How to Pack Healthy School Lunches for Kids

Want to give your kids the best start when they head back to school this year? Send them off to class with healthy, colorful plant-based lunches!

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are packed with antioxidants, fiber, and nutrients that will help children stay energized throughout the school day. As an added bonus, eating these foods will help them build healthy habits for life. Studies show that vegetarian diets are linked to a lower risk for hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

For the past few years, students at one New York elementary school have already been enjoying healthy plant-based lunches. The Active Learning Elementary School (TALES) in Queens is one of the first public schools in the nation to adopt an all-vegetarian menu. Gone are the days of pink slime and mystery meat; TALES students happily eat meals like Teriyaki Crunchy Tofu and Super Hero Spinach Wraps. Since making the switch to an all vegetarian menu, the school’s principal, Robert Groff, reports that average BMI has decreased, while test scores and energy levels have gone up. The best part? Principal Groff reports that students are asking their parents for brown rice and broccoli outside of the lunchroom!

Want to give it a try in your kids’ lunches? Watch Physicians Committee dietitian Karen Smith, R.D., and her daughters, Lauren and Carli, share their favorite kid-tested and dietitian-approved plant-based lunches to pack for school!

Rainbow Sandwich recipe: whole wheat bread, hummus, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, shredded purple cabbage, avocado slices