Returning to school after a lively summer can feel like a steep climb for both children and parents. After a season filled with fun and moments of forgetting routines, getting back into the rhythm of school days and home study is a shared challenge. Parents also need to balance work obligations with the care that young ones require at home. When the whole family is healthy and well fed, everything runs more smoothly.
Choosing healthy, vitamin-packed options for meals and snacks is essential, especially for lunches. If possible, pick options that work for everyone: items that kids can carry to recess and that parents can grab for a quick morning coffee in the office.
Here are four tasty options, both sweet and savory:
fruit skewers
Fresh fruit skewers. Shutterstock
An ideal way to present seasonal fruit to kids in a playful, appealing fashion. Preparation is quick and simple: select the fruits you like, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and thread them onto sticks. Then transfer to containers for easy storage. September still brings a touch of summer to markets, with fruits like banana, kiwi, mango, watermelon, and peach offering a vibrant mix of sweetness and tang.
carrot hummus
Carrot hummus. Shutterstock
Hummus is a handy snack to keep in the fridge for dinners, after-school bites, and even surprise visits. Kids can bring it to school as a dip, and it makes a satisfying mid-morning treat when paired with fresh vegetables. Here is a reliable recipe that never fails.
- A pot of boiled chickpeas
- Two cloves of garlic
- A teaspoon of tahini
- A lemon
- Sweet paprika
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Sesame for garnish
- All ingredients go into a blender and are mixed until smooth: chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, olive oil, and salt.
- Blend until the desired texture is achieved, whether creamy or a touch chunky.
- Let it rest for a few hours and finish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
homemade cake
Chocolate cake. Shutterstock
Baking a chocolate cake at home is a great way to provide a wholesome treat for lunch. Selecting healthier ingredients and reducing added sugar makes a difference when compared to store-bought options. Here is a straightforward recipe that kids will love.
- Plain yogurt
- Three eggs
- Half a cup of cane sugar
- One measure of olive oil
- Two and a half measures of whole wheat flour
- Half a cup of pure cocoa
- A packet of yeast
- Ten nuts
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and reduce heat as needed.
- Mix wet ingredients in a bowl: yogurt, oil, and eggs.
- Add the sugar and blend well.
- Mix the flour, yeast, and cocoa, then fold into the wet mixture, sifting to avoid lumps.
- Chop the walnuts and fold them in.
- Grease a mold with olive oil and flour, pour in the batter.
- Bake for about 45 minutes and then check doneness. Allow to cool before serving.
dried fruit sticks
Homemade dried fruit bars. Shutterstock
Nut bars give a much-needed energy boost, especially as kids adjust to the school routine. The downside is many store-bought options are loaded with sugar and preservatives. Making bars at home saves money and offers better control over ingredients, with a manageable one-hour prep on busy days.
- 400 grams of oat flakes
- Five dates
- A handful of walnuts
- A handful of almonds
- A handful of peanuts
- Four tablespoons of unsweetened almond cream
- Pure cocoa chips
- Honey to taste
- Cinnamon powder
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
- Mix all chosen ingredients in a bowl: oats, chopped dates, chopped walnuts and almonds, pistachios if available, almond cream, honey, and cinnamon.
- Line a baking dish with parchment paper to simplify removal and shaping.
- Pour the mixture and scatter chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for roughly 15 minutes. Keep a careful eye on them, as nuts can burn easily.
- Let cool, then cut into sticks for easy packing.