Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Oakland, CA

Beth Ann Bentley is our first official guest poster at Being Savvy East Bay!  She is a mother of four school-aged children.  She has just launched her website iLunchBox.com -- a happy marriage of her passion for the health of her family and experience in the food and beverage industry. 

iLunchBox.com is a resource center and portal of information for parents and caregivers dedicated to the pursuit of a healthier lunch for school aged children. 

Beth Ann gave us a generous dose of lunch-packing tips for preschoolers:

Peel fruit (except bananas), cut up larger fruits like melon, apples, pineapple into easy to eat sizes.

Teach your child how to insert the straw into a juice box at home and how to open their own yogurt or fruit cups.

Keep the portions small; remember their stomachs are only the size of their fists.  If you use a juice box for their drink, choose the small version, about 5oz or less.  Always include water in their lunchbox.  http://ilunchbox.com/articles/keeping-your-child-well-hydrated.php

Offer a variety of foods: color, taste, texture.

When packing their lunch consider how they are going to eat it and what they will eat it on.  Provide a spoon, plate, etc. so that your child is not putting their food on the table or eating everything with their fingers.  Always provide a napkin.

Preschool Lunch ideas:

         Cold Chicken Fingers, Piece of Cheese and Whole Grain Crackers and a bunch of grapes or other fruit (melon balls, pineapple chunks, sliced apples, Cutie Orange

o        If making the chicken fingers from scratch is not for you, there are some great off the shelf products:  Kirkland brand all natural chicken tenders, Bell and Evan's chicken gingers and Whole Foods carries chicken finger products that are gluten free.

o        http://ilunchbox.com/recipes/tasty-chicken-bites.php

         Meatballs, Cheese, Baby Carrots, Black Olives, Whole Wheat Crackers

o        Making traditional or turkey meatballs from scratch is easy and should be made in bulk for use later.  But if that is not for you, Costco carries great beef and turkey meatballs in a resealable bag.  Just heat and serve.

o        http://ilunchbox.com/recipes/meatballs.php

         Pesto Pasta Salad with Mozzarella and Black Olives

o        http://ilunchbox.com/recipes/variations-on-the-recipe-of-pesto.php

         Easy Peasy Pasta Salad

o        http://ilunchbox.com/recipes/easy-peasy-pasta-salad.php

         The Ploughman's Lunch

o        This is like a homemade lunchable.  Put in small amounts of foods your child likes and let him or her graze or make mini sandwiches.

o        http://ilunchbox.com/recipes/ploughman-s-lunch.php

If you can heat up food:  Black Bean and Cheese Burritos is my children's all time favorite.  http://ilunchbox.com/recipes/best-lunch-box-burritos.php

I will share more of Beth Ann's tips on preschoolers and eating later this school year.  Please stop by iLunchbox.com to thank her for her wisdom!