Liven Up the LunchBox

Are your kids getting tired of same old lunchbox contents? Do you struggle with providing easy but healthy lunch choices? I have put together a list of new ideas to give a try. I have also included some nut-free alternatives, for children that attend schools with nut-free policies.  

Creativity is Key

1. Carrot Salad Sandwich – it gives them the crunchy they love, and vitamins they need. Simply combine 3 cups grated carrots with 3 tbsp dried fruit (raisins or cranberries are good), 3 tbsp red wine vinegar and 5 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Then put it all on whole grain bread. This is a great lunchbox treat, because it will keep well, without refrigeration.
2. Cornbread surprise – using your favorite corn bread recipe, add ½ cup each:  shredded zucchini, shredded cheese and corn kernels. Make muffins as directed, adding a minute or two.
3. Turn their favorite sandwich into a wrap. Spread cream cheese on a tortilla, layer with lunch meat, cheese, lettuce/spinach, and other toppings they love, roll it up like a burrito, and cut at an angle.
4. Liven up the veggie options. Don’t just send baby carrots; include some cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, celery sticks, snap peas, and/or broccoli or cauliflower.
5. Most kids don’t mind eating stuff cold. Especially things like mac and cheese. So just make a little bit extra of what you made for dinner and send it with lunch. Or bake up some chicken nuggets and put then in a baggie after they cool.

Let Them Get Involved

1. Make your own trail mix. If you child doesn’t like some of the more traditional ingredients, or can’t have the nuts, make your own. Find a local store with bulk bins, and let your child pick a few things. Some ideas: dried fruit bits of any kind, sunflower seeds (just the seed, no shells), candy-coated chocolate pieces or chocolate chips, small pretzels, goldfish, corn nuts (these are not nuts at all, but dried corn).
2. Spicy up the faves. Add some tomato or ham to a grilled cheese sandwich. Instead of a grilled cheese, make a quesadilla (again, most kids don’t mild eating these things cold). Quick Tip on sending cooked food: let them cool completely before sealing them, this will prevent sogginess. Try fresh spinach or sprouts instead of lettuce.
3. If your child loves cereal, send a baggie of it with lunch, it’s a great alternative to greasy chips.
4. Change up the flavors of drink. Send a bottle of water with a mix in so that they can make it themselves. Send a can of apple juice instead of a juice bag. Or maybe send a can of veggie juice instead of fruit.
5. On a weekend, make some interesting cookie creations with your child – like oatmeal chocoalate chip or seven grain cookies. Making them together will make them more fun to eat.

A few important things to remember:  healthy doesn’t have to be boring, try not to pack the same exact thing more than two days a week (just rotating can make it easier on the kid), and there should be some sort of “treat”, whatever that means for your family.