Top Tips for Easy Snacks and Lunches for Homeschool Days

Providing three meals and two snacks every day, in between teaching, cleaning, and trying to find a moment to your can be an overwhelming daily routine. 
 
Let’s face it, sometimes we forget to plan, then when the kids scream, they’re STAARRRVVVING, your mind draws a blank, and you are left scrambling to get something on a plate. 
 
I’m here to provide some tips for you to help you keep those plates easy to fill and your children’s tummies happy!  Just keep these basics on hand and you’ll have less stress when the kids ask for food. 

snack tips for your sanity

If you keep snacks simple and choose foods that require very little preparation, then you will save yourself the dilemma of having a sink full of dishes again. 
 
Also, we want to remember it is snack time, not a full meal.  Kids’ bellies are smaller, and they do not need a lot to fill them in between their regular meals. 
 
I like to aim for the idea of protein, carb, and healthy fat across all meals, and snack time is no different.  Giving them this healthy balance can help provide the right nutrients to keep them going through afternoon lessons. 
 
Water and milk with snacks can be a great idea and keep your little ones from having a sugar rush and sugar crash if they’re chugging juice. 
 
(We don’t use fruit juice as a daily drink due to the amount of sugar and lack of fiber.  Please note that it’s your family and your rules, so anything listed here is easily substituted to fit your needs.)
 
If you have allergies in your household, feel free to use things that work for your kids.  We all have finicky eaters, where one child loves bell peppers and another prefers tomatoes.  It isn’t always easy to be a mom but providing healthy snacks is part of our job!
 
Try having veggies available to eat with any meal.  This has been a lifesaver many times when we’re trying to throw together dinner and I need a vegetable last minute. 

Simple Snack Ideas

• Fresh fruit with cubed cheese, pretzels, and nuts
  
• Yogurt with fruit and granola (frozen berries are a household favorite and easy to keep on hand)
• Crackers with peanut butter and veggie sticks
• English muffins with an apple and milk
  
• Veggies with a favorite dip (hummus, tzatziki, cream cheese, etc.)
• Avocado toast and fruit
• A simple bean salad (favorite beans, chopped veggies, and a simple vinaigrette
• Family favorite smoothie with frozen berries and vegetables

homeschool lunch tips

Lunch is a great time to sit down together and take a breather from the day’s work.  My top advice is to keep it simple, this way you have less cleaning and crying from the starvation that occurs since the mid-morning snack. Let’s face it…dinner time will be here before you know it! 
 
Keeping the mindset of protein, vegetables, and carbs will help make lunches quick from whatever you have on hand. 
 
Most recommendations for pediatrics are to keep fruit to one serving per day for kids.  If they’re getting their fruit during snack time, try focusing on healthy veggies during lunch.  These can be as simple as cutting carrot sticks or serving a bunch of broccoli with a favorite dip.    
 
If you’re tired of bread, try cooking up a batch of rice or farro for the week.  Not only can these be eaten cold from the fridge, but they are also simple to warm up on the stove or in the microwave. 
 
Healthy fats can be avocado, extra virgin olive oil, cheese, seeds, and nuts. 

Simple Lunch Ideas

• Easy pizzas with tortillas or bagels as the base
  
• Sandwiches with favorite toppings and whole-grain bread or wrapped in a tortilla and cut into pinwheels
  
• Soups and stews from leftover dinners
  
• Chicken with rice and sauteed veggies
  
• Pasta with tomatoes and cheese and topped with baked fish            
  
• Bean salad with any protein

Rounding out the meal with water and milk can be essential for keeping hunger at bay.  I do try to make sure their food is finished before pouring the milk, since milk has a good amount of protein it can be very filling on a small stomach!
 
Try mixing and matching all the ideas above and substitute them to your family’s tastes.  We all differ in our finicky ways and there is never a problem with that.  When all else fails, look forward to pizza night or a simple drive-through.  Those are always a welcome treat (for your kids and yourself)!
 
What are your family favorites to get you through those hectic homeschool days?

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