Lunch Box Ideas
Christmas break is over! Wow, hello 2022. If you’re like me you might need some NEW ideas for this NEW year. Kids are back in school and they still need to eat Have no fear, lunch box ideas are here.
In our preschool, nuts are not allowed at snack time or lunch break. Unfortunately, my daughter is Peanut Butter and Nutella obsessed but we have navigated towards some other goodies to help satisfy, while also getting her what she likes. I’d like to introduce you to Chocolate Sunflower Butter. We like to put it on bread and tortillas. I like to make her food out of shapes to put a little smile on her face.
FOOD GROUPS WE STICK TO FOR MAKING LUNCH BOXES ARE….
Veggie, Fruit, Protein, Carb, Dairy, and a Treat. We might not always stick to them but they help us build her lunch. First up, vegetables. Some kids love them, some kids hate them. We stick to carrots, cucumbers and celery mostly. You can dip them in ranch or hummus. Now, fruit is another ball game, as my daughter could LIVE off of any fruit made. I like to stick to organic and whatever is fresh but in the winter, that can be quite hard in MN. Apples, oranges, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries… honestly, my daughter could just eat all of those and call it lunch.
Next up, protein. This one is hard as I mentioned above, nuts are not allowed and my daughter is very picky when it comes to meat in her lunch. The 88 acres sunflower butter has truly been a game changer for making lunches, whether it is for a sandwich or a tortilla, it works. Another protein we throw in is, hummus. Mostly dessert hummus – which can have some added sugar. The hummus pairs perfectly with pretzel sticks or fruit or fingers to lick it clean. HA! Occasionally I will add in some summer sausage but as far as ham and turkey, those are out. You could make little cheese and meat kabobs for your kids if they prefer that!
As for carbs, dairy and treats, this is kind of all over the places. Carbs include, bread, tortillas, waffles or pancakes and pasta. Now, you’re asking how does that pasta stay warm?! We have a little thermos for her lunch. (I will link some lunch items below) In the morning before school, I will warm the pasta up and place it in a thermos. By lunchtime, it is still warm for her, at 10:30am. WHOA, 10:30am. YUP, she eats that early and it works for them! Another item that goes well in her thermos are scrambled eggs, for when I do a breakfast themed lunch.
As for dairy, this can include cheese sticks, gogurt, Babybel cheese, and milk. Last but not least…. treats! These can range anywhere from pirates booty to chocolate covered bananas. Sometimes there are marshmallows, teddy grahams, mini Oreos, peppermint patty and apple chips.
So whatever you put in or however you make your lunches, I hope some of these lunch box ideas give you inspiration!
