Make lunch time fun with these fabulous sack lunch ideas! No more full lunch boxes coming home, no more complaints.
Get that kid to eat! No more lunch boxes coming home full, no more complaints. Make lunch time fun. The key to successful lunches is thinking outside the box - the lunch box that is. We serve what we grew up on - PB & J, white bread, an apple"¦yawn. Look around your kitchen, what do you see? Food, right? But not necessarily food you would put in a lunchbox - or is it?
Start with some basic equipment.
Paper bags just don't cut it anymore for lunch. A hard sided box may be better for younger children in preschool through second grade. It will take a lot of abuse, won't open unexpectedly and lunch won't get crushed. For older children consider a thermal sack or soft sided box. Many have sections for sandwiches and drink containers with exterior pockets for lunch money or wipes. Some even hook onto knapsacks.
Purchase some plastic containers in a variety of sizes. Get one or two each of sandwich sized, small round containers for salads, tiny containers for dips and sauces. These will give you flexibility when packing a variety of things for lunch. A box of plastic spoons and forks will end the hassle of lost silverware.
Once the bag is chosen - how to fill it? Let's start with sandwiches.
Bread doesn't have to be white. Try flat bread, focaccia or tortillas. Even PB & J is interesting when spread on cinnamon swirl or chocolate chip bread. Melt some cheese on a tortilla and roll it up for a vertical sandwich. Experiment with coldcuts, many of which have healthy turkey or low-salt alternatives. Tuna, chicken or egg salads will stay cool in a thermal bag, just go easy on the mayonnaise so the sandwich isn't soggy by noon. Put a salad of grated carrots, diced apple and raisins in a pita with ranch dressing on the side.
But don't get stuck on sandwiches.
Many of the food your child enjoys at home can be packed for lunch. Wrap cold pizza slices in tin foil. Chicken nuggets or fish sticks can be put in plastic containers with dipping sauces on the side. Fried chicken can be packed with plenty of wipes. Fried rice, Asian noodles, anything you child enjoys can be put into small containers for a special treat. Purchase a wide mouthed thermos and give your child soup or stew on a cold day.
Have fun!
Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches.
Use some of the colored plastic wraps now available to liven up the lunchbox.
Splurge on fruit rollups or mini candies as a lunchtime surprise.
Add a personal note or stickers.
Some other tips -
Freeze five juice boxes every Sunday night. The frozen boxes keep yogurt or pudding cold and will be refreshing at lunchtime. (Try this out ahead of time - some thermal bags are so effective that your child might still have a solid box at lunch.)
