If your toddler attends daycare or preschool, your mornings probably involve packing a lunch for them each day. And choosing what to pack can be stressful sometimes! Whether you’re looking for some nutritional guidance, trying to switch things up, or appease a picky eater, we’ve some tips to help you pack some peace of mind into your little one’s lunchbox.

What Do Toddlers Need Nutritionally?

For children ages 1–3, the calorie, protein, and micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) needs don’t change much, but things start to increase around age 4, Registered Dietitian Nicole Lattanzio, RD, CSP, IBCLC explains. For example, calcium needs increase by over 140% at age 4. Additionally, “several nutrient needs (e.g. copper, selenium, magnesium) increase by anywhere from 140-160+%.” Many water-soluble vitamin needs—like B vitamins and vitamin C—increase as well.

How to Build a Balanced Lunch

Start with what’s familiar, but don’t limit to only familiar items. Lattanzio encourages including “at least one very liked item and 1–2 liked/familiar items.” This can provide consistency, as well as excitement, for your child in a setting outside of the home. Then, she suggests packing one new/less-preferred food. While you may be dealing with a picky eater, “Daycare/preschool can be a game changer for picky eating with some kids,” explains Lattanzio. “Seeing friends eat new or different foods can provide exposure that gets your kiddo interested in trying them too.”

Keep It Fresh

While sending your little one to school with a few familiar items is a great plan, packing the same thing every day can also get boring quickly. It’s the same for adults! “Switching up even one item counts as variety,” Lattanzio says, and that can be a familiar or new item. “Let’s say your kiddo loves blueberries so you pack them a few days and send mandarins other days.” Even little changes help keep things fresh, and increase diversity in your child’s diet.

And Keep It Fun

Variety isn’t limited to the types of foods you’re serving—you can also get playful with how you serve things. Lattanzio suggests using cookie cutters to cut shapes into their foods (think veggies or sandwiches), or adding colorful food picks—you can even add sprinkles! Add in some exciting leftovers or try a fun and random meal. “Do what works for you while also keeping it interesting!” she says.

Incorporating O’Farm Products

When picky eating enters the chat, it may decrease fruit and veggie intake with a preference for snack foods. Lattanzio says that’s totally normal and “We can combat this by ensuring those snack foods are packed with nutrients!” Once Upon a Farm pouches and snacks are fun, familiar, and wholesome, making them the perfect addition to any toddler lunch.

Other Lunch Packing Tips

• Learn the rules: Many schools have restrictions on what a child can bring for lunch, including zero added sugar and no peanuts policies.
• Check on storage: Will the lunch be kept in the fridge or just in the lunchbox? Can the school warm up food or will it be served cold? These are important things to consider.
• Ask about snacks: See if your child’s school offers morning and/or afternoon snacks and check the menus to ensure they are appropriate for your little one. Depending on what you find out, you may want to include some extra snacks.