Easy to Make, Exciting to Eat School Lunches
For many families, "Back to School" means back to packing lunches. Though parents have had a summer-long vacation from sorting through the Tupperware containers to find matching tops, and kids have had a break from that same ole turkey sandwich and chips, the idea of packing lunches (and eating them) still leaves much to be desired.
This morning on ABC's Local Memphis Live, I shared some of my favorite tips for serving up creative, nourishing lunches that are easy to make and exciting to eat. The best part: Though I might pack these lunches for my little boy, you don't have to be a pro to make lunches children will love! Here's a clip of the Local Memphis Live segment (and a recap below) in case you missed it...
I packed up all of these lunches in Easy Lunchboxes...order some here and save yourself the nightmare of sorting through tons of tiny plastic containers...with the 3 compartment, single-lid lunchbox, packing lunches is that much faster (who doesn't love that?)!
Peanut Butter & Banana "Sushi" Served with Greek Yogurt and Raw Veggies
For the "sushi," take a whole wheat tortilla and spread a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter* over the entire tortilla. Place a whole, peeled banana close to the edge of the tortilla and roll. [Sidenote: This would be such an easy way to get your children involved in packing their own lunches!] Once the banana is all wrapped up, use a serrated knife to slice into 1 - 1.5 inch pieces.
*Many children (including my son) have peanut allergies, and schools are not allowing peanuts or peanut butter in school lunches. If this is the case for your child, no problem! Sunbutter made from sunflower seeds is a nice alternative...it's still creamy and delicious like peanut butter...no Epipen needed!
Caprese Skewers Served with Sliced Apples and a Hardboiled Egg
To make the caprese skewers, roll up a slice of turkey and cut it into bite-sized pieces. On a 6-inch skewer*, place a small ball of fresh mozzarella, 1 basil leaf, 1 grape or cherry tomato, and 1 piece of the turkey. Repeat if you have room.
*Worried about sending your little one to school with a sharp, pointy object? Me too. Instead of using wooden skewers, try cocktail stirrers (which come in a variety of bright, glittery colors kids will love), skinny straws, or small popsicle sticks.
Greek Pita Pockets with Orange Slices and Cashews/Dark Chocolate Trail Mix
These Greek pita pockets provide a way to use leftovers in a way that tastes new and different. Take a whole wheat pita pocket and spread hummus all over the inside of the pocket. Next, sprinkle the inside with feta cheese. Add a few cucumber slices, shredded carrots, or raw veggies of your child's choice along with bite-sized pieces of last night's chicken, pork, or beef. Better yet, go ahead and pack this lunch before you clean up dinner so it's ready to go for the next morning.
Bonus Tip!
Do you have leftovers that wouldn't be appetizing in a pita but would be excellent simply rewarmed? Did you know thermoses are good for more than just soups and hot chocolate? I didn't either until recently! Here's what you'll need to do:
Take a small thermos and fill it up with hot water for about 5 minutes while you're making your breakfast.
Then, heat up the leftovers you need for lunch that day until they are piping hot.
Pour the water out of the thermos, add your leftovers, and screw the top back on tightly.
When lunchtime comes, no microwave needed...just a fork or spoon!
Remember: You don't have to be a pro to pack an awesome lunch...Guess what? You also don't have to be a child to enjoy one of these balanced and "non-boring" lunches. Go ahead and get 2 of those Easy Lunchboxes out of the cabinet! One for your little one, and one for you! Enjoy!
