Food for kids…(what to pack for lunch, quick breakfast, and more…)
Posted on January 31, 2010 by Sarah in Breakfast, Food, Lunch, MealPlan, News | 30 Comments
If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me, “What do you feed your kids when eating Paleo?” I would be a gazillionaire… The short answer is, they eat what I make - and what I allow in my house. If you only have healthy options available in YOUR house, there will not be any need for arguing, negotiating, begging, or pleading. ALL the food in my house can be eaten whenever my kids want to eat it, there is no “special” food, reward food, or “dessert” food. If we DO have ice cream in the house, or chocolate, the kids can eat it. BUT this does not happen very often and if we want a dessert like ice cream we leave the house to get it. This way – it’s over, it’s done, and there are no crying fits for dessert after every meal. A big treat in my house is sliced strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries with a drizzle of honey and served with home made whipped cream or served in a bowl with almond milk.
Next big question I have been getting, what do I pack my kids for lunch? Pictured is what my 6 year old will have for his school lunch tomorrow. It’s a tupperware of chicken and hard boiled egg salad, carrot sticks, dried cranberries and pistachios, and mandarins. Sometimes school lunch will be deli meat, celery sticks, apple slices, and a dried fruit bar from Trader Joes. My 14 year old usually packs his own lunch of pastrami, celery and carrots, an apple, and cashews. Sometimes he chooses to eat hot lunch and comes home feeling like crap. He’s 14 and understands what happens when he makes his own choices.
Another question that often arises is how do we handle the need for a quick breakfast: My oldest is typically our breakfast guy. I teach early morning classes 5 day’s a week so my husband and kids are on their own most mornings. We buy a lot of already cooked bacon from Trader Joe’s that takes 30 seconds in the microwave, my son will scramble up a half dozen eggs, and then my husband packs individual tupperwares of eggs and bacon for everyone and they all eat in the car. Sometimes I’ll make a big batch of sweet potato and sausage hash that lasts a few days or I’ll make a giant frittata that we eat throughout the week. Hard boiled eggs are a must and I recommend always having a dozen ready to go in the fridge and you can see from my pics that hard boiled eggs do not have to be boring! : )
Also pictured is a bunch of after school snacks as well as food I always have in the car such as tupperwares full of nuts, dried unsweetened cherries, and pieces of beef jerky. I never leave home without a bag of beef jerky, dried blueberries, sliced apples and nuts. My kids are ALWAYS hungry when I pick them up from school and with food in my car there is never even a request for fast food. At this point my kids understand that fast food is horrendous anyways, in fact, my 6 year old got into a huge debate with his teacher the other day – his argument being that no one should EVER go to McDonald’s. She was teaching a health unit and mentioned that it is possible to find healthy choices at McDonald’s and that eating fast food periodically is ok… For those of you who know my 6 year old, you can probably imagine this conversation…
So, those of you with kiddos, you can make it happen!! Don’t be neurotic, but be strong. Remember, the food that enters your house is there because it was YOUR decision. If my kids go to a friend’s house or to a party, I DON”T attach a note to their foreheads reading that they cannot eat gluten or sugar, I just rest assured that 95% of the time they have real, quality food, and I SEE that they are healthy, active, and overall pretty amazing kiddos….
30 Comments to “Food for kids…(what to pack for lunch, quick breakfast, and more…)”
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Woohoo – you answered my question – thank you! This is extremely helpful and I really appreciate it that you took the time to post the write-up and pictures. I have been pretty guilt-laden for a long time about my ‘double-standard’ of having ‘healthy’ food for me and ‘not-as-healthy’ for my kids. I don’t buy them full-on junk, nor desserts, but they have grains and sugar and I don’t. I’m going to make this transition although I am nervous about the back lash since my kids have already formed habits since they are 12 and 8. When did you convert your 14 year old and how did that transition go? Sounds like he’s a helpful and agreeable kid, so kudos!
Wow, within five minutes I got this post AND a similar post in my feed reader from Marks Daily Apple. Is there some kind of caveman underground communication network happening?
I’d also like to hear more about your teenager. My daughter is 13 and I can only convince her to eat maybe three paleo/primal meals a week. She has no problem eating some steak or a venison burger patty (or two), but isn’t as keen on vegetables. Most evenings she makes pasta for herself. Oh, and she has a bagel for breakfast every day even though I offer her eggs.
