We are almost ready for the back-to-school season. Our children will soon be in school after a long vacation. As parents, there are many aspects we need to consider, from school supplies and clothing (uniforms) to nutrition. Many parents choose to prepare food for their children to take to school, so they do not consume what is prepared in the school cafeteria, thus ensuring a better balanced diet. To achieve this, it is important to consider several aspects to create a school menu that provides many nutrients to your children and allows them to study at their best. Here are some tips to consider:

1. Include foods from different groups: Fruits and vegetables, cereals or tubers, and animal-based foods.
2. Avoid processed foods as much as possible. These are often high in fat, sugar, and/or sodium. Take some time to prepare snacks with fresh foods most days of the week.
3. Ensure the snack is varied. There are many different options that children may enjoy. Plan the menu for the entire week in advance to save time and have all necessary ingredients on hand.
4. Use the snack to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to the child.
5. Avoid sugary drinks. The snack should always include a drink to keep children well-hydrated, but avoid all beverages high in sugar, such as sodas and processed juices.
6. Avoid very sweet or sticky foods that can promote the development of cavities.
7. Serve small portions of food. Remember that the snack should represent at most 20% of daily calories. This amounts to about 200 calories for preschool children and about 270 for school-aged children at most.
8. Serve the snack in a clean lunchbox and in pleasant, unbreakable, and easy-to-handle containers.
9. Allow children to participate in planning their snacks and even in preparing simple dishes.
10. Take advantage of social interactions to offer the child foods that they may find difficult to accept at home.
11. Include a surprise for the child, especially in the case of younger ones, in the lunchbox sometimes.

Cooking Recipes

To give you a better idea of what the school menu should contain, we have selected a series of recipes that we know will be to your liking and very useful when planning. (it is recommended to click on the recipe title for more details on its preparation) Homemade Granola. Granola is an energy-packed breakfast thanks to oats, nuts, and fruits. This granola recipe will give you the tools to make it at home. Fruit Skewers with Whipped Cream. A nice idea to include fruit in breakfast or for school lunch. Yogurt Cups with Granola and Fruits. These yogurt cups with granola and fruits make a healthy and delicious breakfast in under 15 minutes! Chocolate Chip Muffins. Delicious muffins perfect for a birthday. Roasted Vegetables with Lemon. A tasty side dish for meats and poultry, with roasted potatoes and carrots with a hint of lemon and chives. Banana Cake. After trying many different banana bread recipes, I have decided that this is the winning recipe. The banana cake is not dry at all and has a flavor that will drive you crazy. Gaby's Scribble Cookies. These butter cookies have chocolate in the middle and are decorated with chocolate scribbles. Chocolate Covered Pretzels Pretzels are a traditional American salty cookie. This cookie makes an excellent dessert for children's parties when covered in chocolate. This recipe is also commonly used for dessert tables at weddings and parties. Lettuce Salad with Apple and Walnut. This lettuce salad with apple and walnut is fresh and delicious with orange dressing. Cheese and Fig Sandwich. A very tasty and easy recipe that turns a simple cheese sandwich into a gourmet dish. Fruit with Cream. A 100% healthy dessert of fruit with whipped cream. Cheese Sticks. Breaded cheese with Italian spices. Fish Sticks. A quick dish that kids love. Gelatin with Fruits. A good gelatin for kids. Rice Horchata. A typical Mexican drink made with rice and sugar.