Getting organized
Have I mentioned how much I love summer? Pretty sure I’ve made that clear. Hard to believe that its beginning to wind down already. When I looked at the calendar to plan my next few column topics I immediately thought I would do my traditional back to school column the day school starts on Sept. 1. However, I started to think about the challenges of getting back into routine after a super summer of fun and thought perhaps this is the time to get organized. Time to get things in order while there is still plenty of time to enjoy the last part of summer holidays.
Two words associated with back to school that usually meet with a collective sigh of exhaustion heard around the world are, “school lunches.”
When I think of all the lunches I have packed for our four boys over the years it’s completely crazy! Now on the flip side of that, and hear goes my other tradition with my back to school column — crying.
On the flip side, they grow up way too fast and before you know it two are at University in Lethbridge and you are packing up the third to move to Saskatoon and start school at the University of Saskatchewan. My poor baby Benjamin will be without brothers for the first time in his life and much to his chagrin will very likely be completely over parented.
But I will still be packing him school lunches and am really hoping to get organized for that in the next few weeks. I encourage you to do the same. A healthy lunch is such an important part of their learning day. Oh wait, I think I just heard a few readers saying “What is she doing making lunches for her kids? Why don’t they make their own?” That’s just a choice I’ve made but if your kids make their own good for them and you. It’s still great to have some healthy lunch choices prepared ahead for them to grab quickly and put in their lunch.
A healthy lunch should start with at least one food from each of the four food groups of Canada’s Food Guide. That means a source of protein, a good source of calcium like yogurt or cheese, a carbohydrate like a whole grain bun and the very important vegetables and fruit. For example a whole wheat bun with egg salad and lettuce and pickles along with yogurt and a few cut up veggies on the side and fruit for
desert.
So whether you are making the lunches or your kids make their own start with that guideline of the four food groups. There are also a few lunch ideas you can make ahead of time and freeze. A few examples are muffins; healthy cookies (remember the sunflower cookie recipe I’ve shared a few times); buns baked with meat inside; bagel halves with pizza sauce, meat, veggies and cheese that are baked then wrap and freeze (thanks amazing mom of five Cathy Lutz for that idea).
The following recipe is a quick and easy way to incorporate all four food groups in one delicious food that freezes very well. It would also be a great to grab for breakfast if you are running out the door.
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer while you start to get organized for the back to routine coming soon.
Joanne Smith is a registered dietitian.