My kids are 12 and 14, and are not on board with Primal eating. I still buy them white flour and sugar (they bake), crackers, and pasta, even though I feel very conflicted about it. Dinners are Primal, but they might add to what we make; for instance, tonight we are having meatballs and roasted broccoli, and the kids are making pasta to go with the meatballs. They make their own breakfast and lunch. My daughter has been a horribly picky eater her whole life, and we still have lots of power struggles over food. I try to educate and offer healthier choices whenever I can, but they are in the eye-rolling phase. It can get very frustrating!
This is a great post! Thanks. I have a 7 month old, so we are not yet at the stage where we are making meals for him besides formula and the like, but this is good stuff for the future.
To the two previous commenters worried about their kids’ backlash: what the hell? Aren’t you the grownups? Why are you worried about what a 13 or 12 year old thinks? Get rid of the junk in the house and tell them they are going to eat what you put on the table. Simple as that.
They may go on a hunger strike, but I don’t think it’s going to last very long.
Fantastic post! Thank you for sharing. Lots of great ideas and very motivating. Have you ever tried Larabars as an on the go treat/snack? They are great! I need to get to TJ’s to stock up. Haven’t made the hour trip in months. Thank again!
Sarah is so right, Amy. The kids will eat what is in the house and after a while the things they miss will be forgotten.
I don’t make mention of the meal when I serve it. I just put it on the table without and word and she and her brothers eat what they like (which is usually everything) and leave the rest for the neighbor’s chickens.
My daughter is 14 years old and her body is working against her hormonally. Acne, chubbiness, moodiness, etc. I offer her a totally paleo dinner and breakfast every day and she never complains because it’s what she sees me eating as of late. She doesn’t feel like I am asking her to give things up that I haven’t and knows I want her to be healthy. This small change (in just a few weeks) is helping her weight, her skin and her demeanor.
Hi Annika,
I understand your frustrations, and my only bit of advice would to only purchase and have available food that you WANT to have your kids eating. I refuse to have anything with gluten in my house, and like I mentioned in my post, if I CHOOSE to buy a treat like ice cream, there are no power struggles, we just eat it. Otherwise, I put the food on the table, and if my kids are hungry, they eat it. No arguing, struggling, or other choices. My 14 year old understands the health risks associated with eating non paleo food items, therefore he has no argument. If HE chooses to eat non paleo foods outside of my home, I by no means punish him or even tell him not to, but as he begins to notice more and more how much better he feels when he sticks to Paleo foods, he starts to make better choices outside of our home. Again, my advice is to choose not to make a bid deal about food. Offer what you have purchased and prepared and if you hear complaining, calmy say, “Oh, it sounds like you are unhappy with what’s for dinner. Well, this is all we have so if you are hungry, you are welcome so what I have made.” That’s it. They won’t starve, I promise…. : )
Hi Amy,
Like I mentioned to my post to Annika, I recommend not supplying the foods that you do not want your daughter to eat. I do not buy any food that I do not want in my house and my 14 year old son soon realized that what we have is what we have and he no longer notices or complains. Futhermore, expaining why we eat the way we do and getting the kids, younger and older ones too, involved in the meal preperation is helpful as well. Kids will not starve themselves, and if your daughter throws a fit, be gentle and understanding and say with a smile, “If you are hungry, this is what we have to eat.”
We only recently transitioned to the paleo lifestyle…back in November. I have an extremely picky 8 year old and 5 year old who is just as happy eating asparagus and chicken as he would be eating pizza! When we started, I printed out a couple ‘short version’ explainations from the internet of why eating this way is best for our bodies. My 8 year old was very interested by it all. He felt a part of our descision, although it was ultimately up to my husband and I, of course.
We talked with him in the beginning about our eating choices and how hard it was for us too those first couple of weeks, but after a while he began to take pride in his good choices and it got so much easier! It is amazing to see him eating…and enjoying…so many foods that I never dreamed he would!!
Oh, and did I mention with the diet changes he was able to come off his ADHD med?? He is doing AMAZING!!! He will NEVER take them again!!
Hi, brilliant post, extremely useful. My husband has coeliac disease and our two girls are highly likely to develop it (30% compared with 1% for “normal” people) at some point in their life. We are extremely motivated to keep the whole family fighting fit and paleo is fitting well. One tricky aspect is with their nursery care, where meals are provided, and communicating their dietary needs without sounding whacky. The cook, thankfully is superb, and we supply them with the more expensive items, such as almond milk powder and gluten free products. A top breakfast for them is home-made chocolate smoothie – avocado, coconut milk and fat, banana and 70% cocoa powder – absolutely delicious.
