Food/Meals
Food/Meals
LUNCHBOX GUIDELINES
- Download the detailed list of Food Guidelines and Lunchbox Suggestions
- Download the Lunchbox Guidelines
- Download a Sample Snack Menu
Please follow these guidelines when preparing lunches for your child. (Remember to pack food in a thermos to keep food hot or include an ice pack to keep food cold.)
Required Food Groups/Components:
In order to prepare a healthy lunch, you need to choose at least one food from each of the categories below every day. Note: Yogurt does not count as a fruit. It may count as a protein if it is plain or not highly sweetened.
Proteins:
Meats or Other Animal Protein (must be accompanied by blue ice)
- Lunch Meats (95% fat free)
- Lean/fat free wieners (must be sliced long wise to prevent choking)
- Turkey Breast
- Tuna
- Ham
- Surimi (imitation crab)
- Chicken (chunks or 1 piece)
- Hard Boiled Egg
Meat Alternative:
- Soy or Sunflower Butter
- Soybean/tofu products
- Hummus
- Refried beans
- Sunflower Seeds (not recommended for children under 3 years of age)
- Garbanzo Beans
Fruit Vegetable (Raw or Cooked)
- Apple
- Pears
- Plums
- Kiwi
- Peach, nectarine or apricot
- Melons
- Bananas
- Pineapple
- Cherries
- Mandarin Oranges
- Papaya or mango
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Dried fruits
- Canned fruit in juice
- Carrots (baby or sticks)
- Celery sticks
- Sweet red or green peppers
- Broccoli or cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes (cherry or wedged)
- Squash (zucchini or yellow)
- Potatoes or sweet potatoes
- Peas
- Corn
- Green beans
- Greens
- Citrus (orange, grapefruit, etc.)
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Grapes (sliced length-wise for young children)
- Tossed salads or greens (dressing on the side if needed)
Dairy:
- Cheese (low-fat)
- Cottage Cheese
- String Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Plain Yogurt
- Kifir
Carbohydrates: Bread/Grains/Starches
- Whole wheat bread
- English muffins
- Bagels
- Rice cakes
- Tortillas chips
- Pasta or spaghetti
- Raisin bread
- Tabouli
- Popcorn cakes
- Couscous
- Pretzels (hard pretzels not recommended for children under 3 years of age)
- Rice
- Pita bread
- Potato
- Rolls
- Macaroni
- Tortillas
Required Food Amounts:
| Component Ages | 1 – 2 years | 3 – 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetables | ⅛ cup total | ¼ cup total |
| Fruits | ⅛ cup total | ¼ cup total |
| Grains or Carbohydrate
Bread, cornbread, biscuit, etc. Cooked pasta, noodles or cereal |
½ slice/serving = ½ oz. eq. ¼ cup = ½ oz. eq. |
½ slice/serving = ½ oz. eq. ⅓ cup = ½ oz. eq. |
| Protein
Meat, fish or meat alternative Cheese Eggs Beans or Peas Soy butter Yogurt |
1 oz. 1 oz. slice ½ egg ¼ cup 2 Tbsp. 4 oz |
1 ½ oz. 1 ½ oz. ¾ egg ⅜ cup 3 Tbsp. ¾ cup 2% milk |
| Milk (PROVIDED BY ACC LAB) | ½ cup whole milk | ¾ cup 2% milk |
Sample Lunch Ideas:
- Pasta and cheese or cheese tortellini with tomato sauce
- Broccoli (raw or lightly steamed)
- Applesauce
- Bean and Cheese Taco
- Orange quarters
- Lettuce and tomato salad
- Tuna or Egg Salad
- Crackers or pita bread
- Cucumbers
- Watermelon cubes
- Chicken Chunks
- Rice
- Carrot slices (raw or lightly steamed)
- Strawberries
Reminder: The following items should not be sent in your child’s lunch:
- Candy or chewing gum
- Cookies
- Pudding
- High sugar desserts
- Chips (except tortilla chips)
- Sodas
- Kool-aid
- Any high sugar drink
Limit or avoid sending the following items:
- “Fast food”
- “Lunchables”
- “Gogurt”
For infants and toddlers, please be sure to cut food into bite size portions so they don’t choke (round food items like hot dogs and carrots need to be sliced lengthwise.