The meticulously packed lunch, planned with the very best ingredients will fuel a growing mind through an arduous school day filled with test-taking and friend-making. But the challenges of packing the perfect lunch can be many: nutrition, time, budget, and the difficult-to-decipher edibility. However, with a little planning and thought into what your child enjoys, fun and easy lunches are possible. PACK OR BUY? To decide whether to pack or buy lunch, first look at the school lunch menu to determine if the food meets your family’s health standards. Then, take a look at the menu with your child. Even a non-picky eater may not want to eat the school lunch for whatever reason. If this is the case, there is simply no reason to buy it – especially since you will not be there with words of encouragement. Also, how will that lunch money be used? Most schools offer a well-balanced ‘healthy’ lunch. However, will your child buy a la carte instead of the set meal and end up eating a spam musubi and melona pop? An honest discussion about your child’s preference for school or home lunch can lead to less uneaten food and more nourishment. by Stephanie Lopes A variety of healthy foods that your child likes are the best lunch foods. 152 HAWAII PARENT July/August 2025
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