The school season is about to begin. For parents with kids who are going back to school, this means spending more time again to prepare their young learners’ school stuff, including packed lunch. Solane, the country’s leading cooking gas, provides simple tips to make packed lunch preparation easier for parents and nutritious and enjoyable for kids.

Make food yummy and healthy. Your preschoolers and grade-schoolers need all the nutrition they can get for their bones, muscles, and brain, among other body parts to be developed. Make sure that the meals you prepare not only taste great but also cover the “recommended dietary allowance” for the nutrients your kids’ need: from carbohydrates and protein to vitamins and minerals. Dishes should form a balanced diet: there should be portions of grains (typically rice and noodles), meat, and fruits and veggies, even oils.

A particularly hard part of introducing a healthy meal would be making the kids eat vegetables. Studies show that the habit is best learned by example, but because parents will not be in school to personally show the kids that greens are fun to eat, the key is to cook them in a child-friendly way, say, by cleverly pairing them with a siding or sauce that they already love. Examples would be boiled beans dipped in mayonnaise, tofu cubes rolled alongside ground beef in a tortilla wrap, or mushrooms slathered in cheese.

Make food interesting and colorful. The same way kids like their clothes, their toys, and their surroundings bursting with colors, kids will be more inclined to finish what’s on their plate if it looked enticing because of the different colors.

Plating is important to capture their imagination. Some of the garnishing items that also bring nutrients to the dish are carrots, cucumber, red or green bell peppers, celery, and pineapples. Make sure your pantry is well-stocked with these fruits and veggies to instantly bring color to your kid’s lunch!

Make a meal plan. Prepare ingredients early to save time without sacrificing the flavor and nutritional value of your meals. Have food staples, like chicken and vegetables, which you can use for multiple tasty meals. Make a weekly menu of packed lunches and prepare the ingredients and cooking necessities in advance.

Kids’ school lunches are best cooked using a reliable source of fuel. For safe and efficient cooking, use Solane LPG, a brand known for its mark of safety and quality.

Order your Solane LPG tank today by calling Solane’s Hatid Bahay hotline number 887-5555 or visiting www.solane.com.ph.