Funky Food Lunch Box Ideas
Creating fun and funky lunches for your children to take to school can motivate kids to actually eat their lunches. You can incorporate healthy foods in ways that are appealing to kids, simply by changing how you put together the lunch. Does this Spark an idea?
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Bento Lunch Box
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Bento boxes are boxes separated into different compartments. You can easily create an appealing lunch by packing a different part of the lunch into each compartment. According to Rachael Ray, one option is to back a tuna wrap in one part, Asian noodles in another and place fruit and a treat, such as a cookie, in the remaining two compartments. You can substitute any of your child's favorites to personalize the lunch.
Deconstructed Sandwiches
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If your child is tired of plain old sandwiches, pack all of the elements of a sandwich separately. Include cut-up whole grain tortillas, cubes of cheese, slices of deli meats and chunks of vegetables. Add a dip for the tortilla and veggies, and round out the meal with fruit and a carton of milk. You can modify this idea by skewering some of the elements on toothpicks for "lunch on a stick."
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Pinwheels
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Change the format of a sandwich by rolling it up. Cut the crusts off whole grain bread, or use a tortilla. Spread the bread with your child's favorite sandwich filling, such as tuna, deli slices with cheese or cream cheese. Roll up the sandwich and place in the refrigerator overnight or, to chill quickly, in the freezer for 30 minutes. Cut the sandwich into 1-inch slices and place the pinwheels in the lunch box.
Salads
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Some kids may turn their noses up at salad for lunch, but if you base the salad on rice, potatoes or pasta, it is instantly more appealing. Add some mayonnaise or oil and vinegar, a few of your child's favorite veggies and some turkey or chicken along with cheese. Your child will have all the food groups in one meal, as well as something out of the ordinary for lunch.
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References
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