Lunch at day camp is important for your child. Most camps include physical activity, so your child will need nutritious foods to keep them going. Like most parents, I packed what I thought my kids would eat, only to have most of it return home. The result was a famished kid who pantry-surfed until dinner and a frustrated mom.
Not wanting a return of my hangry child, nor another lunch in the garbage, I set out to make day camp lunch more enjoyable for both of us. How did I do it? I got my kids involved in making their own camp lunch. While it took some supervision, I explained that they needed to pack what they would eat and that it needed to be nutritious. Here are some suggestions that made our summer less stressful.
Provide a Variety of Containers
There are so many fun lunchbox accessories available. We use bento boxes with separate compartments, screw-on lid containers for easy opening and closing and zipper snack bags to help with portion control. Lunch box-sized ice packs are also a good idea. If they are required to brown bag it, add a little color. Lunch-size bags in bright colors or designs can be found at craft stores and dollar stores, making lunchtime more fun. You can also add colorful napkins and disposable utensils.
Make a List of Options
When my daughter first started making lunch in first grade, we talked about nutrition on her level. MyPlate, which replaced the USDA Food Pyramid, is a great source. We made a small poster with pictures under categories like proteins, grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables. I am a big believer in everything in moderation, so we did have a category for less healthy snacks. If nothing else, they were good for lunchtime trades.
Make Food Fun to Eat
No one said lunch had to be a square-cut PB&Js, chips and an apple. Pull out your favorite cookie cutters and use them to cut out cheese, lunchmeat and fruit and make pancakes, pizzas and bread for sandwiches. Add a little editable glitter to sprinkle over strawberries, sandwiches or any other item that would be more enjoyable with a little magic dust.
Pack Food to Fit the Day’s Theme
Day camps often have a theme where they encourage the campers to wear a specific color, pattern or outfit to fit with the theme. Why not try food that is the same? If the group is going to the zoo, add some animal crackers. If they are headed to the planetarium, send them along with star fruit. For kids in sports camps, you can make a ball out of many items – melon balls, meatballs, cheese balls or cake balls.
Pre-Bag Snacks
Kids are natural snackers, so we keep a snack drawer full of grab-and-go items like pre-bagged fruits and veggies, dry cereal, cut-up cheese, pretzels, etc. (This is a great idea for adults, too.) We fill small containers with ranch dressing, hummus or ketchup. I also buy single serving items like yogurt and granola bars. It gives the kids the option to do for themselves without asking a parent to come in and pour, scoop or chop.
Keep Them Hydrated
Most camps suggest you send your child with a reusable water bottle so they can refill it at drinking fountains during the day. If your child isn’t a fan of plain water, send them along with individual flavor packets, including Gatorade or another brand with electrolytes. You can also send them with sliced cucumbers, lemons or muddled fruit to add flavor with natural ingredients. Vegetables that are mostly water (cucumbers, celery and carrots) are a great choice for warm weather snacking.
Include Something Special
It is always nice to find a “thinking of you” note inside your lunch. After your child has packed their lunch, you can add a heartfelt note, a riddle of the day, a joke, a sticker or something small they can share with their friends. Again, consider keeping with the theme of the camp.
Pam Molnar is mother of three and a college packing pro. It never gets easier to say goodbye, but each year gets easier to pack
Pam Molnar is mother of three and a college packing pro. It never gets easier to say goodbye, but each year gets easier to pack
