This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Boar’s Head. All opinions are 100% mine.
When I was in middle and high school, I made my own lunches out of necessity. My mom was a single mother who needed the extra time to get ready for work, and I was an enormously picky eater who needed complete control over what went into my lunch.
Fast-forward 30 years, now I have a middle-schooler who is every bit as picky an eater as I ever was! Yet, here I am, still making all of his lunches for him…and finding out later that he didn’t even eat half of it! Lately, I’ve been showing him how to prepare his own food. I’m still not ready to let him cook on the stove, but he can definitely put together things that don’t require electricity! I mean, if the kid can troubleshoot problems with our Wi-Fi, he can make himself a sandwich!
One thing I’ve noticed since he started making his own breakfast and lunch: he eats a lot better. I’ve also noticed some other benefits, which we’ll talk about below. Don’t miss my easy Picky Eater’s recipe! It’s made with Boar’s Head Meats and Cheeses, so you know it’s going to taste great!
Benefits of Letting Kids Make Their Own Lunches
1. Gives them a sense of control
From toddlers to teens, all kids crave a stronger sense of control over their lives. Think about it: parents make nearly every decision for their children, from what they can wear to when they’re allowed to watch TV. We do it because we want to make sure our kids are safe and healthy, but it’s still hard on them. 
Letting your kids make their own lunches tells them that you trust them enough to decide what to eat. Of course, you’ll still be able to offer guidance! Keeping your fridge stocked with high-quality deli meats and cheeses from Boar’s Head is a good place to start. You can also set ground rules. For example, they can have one cookie for dessert, not five for their actual lunch!
2. They’ll actually eat the lunch, instead of tossing or trading it!
I don’t even want to think about how much money went into the school cafeteria’s garbage can because I gave my son things he didn’t want. Even if I gave him something he liked, some days he just wasn’t in the mood for it. We all have different food moods, and while you think that turkey and Swiss sandwich you made is the perfect lunch, your kid may be in the mood for ham and cheddar instead. By letting them make their own lunches, they can create the perfect meal based on their mood that day.
3. Boosts their self-confidence
I have a confession: while I’ve never been a helicopter parent, I’ve always been an “I’ll do it for you” type of mom. Even when it comes to simple things, like getting a glass of milk, I always did everything for my son. I did it out of love, but at some point, I realized that it was actually more damaging than helpful. My son didn’t get to experience the simple joys and confidence boost of doing something on his own. I was taking that away from him without even knowing it.
When my son started making his own simple meals, I noticed that he had more confidence in his abilities to do other things. It sounds funny, that making a sandwich could have such an impact, but it really does!
4. Teaches them valuable life skills
Knowing how to put together a few healthy meals, even if they are just sandwiches, is an incredibly important life skill. We all need to eat, right? While my son will eventually learn more in-depth recipes, for now I want to know that he can feed himself if I’m ever unable to do so. He’s old enough to stay home alone now, and if I need to go out for the day, I’d like to know that he isn’t sitting at home eating cookies and cakes all day long!
5. Makes mornings easier for all of you!
Let’s be honest here: the biggest benefit to letting your kids make their own lunches is the amount of time it will save YOU! While you should still supervise, it’s easier to multitask and get everyone out the door when you’re not trying to make multiple lunches to appease multiple tastes. Even if you have an only child like I do, not having to go back and forth over whether he wants bologna or ham, cheddar or Swiss, bread or crackers saves you a lot more time than you might think it would!
Now that we know the reasons why we should be letting our kids make their own lunches, check out one of Jake’s favorite meals to put together! It’s absolutely perfect for picky eaters!
Easy Picky Eater Wrap Recipe
I’m calling this the picky eater wrap because it’s simple and relatively plain, making it perfect for kids who really don’t like a lot of condiments or veggies on their sandwich. While Jake loves certain veggies on their own, he won’t even so much as look at a sandwich with a pickle or lettuce on it!
Ingredients: (Makes one wrap)
- 1 slice Boar’s Head Bologna
- 1 slice Boar’s Head Salami
- 1 slice Boar’s Head American Cheese
- Small flour tortilla wraps
- Optional: cucumbers, carrots, Ranch dressing
- Optional: fruit for dessert
How to make it: It doesn’t really get any easier than this!
