As teenagers across Kansas return to school, many parents and students are packing their lunches again.
But how do you get the most for your money while staying safe and healthy?
Food scientist Karen Blakeslee of Kansas State University said following food safety procedures is essential for parents to prevent foodborne illnesses such as salmonella and food poisoning.
Safety tips for packing your lunch
Blakeslee said the first important step is washing hands before preparing food.
“This can prevent many food safety problems,” Blakeslee said in a written statement. “Bringing your lunch to school will keep cold foods cold and hot foods warm.”
To prevent other people from triggering food allergies, Blakeslee says parents should remind their children not to share their lunch with other children.
She also recommends wrapping foods that do not require temperature control to prevent them from spoiling.
“Many whole fresh fruits, single-serving fruit cups, whole grain cookies, peanut butter or other nut butters, and dried meat sticks are safe to pack,” Blakeslee said in a written statement. “When packing cold or hot foods, use ice packs and insulated lunch boxes to keep them cold. When packing hot foods, use a separate insulated container or bottle to keep the food warm.”
In addition, Blakeslee said parents should involve their children more by going shopping with them and asking them to help plan school lunches.
“If they help choose and prepare lunch, they will enjoy eating it,” Blakeslee said.
What should be in your school meals?
Finding lunch shouldn’t be difficult, nor should it be a simple matter of reheating leftovers from dinner.
Some lunches can even be prepared in one go. For example, you can make a pasta salad with shaped pasta, salad dressing and lots of vegetables.
Another lunch option could be burrito roll-ups. Spread fried beans on a soft flour tortilla the size of a street taco. Then add shredded Mexican cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and any other desired burrito toppings. After mixing everything together, roll it up and serve with a small cup of salsa or guacamole on the side.
The possibilities of what you can pack in a lunch area are endless, as long as it is packed securely. Find what works best for you and pack it.
