Pack Up Some Love!

It’s that time of year again…Back to School!
For many, we get back into the same routine as the last school year.
For some it is a time of firsts, little ones going to off kindergarten or first grade. Tweens and teens headed off to the middle or high school…man, the years sure do fly by!
It's a time of getting the kids to bed on time, get them up on time, homework, activities, play dates with new friends and more.

One area that always seems to be a challenge is the Lunch Box!
We are packing the all important lunch...We want our children to eat it, we want it to be somewhat healthy, we want it to be fun and we want it to carry our love with them to school.
Plus we want our children to enjoy their lunch, not be bored by it...right!

Raise you hand if you have searched lunch box ideas lately…

Yes, its time. Whether you are happy or sad to put the kids on the bus you need to think about what to put in those lunch boxes.

Have you tried:

Make your own pizza: a little container of tomato sauce, some shredded cheese, cut up veggies and a tortilla – you can even cut the tortilla into “pizza triangles” and they can make a slice at a time.

Hummus spread on crackers: have your kids help make their favorite type of hummus the night before. Not only will they enjoy it but they can tell their friends they made it!

Pasta salad or a chef salad with chicken or tuna or whatever was leftover from dinner- you know the deal! Dressing in a small container on the side.

Seashell Sandwiches from our cookbook for kids Picture Me Cooking: This one always gets the kids chattering at the lunch table… large pasta shells (cooked and cooled) stuffed with anything your kids may like: tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad, chopped salad, etc. They get to eat the bowl!

Couscous Salad: Make boxed couscous according to package directions (Near East Brand is awesome and literally takes 5 minutes to make) cool, then add in veggies to your kids like and or some chopped chicken.


Bruschetta: Pack up some chopped tomatoes or fresh salsa in a small container and some toasted French bread slices in a baggie. Pack a spoon for spreading.

Quesadillas: Place cheese, shredded chicken, lettuce, a little salsa on a tortilla, top it with another tortilla, warm in over until all melted and then cut into triangles.

Food on a stick: Fun up your child's lunch by sending in some cute plastic toothpicks or mini two pronged forks to spear chunks of cut of fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, strawberries, blueberries and more.
Foe a main dish, cut up chunks of a mozzarella stick and thread onto toothpicks, alternating with grape tomato halves...a mini caprese salad on a stick!

Kids love dip...so slice up some veggies and put them in a baggie alongside a small container of veggie or ranch dip. Slice up some apples tossed in a bit of lemon juice or strawberries and pack up some of our fruit dip.



Breakfast for Lunch: Pack slices of French toast and a small container of syrup or powdered sugar...that is a surprise!

We can have so much fun coming up with ideas....plan it out and get your kids involved too. Bet they would enjoy prepping and or planning their weeks worth of lunches! When all else fails...once or twice a month give them the $3.50 and let them choose what to have from the cafeteria - bet in the end they enjoy what comes from home instead!

What are your tips and trick to make your kids lunch a success?

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