- Just layer your Boar’s Head Deli Meats and cheese in the middle of the wrap, then roll it up! Cut it in half and secure shut with a cute toothpick.
- For sides, add some sliced cucumbers (ours are fresh from our garden!), carrots, and ranch dressing. The dressing is also perfect for dipping the wrap into.
- We also added some watermelon for dessert.
Don’t let the “plain-ness” of the wrap fool you! It’s made with Boar’s Head Meats and Cheese, so even without condiments it’s full of delicious flavor!
Why Boar’s Head?
Why do we use Boar’s Head in our easy back to school lunch recipes? Aside from the incredible taste, every Boar’s Head product is made with only the finest ingredients. The company has a long history of creating high-quality products, dating all the way back to 1905! It’s definitely a brand that we parents can really trust.
Boar’s Head has all the products that my picky eater actually likes. He loves their Pork & Beef Bologna and their Genoa Salami. For parents of children with celiac disease, you’ll be happy to know that every Boar’s Head Meat, Cheese, Condiment and Spread is gluten-free. I also love that all of their products are free of trans fats from hydrogenated oils. Learn more about the Nutritional Benefits of each product here!
Boar’s Head makes letting your kids create their own school lunches easier by offering nourishing products that make easy recipes. Check out Back to School with Boar’s Head to find some fabulously unique and delicious lunch recipes!
If you need help finding the product near you, call Boar’s Head customer service at 1-800-352-6277. I buy mine from a specialty deli down the street. I love them because they still wrap the meat and cheese in butcher paper!
What are your favorite Boar’s Head products? What recipes do your kids love to make for their own lunches?
I’ve never thought to make my son a wrap for lunch. He always asks for PBJ… but he loves deli meat. So this is a great idea!! Thanks!
My two grandkids are old enough to help make their lunches as well and they do help. They will love making wraps. They look delicious.
I used to pack my kiddos lunch but he would take out only the things he really liked and then the rest he would need to. He now packs his own lunch and I am totally good with it. He eats with his lunch and he loves it. I do have to approve what is in there because I want to make sure there is something healthy.
I had a picky eater and this worked for her. I bought what she liked, but she had to choose one from each food group. Since she got to choose, she was more likely to eat it.
Wraps are a great lunch item. So many thing to add to them. We always add lettuce as well for them to use.
I do love Boars Head salami. Learning to prepare healthy food is such a vital skill. Drive thru and takeout vs. basic cooking skills. I’ll take basic cooking skills.
This wrap look so yummy. When my son was younger. I would have encourage him to make his own lunches.
I like their products. My daughter is helping make her own lunches. My boys will hopefully start helping this year with theirs.
I wish I could get my son and daughter to make their own lunches. I just don’t have the heart to add another chore for them, they put so much effort into schoolwork
My kids like eating roll ups like that too. It’s an easy lunch too!
Yum, we’ve always liked these rolls. I’ve put them in lunches before. My kids are older and they can make their own lunches. I usually “help” because they’d probably just pack cookies.
My daughter makes her own lunch every day and it really helps with her picky eating! She packed it, so she better eat it!
I think it adds to being responsible and independent. It’s really important that we let them make their own lunches when they’re old enough.
I think that letting picky kids make their own school lunch is so important. They like feeling in control of it.
What a great idea. i have a few picky eaters in my house and we always let them help out with the lunches!
I think it can definitely be a good life skill. I have mine help, but not do it all entirely themselves, or my kids would take like 6 slices of cheese and all the deli meat in one service. My kids don’t quite grasp portions yet. But having them help pack their meals and decide what they want to eat, definitely helps give them choices.
I think this is a really cute concept. As long as you are there to help them out!
This is such a great idea and absolutely something my kids would love to take for lunch!
My daughter makes her lunch a lot. She loves having the control of getting to pick her own lunch and I love seeing her so happy.
Such a great idea and a yummy lunch that is easy to make
My nephew loves to make his own lunch the night before. He eats pretty healthy too.
What a great idea going to give this idea to my sister for my niece!
Heck, I’d make that wrap for myself. I think letting kids make their own lunch is a good idea. Just make sure they know it can’t just be candy, lol.
I love wraps and love to make them with lots of fresh veggies. spinach,mushrooms and red peppers.
so healthy to eat
Great idea! Thanks for posting this wonderful article.