Back to School
If you have kids, back to school time can be rather frantic, to put it mildly. You have to prepare the youngsters with new clothes and school supplies, soothe younger ones about leaving the home and making friends, and, if you are feeling really ambitious, instill a sense of the importance of good behavior and academic interest at school. With all this, who has the time (and energy) to worry about school lunches? Packed lunches don't have to be another source of stress in the back to school time, and can be very beneficial for your kids. Not only do your kids get to eat what they want, comfortingly prepared by a loved one, but packed lunches can be healthier for your kids too. Recipe4Living would like to make the back to school time a little easier with some guidelines and easy recipes for packed lunches. Keep these simple suggestions in mind when preparing packed lunches for your kids.
Packed Lunches and Kids
- Variety is important to lunchtime success, but don't get carried away. Kids are probably not going to eat something that looks or tastes too unfamiliar. While you should offer foods in many colors and textures to make kids more comfortable with different foods, include at least one item you know your child enjoys, such as apple slices. You can always test new foods at home and gauge their reactions before trying to pack them for lunch.
- The best way to get kids to eat packed lunches is to involve them in the process. Make a list of favorite foods based on what your kids say, and keep those in mind when packing lunches. Or, have your kids choose from a list of choices for their weekly lunches, or plan a weekly menu together, suggesting more items as your child becomes more comfortable with different choices. Kids are more likely to eat a lunch they requested.
- Make lunchtime fun! Throw in some stickers. Use cookie cutters to make shapes with foods as such bread, cut your child's sandwich into puzzle pieces, or packs items like "ants on a log" (celery covered with peanut butter and raisins) in Tupperware. Stick Con-Tact paper into the inside of your kid's lunchbox and include a washable marker to create a dry-erase board, where you can leave a little message, begin a tic-tac-toe game, and of course create a space for doodling.
Healthy Lunches
- Instead of cookies, pack a small Tupperware of cut-up fruit such as watermelon or pear, or include a small bunch of grapes. For a sweeter, candy-like touch, try fruit leather or all-fruit fruit snacks.
- Sneak vegetables into more popular items like pita bread or chicken and stars soup. Try making vegetable "confetti" by chopping up different brightly colored vegetables like bell peppers very small.
- Make a healthy burrito by spreading mashed beans on a tortilla, topping with shredded cheese, and heating in the microwave.
- Pack bottled water or 2% milk. Dilute 100% fruit juice with equal parts of water for a healthier drink that's lighter on the sugar.
- Encourage your kids to wash their hands before lunchtime!
Lunch Ideas
Stuffed Apple- Core an apple and fill it with peanut butter and raisins for a quick and easy lunch idea.
Kids love Pizza- Use English muffin halves to create mini-pizzas or make a pita pizza by topping an un-cut pita with tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and other favorite ingredients. Microwave for a couple seconds so that the cheese melts. Try this Recipe for Inside Out Pizzas.
Pasta- Kids will enjoy a variety of pasta salads and pasta dishes you wouldn't even think to serve cold. Try cold macaroni and cheese with a little tuna.
Easy Spread- Flavored cream cheese works well on a variety of items such as bagels, Melba toast, or even celery.
Try these Other Great Recipes for Lunch
Grilled Turkey Sandwiches Tuna Wraps
Spinach Bars - Just try these cheesy squares!
Lorie's Homemade Macaroni & Cheese
Homemade Soft Pretzels Peanut Butter Pasta
