Fall is here and kids are back in school. That also means school lunches. If you’re anything like me, you sometimes struggle to find healthy food to pack your kids. Packing food each day can get redundant, even tiresome. Here are some healthy lunch ideas to liven things up.
Whole Wheat Wraps
Theses flat, round wraps present infinite possibilities, and deviate from the traditional sandwich bread. Some of our favorites are:
*BLTA wraps. That’s right. Bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado. Mash a ripe avocado and spread it on a whole wheat wrap. Top it with bacon, crumbled or not, tomato and lettuce. Roll and wrap in wax paper to secure.
*Turkey wraps. There are many different ways to make a turkey wrap. Our suggestion is to pick your child’s favorite ingredients and try them! Need ideas? Use pesto as a spread and add turkey, lettuce and tomatoes. Or try adding corn, sun-dried tomatoes and cheddar cheese.
*Chicken club wraps. Instead of turkey, use chicken. Add sliced chicken, tomato, bacon, lettuce and avocado for a rolled up chicken club.
Pita Pockets
Another twist on the traditional sandwich is a pita pocket. Like wheat wraps, you can fill theses with just about anything you wish. Here are some ideas:
*Turkey and cheese. Choose a creamy cheese and coat the inside of your pita. Fill with turkey slices, spinach or lettuce and cucumber or tomato.
*Ham and cheese. Go old school and fill your pita with ham and cheese. Amp up the nutrition factor by adding tomatoes and lettuce.
*Tuna or egg salad. