When kids first go back to school, or they go to school for the first time, the first few days can really be overwhelming. There's a lot for them to figure out and take in. Lunchtime can be confusing and one of the remedies that I've found is to pack lunches. The only problem is that my kids usually really like for me to pack those lunches and I quickly run out of ideas.
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
