Don't worry, mammas, this isn't an article about how to craft Cinderella's Castle out of cellery sticks and cream cheese icing. I am all about making meals that are appealing and inviting to kids, but you won't find any dino shapes or food mosaics in my kids' lunchbox. I'm a busy mom. With 2 kids and 2 home based businesses to run, I don't have time for fairytale lunches. I'm guessing you don't either.
That being said, it IS important to me that my child has nutritious food for lunch that she is actually going to eat. The lunchbox presents a lot of challenges: keeping hot food hot and cold food cold, for starters. Allergies are a big concern in schools, and most if not all of the area schools are now nut free, so you have to be careful what you send with your child. This week I have scoured the web looking for inspiration and ideas for the lunchbox, and I am bringing my favorites to you!
My favorite ideas mostly provided the building blocks for kids to create their own culinary masterpiece, right at the lunch table. Dips, pastas and skewers are all great ways to let them nibble away at this and that, and they are also easier to keep fresh without a fridge nearby. Kids as young as kindergarten can easily spoon a dip into a container, and pack fruits and veggies for their own lunch. Encourage this independence. It saves you time, and it also gives picky eaters a sense of control.
Dipping is a great way to get kids to nibble away at fruits and veggies at the lunch table, so try a variety of things to keep your choices from getting boring. What is nice about this is that it can be eaten cold, so as long as you toss a freezer pack into the lunchbox you should be in good shape. Just remember to put any chips, breadsticks, etc in an airtight container so they don't get soggy!
Next up are pasta mixers. These are a great option because kids can customize their toppings, and you can keep things interesting by using a variety of shapes and colors in the pasta. Cook what you need to avoid waste, or plan ahead by setting aside a little cooked pasta from dinner the night before. I recommend serving it cold, with marinara sauce to dip and letting the kids add their own cheese, meatballs, and/or veggies at school.
My favorite lunchbox meal is the simple skewer. Think of this as a kiddie kabob- use inexpensive bamboo skewers for grilling, and stack your toppings. Cut them in half so they fit easily in your container, and make sure to snip off the pointy end when you're finished. What I love about this is the fact that you can use your leftover grilled/baked chicken, ham or beef on the skewers, and just add your proteins and veggies like cheese cubes, boiled egg white slices, grape tomatoes and carrot cubes. They look pretty, and kids think it's fun to take apart while they eat. Pair it with a dipping sauce and a friut for a complete meal.
We can't forget our soups, stews, and casseroles. Later in the year, when the weather turns colder, we will start thinking more about hot, creamy comfort foods to fill up their little tummys. Items like tomato soup, macaroni and cheese, and chili are perfect for cool weather. To keep these items hot in the lunchbox, preheat a metallic thermos by filling it with boiling water for about 5- 10 minutes. Before you leave the house, drain the thermos and add your hot meal, then add it to the insulated lunchbox. This works best if you have an insulated lunchbox with separate compartments for hot and cold foods, or an exterior pocket for the drinks.
Last but not least, it's nice to leave your little one a note. I'm not saying it needs to be a craft-tastic masterpice, or that you even need to do this daily. But, just like we sometimes need words of encouragement throughout the day, our kids will appreciate a little reminder that they are loved and cared for.
Happy Lunching, y'all!
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