Healthy Alternatives to Lunchbox Chips

While trying to come up with different alternatives to peanut butter and jelly or balogna sandwiches this week, I started thinking about ways I could phase out my kids’ favorite “side dish” — chips!

For me, chips have always been the default go-to for sandwiches or lunch in general, but as the new school year approaches I’ve been trying to re-think and re-plan what goes into my kids’ lunch boxes. Sure, they’ll still get a small bag of chips now and then, but I’m going substitute one of the below ideas several times a week as well!

~ Fresh fruit and vegetables. This one always seems to be at the top of the list for chip replacements, and for good reason. Fresh fruit and vegetables not only offer “healthier” calories, but they contain virtually no fat or processed sugars. This means they can load up on them at lunch time and still get the energy benefit for hours afterward. Veggies like carrot sticks, celery sticks, radishes, even broccoli and cauliflower are perfectly portable. Fruits like apples (if you cut them up, sprinkle with lemon juice to keep from browning), strawberries, bananas and grapes travel well too.

~ Pretzels and crackers. Baked carb snacks can help your child feel full, and since they’re not fried they don’t add a lot of unnecessary calories either.

~ Tortilla chips and salsa. Tortilla chips are also baked and have the satisfying crunch and light saltiness of regular fried potato chips. The salsa offers vegetables as well, and homemade salsa is even better!

~ Cheesesticks or yogurt. Unless your child gets some change to buy a carton of milk in the lunchroom, chances are they aren’t going to be getting any dairy in their lunch box (I’ve never been able to get a Thermos to keep milk above lukewarm!). Cheese sticks or a small reusable container filled with yogurt can fill the void, and fresh fruit in the yogurt can even act as a nutritious dessert, too.

What are your favorite non-chips foods to put in lunchboxes?

[image: flickr]