LUNCH TIME!
I'm fortunate my children like to eat almost all types of food; it's not lost on me that many children are picky, which makes life for parents really challenging. Our issue with school lunches is that my kids want something different EVERY DAY. After some research, and reading an awesome cookbook called Weelicious Lunches, I discovered Planet Box, which really was life-changing. They are definitely expensive as far as lunch boxes go, but they are so durable. We have had one of ours for 4 years and the other for 3 years, and they are still going strong...worth the initial investment. It also comes with containers for dip and a main, like pasta or yogurt. The biggest plus...no more scrambling to find matching plastic containers and tops at 7 AM! (Truth be told, I make most lunches the night before and heat anything that should be warmed to make mornings run more smoothly, as if there is such thing!)
Here's what goes in each section of the PlanetBox:
Fruit (probably the easiest part)
Veggie (with Ranch or Hummus...usually the only way my kids will eat the veggies)
Main (the hard part)
Dessert (It's all about balance!)
Mains:
Anything in a tortilla that resembles a quesadilla, but not necessarily pressed:
Ham or Turkey and Cheese (heated in a pan the AM)
Cheese quesadilla (heated in a pan in the AM)
Lox and Cream cheese cut into triangles (not heated)
Egg and Cheese Quesadilla (heated in a pan in the AM)
Rolled Sandwiches:
Take a rolling pin and roll a piece of bread until it is flat. Fill with peanut butter and jelly or cream cheese and jelly, or meat and cheese. Then roll it up, put in a few toothpicks to keep it together and cut it in thirds, sushi style. Lay them sideways and leave the toothpicks in.
Sandwiches cut into hearts:
I think it's safe to say most kids don't like crust. I have a heart shaped cookie cutter that perfectly cuts a sandwich into a heart shape while cutting off the crusts. There is something about bread that is shaped in a fun way that makes kids eat it. (meat *Applegate prepackaged turkey bologna is a favorite here* and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, cream cheese and jelly, lox and cream cheese, cucumbers and cream cheese)
Pretend Lunchables:
Cracker rounds (I buy Late July or Back to Nature)
Cheese
Turkey Pepperoni (Applegate makes a good one) or any other lunch meat
Homemade Hot Pockets
This is THE favorite for my girls.
Crescent Dough (I use Immaculate Brand)
Open the dough, unroll half the tube, lay down one half as a rectangle (press together the seams where you see a triangle) add ham and cheese or just cheese, put another rectangle on top, press seams together on all sides, poke the top with a fork a few times and bake in the toaster oven at 350 for 10 mins or so.
Miscellaneous
Hard boiled eggs
Yogurt with granola or dry cereal
Meatballs with sauce as a dip
Soup
Pasta Salad
Shumai (available frozen locally at Fuji Mart and Trader Joes has some as well)
English Muffin Pizza
Quiche (Locally Aux Delices Ham and Gruyere is well-loved here)
Frozen waffle (with PB and J or a side of syrup...I like 365 Brand from Whole Foods)
Frozen mini pancakes (365 Brand) and Applegate breakfast sausage
Amy's Cheese Pizza Snacks (little mini frozen pizza pockets)
Crepes (recipe from Weelicious...make on a Sunday and have them all week with different fillings)
Homemade Muffins
Mozzarella sticks-ish! (Cut a string cheese in half, wrap each half in a Wonton wrapper, spray with cooking spray and bake in the toaster oven until golden brown. Add tomato sauce for dip.)
Homemade Granola Bars (Another Weelicious Recipe, link at the bottom of the post)
Check out some of the pictures I've taken over the years!