I always have a supply of nuts, seeds and dried fruit on hand, and mostly (but not always) they don’t just squirrel out the fruit.
I’ll keep checking out this site for ideas in future, thanks
Lyndsay
PS my kids have never needed anti-biotics and I firmly believe that’s due to their healthy diet (and breast-feeding but that’s a whole other debate!)
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Great ideas and suggestions. I’ve been working on getting the good stuff in the babies. This will help.
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I am so glad I found your blog! I’m subscribing via bloglines right away. I’ve been doing Menu Planning Monday for a while now, and it has saved me so much time and energey – and money. But I haven’t really yet found a resource like yours to provide paleo recipes that are family friendly. We are having your meatloaf tonight – probably with some kind of a tomato topping, but that meal looks great!
“Sometimes he chooses to eat hot lunch and comes home feeling like crap. He’s 14 and UNDERSTANDS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE MAKES HIS OWN CHOICES.”
Nice. How dare a child eat a school lunch! Or not obey his obviously mother. Doesn’t he know a school lunch can kill him! LOL You crossfisters crack me up. Better than everyone. Even your own children.
I think Sarah is simply teaching her children about a healthy way of eating. Obviously she encourages her children to eat paleo because it’s healthy. As a parent myself, I’m also concerned with what my kids put in their body and the reality is 99% of school lunch is horrible for you. In no way does she state she is better than anyone or discuss anything even related to crossfit. It’s a Food Blog, there’s no mention of her fran time! Thank you Sarah for sharing your experiences and your recipes.
Hey – I have a 2 year old and I have been TRYING to stay paleo but it is extremely difficult since i work and go to school, on top of being a mom to a toddler. it’s hit or miss with the paleo meals she will eat. i dont have the time to make every meal or even make different meals for her to eat if she doesn’t like it. how can i get a toddler to eat even SOMEWHAT paleo?
Hi Megan!
Plan plan plan ahead.. Make a big batch of the egg cupcakes on the weekend that you can warm up quickly for your 2 year old in the mornings, pack turkey slices, cooked carrot sticks, “apple fries” (thinly sliced and peeled apples), and strawberries for quick and easy snacking. Hard boiled eggs are great for toddlers, and if you start them this young, they will eat what you put in front of them. A 2 year old will not starve him or herself so only make available what you truly want your little person to eat. I hope this helps and good luck!!
Hi Sarah,
Chef Joye from Chico visited this Sunday and prepared bacon and brussel sprouts for us. It was delicious and it is added to the “new recipe” file. I took a long time in getting to the point of trying this new eating and on day 39 have decided to keep on truckin’ down the path.
Enjoy Joye…she’s the best.
Yes, I agree, Joye is the best… We are SO blessed to have her in our lives. Wow, day 39 and still truckin’!! Good for you!! : )
Curious to know what beverages your kids typically drink with their meals. Water, almond milk I’m guessing. Any juices (without added sugars n’ stuff). Thanks!
Most often just water but also almond milk now and then and sometimes I buy those juice boxes from Trader Joe’s that are diluted with water oh, and my oldest likes to drink iced tea now and then.
Ah… another mother feeding Paleo to her children! I was feeling very lonely! LOL! My husband started Paleo two years ago, I jumped in 6 months ago and the kids have tagged along. They are 5 and 6. I feel fortunate that we started this way so young because bad habits weren’t cemented into their being. I do struggle with my 5 year old. But I chalk it up to the regular challenges of parenthood.
I really like the idea of having a stash of food in the car. I generally try and do it before leaving but a big batch is less work.
It was nice to read that your lunches are similar to mine. I’ve started putting meatballs in their lunches. We do have dairy so plain yogurt generally gets put in there too. If you come across any other grandness to throw in, I am all ears. Variety is nice.
So glad I found your blog! There are more and more women starting Paleo! You are one of the few with children!
This is great Sarah, and so correct. Kids will only request what they know they can get! My girls (4yrs/2yrs) are adjusting well to eating paleo, however they still get their fixes here and there.
