I've found a solution in the form of filed menu's. When I come up with a lunch box menu that the kids seem to eat at least 85% of, I write it down on an index card and file it. Those Lunchables in the supermarket are great for convenience, but they are packed with so much sodium that I try to avoid those as much as possible. These filed menu's help me avoid prepackaged lunches like Lunchables.
Here are some menu's:
Chicken salad cracker sandwiches (chicken salad b/w two crackers)
cheese sticks
cut grapes and strawberries
Peanut butter stuffed celery sticks
yogurt
cereal snack mix (mix 2 or 3 different kinds of dry cereal with raisins, small marshmallows, and craisins)
Rolled sliced low-fat ham
cheese squares
round crackers
box of raisins
rolled ham
a combination of 2 or 3 of the following: carrot sticks, celery sticks, cauliflower, broccoli, sugar snap peas, or grape tomatoes
dressing for dip
Tuna salad stuffed cherry tomatoes
cream cheese stuffed celery sticks
fruit salad Jell-O
ham-n-cheese mini-sub (sandwich on a hot dog bun)
goldfish and pretzels
fruit roll-ups
wrapped sandwiches
shredded salad (shredded lettuce, carrots, radishes, purple cabbage and diced celery and cucumber, with just enough favorite salad dressing to stir & coat)
grapes
egg salad pita's
pretzel sticks in cheese cubes
sliced kiwi and strawberries
wrap a slice of turkey or ham around a cheese stick
yogurt
wheat crackers
craisins
Cold pasta salad with chicken chunks
cheese panini
honeydew chunks
Always include a note for your child. My teenage children still love these notes. It makes them feel special and lets them know that I'm thinking of them.
Be sure to include a frozen ice pack to help keep things cold. If silverware is needed include that and make sure it's labled with a name so it comes back home.
Stop by the forum and share your lunch box idea's!
Be sure to check out these articles:
Back To School Tips & Tricks
Free Recipes Magazine
