school lunches don't have to be boring

[Yvonne Belisle]

You can spruce up school lunches and make them special. If they have access to a microwave at school or work that opens up a whole new areana of possibilities.

When making sandwiches with mayonaise it helps to put the mayonaise in a square of plastic wrap to keep the sandwich fresher. Just put your mayonaise in and twist it shut. Watch yard sales and thrift shops for small plastic lidded containers. Then you can put salad dressing in one of those. You can make your own lunchables too! Just cut your cheese and meat to cracker size place in a divided container with a lid and presto instant lunchable. Anything you would consider for a picnic can make a great boxed lunch. Cold fried chicken, potato salad and cole slaw tend to bring back thoughts of summer in the middle of winter.

Whatever you chose to make don't forget the little things like notes that say I love you or notes that say I am thinking of you. Surprises like that can really pick someone's day up :)

[MammaStar]

My son loves yougurt. Especially the Dannon Lite & Fit kind. I bought one of the "reusable" ice packs for his lunch bag. (actually 3 cause sometimes he forgets to put it back in the freezer).

He likes it because it keeps everything cold and he doesn't have to drink "warm juice" either.

[Melysande]

My mother used to make me the most amazing sandwiches. Lettuce, tomato, pickle, and luncheon meat, with Italian dressing in a little tiny tupperware medicine cup with a lid so that I could pour it on there fresh. And she made me soup to take in a hot food Thermos. (Always a bit messy, but tasty.) And she'd always send me to school with a good junkfood snack. Usually Cheese-Its or chips, and six cookies, or else Yodels or FunnyBones or Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes.... She'd either send milk in a Thermos or else give me Teeny drinks or bottles of Very Fine juice.

**sighs whistfully and wishes she were little again just so she could have recess and nap time**

[reanna]

Some other interesting and inexpensive snacks for kids lunches....
(Nutritious too and the kids love em!)


Cheese cubes...
Bugs on a log! (my kids have all of their friends hooked on these now too!) I got a huge thanks from the parents in my kids classes...lol

I will mix it up a bit too. Not always peanut butter and raisins....
I have used cheese wiz and nuts(minding that no one in the class has a nut allergy)
I have also done jam(way sticky...but one of those messy faves)

Another one of my kids faves.....
Peeled,cored and sliced apples with a small container of caramel sauce on the side for dipping!

Applesause is another good one.

Granted....my kids still get to take the usual junk too.....I can't deny them....they would only eat mass quantities behind my back anyway......However...my kids are great at telling you all about eating a healthy well balanced daily food intake too! They are well trained!
I am really fortunate with them..they are not fussy. They eat every veggie there is pretty much and they love all fruit. They are more delighted with getting cut fruit or veggies in their lunch with something to dip into than getting cookies.

I also try and mix sandwiches up a bit. Pocket pita style instead of bread somedays....mini bagels on others....wraps.....and of course....the pb&j must go in there once in awhile. Meat sandwiches are bigger with my older one....the little one likes her pb&j.

I can't wait to see what other kinds of cool stuff you guys come up with. My kids will be tickled pink withnew lunch ideas.!!
hugs.
reanna

[)O( ~ Khara~ )O(]

My boys are HUGE sub fans, so I will buy the soft Chicago rolls and make them mini subs for lunch. Another favorite of theirs is vegetable cream cheese and turkey sandwiches. I add my own vegetables to light cream cheese with a shake of garlic. The small pumpernickel bread, about 2"x2" made for appetizers is always a hit. They can take 3 or 4 sandwiches that way! For drinks since they have afterschool sports, I will buy the juice in the bags or capri-suns and freeze one, serves a dual purpose, keeps lunch cold and they have a cold drink during soccer. I started making my own trail mix, they are not big raisin fans, so we do the cranberry, date, cherry dried fruit with mixed nuts and honeynut cheerios. I'm sorry I tend to ramble, I'm a big lunch variety fan, especially since the school serves pizza and cheeseburgers almost every day!! The real secret is the Hershey's hugs and kisses. They each get 2 hugs and a kiss every day.... the candy too...... LOL

