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Out of the Box, Lunch Box Ideas

Let’s face it, packing a lunch for your kids every. single. day. Can get old really fast. For them and for you. Sure, we start the year out all energized. We walk the aisles of the grocery store picking out all the healthy things, and thinking how you’re going to rock some lunch kabobs with cheese cubes and ham. You snag a few new cookie cutters so you can make even that “boring PB&J” something fun. But we all know in 3 days time you’ll be back to the store stockpiling the lunchables… We’re not here to judge. But maybe we can offer some help!

We had the pleasure of talking with Birmingham Magazine and offering up some ideas to them, and it really can be simple. For one,  just putting their food on a stick, think “deconstructed sandwich” if you will, will mix up that regular ole bread and cheese.  And dips! Kids love to dip things. Hummus, ranch, peanut butter are all great to add in with their fruits and veggies.

If you’re looking for a little something more… Try one of these:

Peanut Butter Apple Wraps

1 medium apple
1 Whole Grain wrap
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Wash, peel and core apple.  Slice the apple into thin slices.
If using cinnamon add the cinnamon into the peanut butter spread.
Create the peanut butter spread by stirring together the honey and peanut butter.
Spread the peanut butter mixture onto your wrap, add apples and fold like a burrito.

*Variation of Peanut Butter Apple Wraps, replace apples with a banana.

For Peanut Allergies or to mix things up a bit:  Replace the peanut butter spread with the following spread; 1 tablespoon of whipped cream cheese, 1 tablespoon  vanilla low fat yogurt, 1 teaspoon honey and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Pinwheels

Cream cheese, alfalfa sprouts, and ham slices wrapped up in a tortilla. With a side of baby carrots.

*BLT version with sprouts, bacon, and mayo.

Breakfast for Lunch

Chocolate Chip Waffles with a side of *Berry Parfait

Berry Parfait

6 oz. low fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup frozen Berry Medley
1-2  tablespoon Grape Nut cereal

Add yogurt to a travel container, top it with frozen berries and grape nut cereal.

*Keep the berries frozen when adding them to the yogurt, it will help keep yogurt cool and will be thawed by lunch time

What ideas do you have for keeping lunches from getting boring?

Don’t forget to pick up the August issue of Birmingham Magazine for even more great ideas!

 

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