Pack Some Fun Into School Lunches
If you’re tired of your kid’s lunch box coming home containing most of what you packed that morning, or full of empty wrappers from someone else’s home, try something new. Themes are a great way to get your kids excited about lunch and to help little ones practice what they’re learning in school. Letter sounds and rhymes are a great place to start, and you can branch out from there based on your child’s curriculum. If this sounds too “Pinteresty” for you, don’t worry – the Rhyme Lunch is so easy that even small children can make it (with a little help on the knife work). Here are two fun and well-balanced options to help you get started.
Same Letter Lunch: Moth, Macy, and Monster
Moth Sandwich Bag
Ingredients: 2 pipe cleaners, 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup cherry tomatoes.
How to make: Place cherry tomatoes (keep 2 aside for the sandwich) on one side of a sandwich baggie and the strawberries (keep 2 aside for the kabob) on the other. Twist a pipe cleaner around the middle of the sandwich baggie, separating the cherry tomatoes and the strawberries. Feed another pipe cleaner through the top of the first pipe cleaner until there is an equal amount on each side. Twist it into the shape of antennas, and pull the baggie until it is a moth shape.
MACY Fruit Kabob
Ingredients: 1 wooden skewer, apple or cantaloupe, watermelon, 2 grapes, 2 strawberries.
How to make: Cut the letters of your child’s name out of an apple (cantaloupe is another option that will work). Squeeze lemon juice on the apple so it doesn’t brown. Cut the watermelon into bite-size pieces and cut the tops off the strawberries. Place one grape, then one watermelon, then one strawberry, then the letters of the name in reverse order, then the other strawberry, then the other watermelon, then the other grape.
Monster Sandwich
Ingredients: 2 slices whole wheat bread, 2 slices sharp cheddar cheese, 2 slices turkey, 2 cherry tomatoes.
How to make: Cut the bread into circles. Cut triangles out of the edges of the cheese to make teeth. Place on the top piece of bread and try to stagger the teeth (see picture). Cut turkey slices in half. Lay three of the pieces on the bottom piece of bread. Curl up the fourth piece to make a tongue and place it in the middle, slightly extending over the edge of the bread. Put the top piece of bread with the cheese on top. Put the cherry tomatoes on toothpicks and stick them through the sandwich as eyes (you can also use green olives instead).
Rhyme Lunch: Troll, Sushi Roll, and Goal
Veggie and Cheese Wrap Troll
Ingredients: 1⁄2 whole wheat tortilla, 1 slice sharp cheddar cheese, 2 medium carrots sliced, 2 lettuce leafs, 1 cherry tomato, 1 snap pea (use hummus as glue).
How to make: On the tortilla, place one slice of cheese, the lettuce, and carrots. Add other veggies as desired and roll up. Use hummus to stick a snap pea on the front of the wrap as a mouth. Cut a cherry tomato in half and use toothpicks to stick them on as eyes and to keep the wrap closed.
Strawberry Banana Sushi Roll
Ingredients: 1 whole wheat tortilla, 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1⁄2 cup banana, 2 large strawberries, granola.
How to make: Spread the peanut butter on the tortilla. Cut the banana in half. Sprinkle a small amount of granola in the middle of the banana. Lay the banana along one edge of the tortilla and roll it up. Cut into five or six sushi pieces. Cut strawberries into thirds. Stick one strawberry section into the middle of each roll. Sprinkle granola along the top.
Soccer Goal
Ingredients: 1 mozzarella string cheese
How to make: Unstring one mozzarella string cheese and lay it out in the shape of a soccer goal net. Make a soccer ball out of paper to send a fun note along in your child’s lunch.
Remember! Most kids need to eat a 1600-calorie diet (and that only goes up as they grow!), which breaks down to 1½ cups of fruit, 2 cups of veggies, 5 ounces of protein, 3 cups of dairy, and 5 ounces of grains. You can go to https://www.choosemyplate.gov/myplate-daily-checklist-input/display to figure out the correct nutritional plan for your child’s needs, and to find lots of easy ways to help your child meet those goals. If you’re ever unsure of how much food to pack, you can check out https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/foodapedia.aspx to see the nutritional value of almost anything! Happy lunching!