What to Pack for Lunch

Our two preschoolers have to take their lunch to school every day. The school has a very strict policy that does not allow the children to come to school with soft drinks, salty snacks, cookies, cakes, or any other "junk" food. I like the policy. I like the fact that I wouldn't pack any of that stuff in my kids' lunches and at the same time, the child next to them won't be eating that stuff. So my children will be starting off life with eating healthy lunches which will hopefully help them to make healthy choices as they grow older and have more control over what they eat. The strict rule states that lunches must include 2-3 fruits and vegetables, a dairy or soy product, and a protein. It sounds easy but it actually requires a fair amount of planning and work. I spend about 2 hours on Sunday afternoons cutting up various fruits and vegetables and putting them into containers (we rarely use plastic bags as the waste is not good for the environment). I also purchase yogurt in large containers and put small servings into containers. I cut up cheese, turkey, chicken, and ham for protein and also put small portions into various containers. So the kids don't have to eat the same things every day, I mix and match the various containers and every other day send a different type of sandwich or wrap. With the Sunday preparation and the time I spend each evening putting it all together along with a drink (generally milk or water), I spend about 4-5 hours per week making lunches. I think the time and effort is worth knowing that my kids and the other kids who they attend school with are all eating nutritious meals that will help them keep active and learn. I should also mention that the school has a refrigerator to put the lunches into each morning so it is easy to pack a lunch knowing it will stay cold. Next year, the older of the two will start kindergarten and I will have to re-think my lunchbox strategy to include healthy foods that do not require refrigeration.