With the excitement of back to school also comes the inevitable (and sometimes dreaded) routine of preparing school lunches. Catherine McCord dishes up her favorite (and easy) recipes that will make your child the talk of the cafeteria.
I calculate that each of my children will need approximately 200 packed lunches over the next school year. How do I make it tasty, nutritious and exciting for my kids, while keeping it quick and painless for me? Here are a few tips I follow that will hopefully help you too:
- Focus on packing a fruit, vegetable, protein and carbohydrate in each meal. This may seem daunting at first, but it’s actually easier than you think. It’s as simple as an apple, a bagel with cream cheese, and a handful of sugar snap peas.
- Kids use all their senses when it comes to food, so shape and color can be just as important as taste and smell. Cutting foods into coins, sticks or other shapes can make food exciting for even the pickiest eater.
- Switch it up! I know it’s easy to toss the same ole’ PB&J in a brown bag, but if you want your kid to be a good eater, it’s important to vary their lunch and snack selections.
- Freeze everything! Any time you make muffins, cookies or have leftover bread, pop it in the freezer. This way you can pull one or two out when you’re strapped for time.
Now that you have the guidelines for the perfect, packed lunch, here are four weelicious favorites that are simple, fast and cost effective!
Lunch #1: Banana Dog Bites, celery with Ranch Dip, cubed mango and Graham Crackers.
Lunch #2: Egg Pesto Melt (my son’s favorite), orange slices, edamame and Chocolate Chip Granola Bars.
Lunch #3: Grilled Cheese and Pickle Panini, blueberries, Roasted Carrot Coins and Fruit and Seed Bars.
Lunch #4: Greek Israelli Couscous Salad, strawberries, sliced red bell peppers and a Carrot, Apple and Coconut Muffins.
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