Lunch Box Lessons

With the 100th day of school fast approaching, we have successfully completed almost half of the 2008/2009 school year. Aside from this being a gentle reminder that time really does go by quickly, it also means that many mom's have made almost 100 school lunches thus far.  School lunches that are required to be abundant and healthy, sometimes litter-less and always yummy.  This is no small feat as those of who do this task each day are aware and if you're anything like me, you welcome ideas for new ways to jazz up old favourites.

The above photo is my favourite come-home-with-a-friend lunch.  We call it The Platter Special, and it's nothing more than a hodgepodge of different items that hopefully 2-4 children will enjoy.  The quick assembly of a few sandwiches, some fruits and veggies, a dip or two and possibly a small sweet make this a complete meal with little fuss from the picky eaters in the group as surely they will find something they like in the mix.

This Platter Special is made up of pesto and chicken sandwiches (recipe below), peanut butter sandwiches, carrot and cucumber sticks, homemade hummus, grapes and a cinnamon-vanilla yogurt dip (recipe below) to accompany the apples.  Easy,healthy and delicious.

For the children who prefer (or are required) to stay at school for lunch, hopefully some of the following will offer some inspiration:

Sandwiches

Cream cheese with cucumber and grated carrot on a bagel

Brie and apple slices on whole wheat bread

Turkey, Swiss, lettuce and cucumber on a whole wheat wrap

Homemade lunch-ables - ham, cheese, triscuits

Hard boiled eggs and mini pita pockets

Snacks

Carrots and hummus

Homemade cookies

Air-popped popcorn

Yogurt and fruit for dipping

Continue to visit my blog over the next few weeks and I will try to offer some exciting suggestions and lunch box solutions and in the meantime, I wish all of the lunch-makers much success for the remaining school year...only another 100 lunches to go!

Pesto Chicken Sandwiches

1/2 cup Pesto, store bought or homemade

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 - 1 1/2 cups chopped up chicken breast (from dinner left overs?)

1/4 cup chopped celery

Bread, bagels, wraps

Mix the first four ingredients well, and spread evenly over surface of bread.  Served with veggie sticks or sliced fruits.

Cinnamon-Vanilla Yogurt Dip

1 tsp honey

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup of your favourite vanilla yogurt

Mix all of the ingredients well and serve as an accompaniment to sliced fruit

Comments

[ben]

Great Blg MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!