes with healthy treats. Don’t we all want the best for them? However, you should understand that chatting and catching up takes up most of their lunch period to eat up most of what is packed. Further, it’s mostly hard for them to eat up huge meals in any setting. Just think of how much your child eats at home and run their lunchboxes by that.
Reserve New Ideas For Dinners or Weekend
Variety is essential, but this isn’t the time to try it out in their lunchboxes. Chances are they’ll end up coming home with packed boxes. Since you’ll be around them during dinner time, try out new ideas and get their feedback. Weekends are also a perfect time to try new ideas, given the time constraints.
Use Leftovers as Additions
Simply turn your child’s favorite dinner into lunch. Previous roast chicken or meatballs can be a delicious and nutritiously great addition to your kid’s lunchbox.
Make it Lively
No one likes a bland meal, nor do the kids. Always ensure that their boxes are full of lively colors. You can achieve this by adding different veggie options such as green, yellow, or red bell peppers to their carbs and proteins. They are likely to dig in if their lunch boxes are colorful.
Meal Prep For Kids – Wrapping it Up!
A bag of potato chips ain’t bad as long as it’s done in moderation. However, as a parent, should you pack the chips just to make a stranger feel better or entitled? Maybe her fellow parent had a bad day, and a healthy lunchbox was the last straw. Nevertheless, it should be in every parents’ objective that their children partake in healthy, fulfilling meals. Are there better ways other than meal prep for kids to achieve this?
If your kids love baking then they will love recipes from this Super Simple Baking for Kids Book. It has over 55 easy recipes for cookies, muffins, and cupcakes.
Other Helpful Meal Prep Resources
Meal Prep 101 A Beginners guide to meal prepping
Meal Prep Containers: Healthy Eating Redefined
Jim Lopez, the founder and editor of The Meal Prep Ninja, shares his journey from a passionate bodybuilder and fitness enthusiast to a certified nutrition coach. Certified by Precision Nutrition, Jim aims to empower others with knowledge on meal prep and nutrition, offering resources for busy individuals to enjoy low-calorie, tasty foods. His blog is a community for sharing healthy eating habits and meal prep recipes
