Plastic boxes and brown bags…packing a lunch is a great way to ensure your child is getting the nutrition he or she needs.  And, while there is absolutely nothing wrong with a good old peanut butter and jelly sandwich with an apple and some string cheese to boot, it is also fun to try new things in the lunch pail from time to time.  Here are some fun faves from our house:

  1. Tortilla rolls and pinwheels – When I’m running low on bread but my son is determined he NEEDS ham and cheese for lunch, I break out the tortillas.  Put a light coating of mayo along one side of the tortilla, then put a piece of sliced cheese and a slice of lunchmeat on top.  Then, starting on one end, roll up.  The roll can be left as is for a great lunch alternative, or you can slice it into rounds and make “pinwheels”.  This is also great in a vegetarian format with lettuce, cream cheese, nuts and tomato!
  2. Homemade Lunchable Kit – I used to cringe every time my son begged for one of those pre-packaged cracker meals because I knew we were paying for the packaging.  However, he now helps me make his OWN versions, and the cost is considerably less!  All that is needed is cheese (we use sliced cheese and cut them in fourths), lunchmeat (our favorite here, though, is pepperoni slices) and some crackers.  We even package everything in either cool plasticware or in snack-sized baggies.
  3. Soup’s on – my son loves to take a thermos with a little soup inside on a chilly day.  I heat it up before loading up the thermos and it is still warm when lunchtime rolls around!
  4. Another fun alternative is the quesadilla.  I layer shredded cheese and any other fillings my son wants in between two tortillas, then I grill it until the cheese is melted.  Slice them up, package them in a bit of foil to keep them warm, and I even throw in a small lidded cup of salsa to boot!  (*NOTE: if you are including chicken or another meat in your quesadilla, chill to store to keep the meat fresher.)
  5. Don’t forget the most important ingredient in the lunch – THE NOTE.  Whether it be on a cute piece of paper or on the back of a napkin (which is where all my notes are written), your child will know that you are thinking of them during their day.  For younger children, just a sentence or a phrase is all they need.  Older kids might appreciate a quote or a thought.  And, always end it with a little love.

And, here are a couple of sites on back-to-school lunch ideas….

What are some of your favorite healthy lunch ideas?