[reanna]

Originally posted by )O( ~ Khara~ )O(
My boys are HUGE sub fans, so I will buy the soft Chicago rolls and make them mini subs for lunch. Another favorite of theirs is vegetable cream cheese and turkey sandwiches. I add my own vegetables to light cream cheese with a shake of garlic. The small pumpernickel bread, about 2"x2" made for appetizers is always a hit. They can take 3 or 4 sandwiches that way! For drinks since they have afterschool sports, I will buy the juice in the bags or capri-suns and freeze one, serves a dual purpose, keeps lunch cold and they have a cold drink during soccer. I started making my own trail mix, they are not big raisin fans, so we do the cranberry, date, cherry dried fruit with mixed nuts and honeynut cheerios. I'm sorry I tend to ramble, I'm a big lunch variety fan, especially since the school serves pizza and cheeseburgers almost every day!! The real secret is the Hershey's hugs and kisses. They each get 2 hugs and a kiss every day.... the candy too...... LOL


Ummmm.........Nummy!! How hard is it to make your own trail mix?? I have never thought of that! My kids love all of that munchie stuff........nuts&bolts and trail mixes etc....I never thought of making them myself. Any helpful advice or recipes(hint...hint....;) )are greatly appreciated!!!

As for the subs...my kids are hot for those too!! The pumpernickel sounds great and I will have to try the veggie creamcheese and turkey!! Dang....now I am drooling all over the computer.......

Great ideas guys!! Let's keep em coming!

hugs.......
reanna

[Yvonne Belisle]

Trail mix is an easy one. It is pretty much just something you toss in a big bag and shake. You may want to try the following

Granola bits
Raisons
Coconut
Dried apricots
Almonds

You can toss in what you like the most if you like one heavy on the dried fruit add more variety like pears and apples or pineapple. If you like it heavy on the nuts add more types there. You can vary types of raisons too golden will give you a sweeter taste. Trail mix is really versitile. You can even toss in pretzles. :)

[)O( ~ Khara~ )O(]

ok here's mine for trail mix mine are raisin and coconut haters, I make a lot at a time so cut down as needed.....

2 cups dried cherries - 1 - 16 oz bag
2 cups dried cranberries
2 cups dates - chunks
1 medium jar mixed nuts
3 cups honey nut cherrios...

Now for something new I just tried and the kids finished it between yesterday and today...........

1 medium bag BAKED tortilla chips
1 small bag pretzel sticks
1 regular box crispix
1 medium jar mixed nuts
mix all together well and put 1/3 in a oven proof pan.
1 stick butter or margarine melted mixed with 1 package taco seasoning. Drizzle over mixture mixing well. Bake for 20 minutes at 300. Lay out to dry and crispen. Continue with remainder.

makes a GREAT taco mix and the kids loved it!!!

I also make my own humus which my kids LOVE too for a dip!

1 can garbanzo beans - totally mushed in food processor
add in 1 tblsp olive oil
3 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
mix together well.

I give the boys whole wheat crackers and boiled ham or turkey with this as a dip and they love it! You can add any spices you would like, celery seed, sesame seeds etc.....

[reanna]

Thanks for sharing those with me guys!! I am going to make it with the kids over this weekend.

Hugs...
reanna

[wyshbringer]

For daycare I make heart sandwiches. I take a heart shaped cookie cutter (or any shape you want) and cut out the bread. Then I usually put PB & J on them and pack it up. She loves getting the different shapes and telling her friends what shapes they are.

Wyshbringer

[Yvonne Belisle]

Don't forget to save the bread bits for a treat. Make bread pudding it is really good.


Bread Pudding

6 slices bread, soaked in the milk
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 can water
3 eggs, beaten well
2 c. sugar
1 stick oleo
1 (4 serving size) box instant vanilla pudding


Beat all ingredients well. Cook at 350 degrees until light brown. Serve with whipped cream.


Bread Pudding

Prep time: 25 minutes
Baking time: 35 to 40 minute

[Yvonne Belisle]

Bump