BACK TO SCHOOL LUNCH SPECIAL!
Back to school season is upon us! It's the perfect time to refresh your lunchbox routine with some exciting and nutritious ideas. Easy-to-make wraps, DIY lunchables, and dippable snacks can turn lunchtime into a delicious and healthy adventure.
Here are some fun ideas for those days when you have a few more minutes to prep lunch for your kids!
BUST OUT A COOKIE CUTTER
Root around where you keep your baking supplies & find a cookie cutter. Use it to cut out a fun-shaped sandwich, quesadilla, pita bread, whatever! This is a great idea especially for kiddos who still don’t enjoy bread crusts and can make even a PB&J a little more special.
ROLL IT UP
Even for grown ups, a wrap for lunch can feel so sophisticated. Combine your kids’ favorite sandwich ingredients on a tortilla or pita bread, roll it up, slice it in half and call it a day. You could also alternate a few pieces of rolled up lunch meat & cubed cheese on a skewer — add a gherkin pickle or olive if your kid is into it. For a sweet rolled up treat, slather hazelnut spread on a tortilla, put a banana on top, roll it and slice it into bite-sized pieces. YUM!
CRUNCH INTO A RICE CAKE
Ever had a crazy morning & when you reach into the pantry to start making lunchboxes, you realize you’re out of bread for sandwiches? FML. Keep rice cakes on hand! Spread on some peanut/almond/cashew butter and top with jelly, banana, sliced apple, raisins, sprinkles — the possibilities are endless. Rice cake bonus: they last longer than bread in the pantry and also double as a healthy to-go breakfast option for you.
Another fridge staple: DIPS! Hummus, ranch, buffalo sauce, pasta sauce, salsa, cream cheese, yogurt, guacamole, or anything else your kiddo loves. Dish into a container, add sliced veggies, fruit, crackers, or chips and voila!
THE BEAUTY OF A BENTO BOX
Remember your first lunchbox? It was probably plastic with a cool cover (mine featured The California Raisins band) and a thermos whose smell never really faded no matter how many times it was washed. Thankfully lunchboxes have come a long way since the 1980s. A bento-style lunchbox is a terrific idea: separate compartments for each item (great for kids who are grossed out if their food “touches each other”); it cuts down on plastic sandwich baggie and foil waste; plus you can just toss it into the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
ADD A SWEET NOTE
This is a super quick thing you can do on days when your kiddo has a big test or stress-inducing activity on the docket: scribble a sweet note & stick it in their lunchbox, or write it directly on their lunch sack. A little “you got this” goes a long way!
Shop I LOVE YOU or GOOD JOB notes here!