I am interested in starting this type of lifestyle for my family which includes my 5 year old who has several food allergies. I have a very difficult time already finding things to feed her and he DR. says feed her what she is least allergic to. I can’t do eggs or nuts. I have been doing deli meats but she wont eat it if i dont send a “dip” with it. like ranch dressing (she is allergic to milk also). But she will come back with her complete lunch, starving because she will not eat it.Then her stomach hurts all evening after she eats when she get home usually a sandwich because of the air in it from not eating all day. You make it sound easy but it is not when you have food allergy challenges to add to it.
I don’t know if anyone is still reading the comments to this post or not, but here goes.
I strongly disagree with the posters who advocate telling teenagers what they can and cannot eat. If kids want to eat pasta with their meatballs, and they’re willing to cook it themselves, then they should be able to. They’re old enough to make decisions about what they want to eat.
I became vegetarian when I was 14. My mom, lucky for me, was supportive and didn’t mind setting aside a portion of whatever she was cooking for dinner for me before she added meat for the rest of my family. I was vegetarian for 9 years.
Letting teenagers make their own decisions about their diet is an issue of respect. I’m not saying you have to fill the house with junk food, but if they want to cook grain-based foods for themselves, that should be their option.
Hey Rachel!
I totally respect your opinion – and I agree to some extent – but I feel strongly that grain based foods are the major cause of all modern day illnesses, so why would I have something like that in my home? BUT – like I said in my original post, my kids can choose what they eat. When we go out to eat, to friends houses, or birthday parties, they can pick and choose what they like – I would never punish or scold my kids for their food choices – but the cool thing is, the longer we eat paleo, the less often I see my kids making poor food choices outside of the house. They like to feel good too and know that they don’t feel as great when they eat junk food. I am also educating my children about food and they understand why we do not have grain based foods or sugar filled foods in our house and mabye I am just lucky but I do not have any power struggles or problems with not having pasta with their meatballs as an option. If you have noticed from my pictures, my kids are always helping in the kitchen, always coming up with ideas, and loving the real food that we put on the table. My 14 year old wants to be a chef and is determined to have a gluten free restaurant someday. I think food issues come from parents forcing their kids to eat certain foods, making food a reward, and obviously by modeling bad eating behaviors. We do not have these issues in our home but I know a lot of people with standard american diets that do. The rates of childhood obesity and type II diabetes is disgusting, sad, and ridiculous. But I do respect and understand what you are saying and I can see for some familys, making the transition to paleo eating when their kids are in their teen years could be difficult, this is why explaining the reasons that we do not eat these foods is important rather then making it a “rule” or a control issue or something silly like that. We honestly do not put a whole lot of emphasis on the food that we eat – I shop, we cook together, we sit down, we eat it. That’s it, no fuss, life is filled with so many other distractions for kiddos, the less you fuss over something the less they will too. We all need to re-wire our thoughts on food – food is not the end all be all of happiness, food fuels for our bodies, brings families together, and food is the little secret to health that so obviously many of us are missing the boat on. Thanks so much for posting your honest opinion, that’s what this blog is all about, a safe place to say what you think, share ideas, and learn together how to feed our families the best way we can!
Thank you for posting such wonderful lunch ideas! My family and I are looking to switch to a paleo diet. We have followed Nourishing Traditions now for a few years, but with my being a type 1 diabetic, there are still too many grains even with soaking and my blood sugars are erratic. Talked to my Endo on Monday and he agrees that the paleo/primal diet is probably best for me.
So in discussing it with my dh, he was concerned about what he would eat for lunch, since he is a local trucker and has to eat in his truck and needs quick things. Right now, he lives on peanut butter sandwiches, but he is willing to switch–and your kids lunches are a great place to start for him! Our 16 yr old daughter will also be making the switch, course she has been eating NT style now for quite a while and so I don’t think it will be too much of a shock to her system. Actually, she eats 3 eggs scrambled in butter every morning for breakfast, and she is 4’10 and 94 pounds and those eggs get her most of the way to lunch. At Nutrition break she eats some crispy almonds I have made.
I am so glad I found your blog–I am going to keep reading and adding your recipes to my cooking binder!
[...] a little like a kid – some really great grab and go ideas in this post too. CHECK IT OUT! Food for kids… Category: Announcements, Articles May 26th, 2010 by marg (online) No comments [...]
I am still in the “thinking about paleo” phase. One thing I have noticed is that I have been feeding my kids (ages 3 & 4) paleo most all the time. They would rather have plain steamed broccoli than anything else! Now, just have to get more serious about it for the whole family. thanks for all the great ideas!!!