| Packing a healthy child lunch your children will | | | | To ensure your child gets her daily requirement of |
| enjoy day in and day out certainly isn't an easy | | | | vegetables cut up a selection of carrot sticks and |
| task. | | | | celery sticks. Consider also other veggies like |
| It's hard to keep coming up with fresh ideas for | | | | cucumber, ears of baby corn, cherry tomatoes, |
| packed lunches for the 20 or so school days | | | | and zucchini. Pack a small container of dip. |
| there are in a month. No wonder we often rely | | | | Fruit cubes |
| on the same old lunch recipe favorites. | | | | Cut up different pieces of fruit and package in a |
| Here are a few of my favorite kid lunch box | | | | plastic container. Use fruit or vanilla yogurt as a |
| ideas. I'm sure you've heard some of them | | | | tasty dip. |
| before but I'm hoping you'll find a few new ideas | | | | Fruit & cheese bites |
| to inspire you. | | | | Cheese cubes and grapes make a nice snack or |
| Change the bread | | | | lunch dessert. Pineapple and apple slices dipped in |
| For a change from everyday sandwich use soft | | | | lemon juice also go nice with cheese. |
| tortillas for wraps, bagels, English muffins, pita | | | | Mini muffins |
| pockets or fresh baked rolls. | | | | Kids love things that come in small packages. So |
| Create your own snack mix | | | | think 'mini' - small muffins and bagels. Vary flavors |
| Use a selection of small flavorful crackers, cereal, | | | | to avoid boredom. |
| dried fruit or pretzels. Just about anything goes. | | | | Sandwich shapes |
| For an occasional treat toss in a few M & Ms | | | | Remove crusts from bread and cut out different |
| or yogurt or chocolate covered raisins. | | | | shaped sandwiches using cookie cutters. |
| Experiment with different mixes and pre-package | | | | Pack a note |
| in individual zip lock bags. | | | | Occasionally pack something extra special in your |
| Try different sandwich fillings | | | | child's lunch like a note saying I love you or even |
| Alter the sandwich fillings. Consider combinations | | | | a simple smiley face. Be creative and come up |
| like diced chicken and corn, ham and avocado, | | | | with something like a funny cartoon or saying that |
| grated carrot and cheddar cheese, or jam and | | | | you know will put a smile on your child's face. |
| cream cheese. | | | | Beyond sandwiches |
| Quesadillas | | | | If your child is tired of bread in any form consider |
| Place on soft tortilla in a hot frying pan. Spread | | | | crackers. What about packing a few crackers in |
| with tomato sauce or pizza sauce. Sprinkle grated | | | | your child's lunch along with a side of cheese and |
| cheese on top and other fillings like ham, bacon, | | | | ham slices? Kind of like a homemade lunch able |
| peppers, onions and tomatoes. Place another | | | | only healthier. You can even cut the ham and |
| tortilla on top and heat until cheese melts. Cut into | | | | cheese slices into fun shapes using cookie cutters. |
| pizza triangles. | | | | Be sure to package the crackers, cheese and |
| Don't forget the veggies | | | | meat separately. |