The solution to packing juicy fruits in school lunches

When packing school lunches for our kids, there are a handful of solid goals to achieve. 

Ideally, a school lunchbox and its contents work like this:

• Portable but durable (no crushing of foods allowed)
• Creative—but not too time consuming to prepare (Pinterest lite)
• Easy to eat (no requiring of messy drippy hand held foods)
• Easy to eat quickly (lunch time is FAST and there's a lot of socializing to do in this time)
• Appetizing enough that your children won’t trade or dump what you pack
• Safe, non-toxic materials (healthy food to fuel all this learning should be packed in non-leaching real materials)

And, nutritious.

Let's face it. Fresh cut fruit packed in plastic baggies is not a great solution. Not only is the fruit unappetizing as it gets smushed and browned in the plastic baggie, it's not fun to dip into a sticky bag to retrieve many little bites of fruit. When it comes to packing fruits (a lunchbox fave), it makes sense to keep them packed properly. Our favorite compact, safe, economical and insulated container for fruit? The Funtainer from Thermos.

Fruits, in general, are packed with essential nutrients and vitamins that are vital for nourishment. Fruits are an excellent source of essential nutrients like calcium, iron, folate, fiber, and Vitamins A, B, and C that play an important role in overall development. 

• Fruits are low in calories, sodium and fat, and have zero cholesterol.
• They are rich in dietary fiber, which is needed to control blood cholesterol. 
• Fruits are rich in nutrients like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron that are usually under-consumed. Vitamin C is essential for repairing any damage to the body tissue, while folic acid boosts production of red blood cells.
• Fruits like banana, peaches, apricots, melons, oranges, and cantaloupe are a few fruits that are rich in potassium.
• Fruits also supply vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and C to the body.

What fruit to pack: 

• Blueberries: Improves memory and learning,  thanks in part to the anti-inflammatory effects of anthocyanin.
• Apples: Excellent source of fiber, helping to keep kids fuller longer.
• Grapes: Improves brain power by increasing blood flow to the brain and squelches inflammation.
• Strawberries: Boosts short term memory, promotes bone health and eases inflammation.
• Mangoes: Alkalizes the whole body and with a good percent of Vitamin A, helps promote good eyesight and boosts the immune system.
• Oranges/Tangerines: Oranges are acidic before you digest them, but contain many alkaline minerals to help balance out the body after they are digested. They also provide smart carbs and don't cause a blood sugar spike. The abundance of polyphenols also protects against viral infections.
• Bananas: Rich in potassium, bananas also have B6 vitamin required for proper brain development and function.

Help start a great habit for a lifetime of healthy eating! Pack some fresh fruit in a portable insulated food jar for a delicious fruit eating experience at the lunch table.

What kinds of fruits would your child like to see packed in their lunch box?