Pack the Perfect Back-to-School Lunch with Local Foods

School is Back in Session!

Whether your children started school already or it’s just around the corner, now’s the time to think about school lunches. Some parents tend to be spontaneous when packing the perfect lunch for their kids, however planning in advance can surely save you both time and money. If you struggle to pick out ingredients that both fit your budget and put a smile on your child’s face, we can help!

We have a plethora of choices in our stores, and we understand that it might be challenging to decide what to add to your shopping list. So, we’ve assembled some of our favorite locally produced foods that will make you a pro school lunch packer in no time. Between the great nutritional benefits of most these yummy options and their awesome flavor, we know your kids will thank you for packing them. Not only will you take comfort knowing your kids are eating a balanced meal, but you can save money at the same time. Without further ado, let’s dive in to the best local foods for back-to-school lunches!

Flavor-Packed Produce

You’ve heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away!” Keep your kids healthy by incorporating fresh, local produce in their lunches – like our new crop of honeycrisp apples. Fresh fruits and veggies provide essential nutritional benefits required for students to be successful in the classroom. Most of your favorite produce contains excellent amounts of vitamin C, potassium, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, which also helps maintain digestive health. They energize students, giving them the boost they need to focus after lunch. Plus, produce has relatively low calorie counts, lowering the risk of childhood obesity.

In season now, our stores have plenty of fantastic local fruits and veggies to choose from. Add a splash of sweetness with local yellow nectarines, large cantaloupes, or red seedless watermelon. You could even pack salads for your kids with the freshest ingredients like local green cabbage, juicy grape tomatoes, colorful baby sweet peppers, sweet onions, and cucumbers. Top them with some Lancaster based Sauder’s hard-boiled eggs. Doesn’t that sound delicious?

School might be starting, but Summer Salads still have some flavor to share! Pack them one with pecans or walnuts, blue cheese, spinach, vinaigrette (on the side) from Chef Tim Foods of Etters, PA, and local freestone yellow and white peaches from the Shenks family’s Lititz farm. The Shenks hand-select the juiciest freestone peaches for our stores at the peak of flavor. You know your kids will be eating good! Read more about the Shenks family here.

Become the Sandwich Making Master

Next up, everyone most likely thinks of sandwiches when they consider what goes in a kid’s lunch. It might be easy to just spread some peanut butter and jelly on some white bread and call it a day, but our delis want to help you think outside the box! Our service counters stock the highest quality local deli meats and cheeses, sliced and chipped directly in front of you the very same day for assured freshness.

Provide your kids with the protein they need with local Dietz & Watson deli meats. Choose from flavorful favorites like top round beef london broil, gourmet lite or oven classic turkey, honey bbq chicken breast, or gourmet lite ham. Their baby Swiss and American cheeses perfectly complement their deli meats and tie the sandwich together. We also carry local Kunzler & Company Virginia baked ham, cooked salami, and Lebanon and sweet bologna. Include some of that fresh local produce in their sandwiches to add an extra health advantage.

• Learn about our deli’s organic offerings.
• We also proudly offer local Hatfield cooked ham at our everyday low price.

Deli Salads

Also, try our awesome selection of delicious deli salads for your kids’ lunches! We bring in recipes from our favorite local vendors like Spring Glen, Isabelle’s, All Season’s Kitchen, and Winter Gardens. Give your kids something different, like albacore tuna salad, chicken salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, cole slaw, broccoli salad, and more! Many of these options go great with fresh baked bread. We suggest trying any deli meat, cheese, or salad combination with local Nature’s Own perfectly crafted bread. Your kids won’t be disappointed!

Reward Good Behavior with their Favorite Snack!

School lunch is a time meant for kids to enjoy a delicious, nutritious meal alongside their classmates. While it is important to incorporate healthy fruits, veggies, meats, and cheeses into their diet, you can do that and still give them a tasty treat every so often. Make note of your children’s good behavior and reward them with yummy snacks in their lunches to accompany their sandwich and produce. We are blessed in Lancaster county with a number of amazing local snack vendors. From potato chips and pretzels, to popcorn and snack cakes, we’ve got it all! Just remember to supply them in moderation.

Reward them with some of these salty and sweet local favorites:

• Pastry: Tastyake Snack Cakes
• Potato Chips & Popcorn: Dieffenbach’s, Frito Lay Doritos, Herr’s, Martin’s, Middleswarth, Utz, Wise
• Pretzels: Snyder’s of Hanover, Unique, Wege

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

Finally, studies show that drinking water with school lunches is extremely valuable for improved afternoon learning. Always pack your kids a water bottle to enjoy after they’ve finished their healthy lunch you’ve expertly assembled for them. We recommend locally bottled Dasani and Aquafina!

Right now, you can save on many of the ideas mentioned above and become a pro school lunch packer.

See every On Sale ingredient here in our sales flyer, and remember to look for #local products in our stores!

Happy Back to School!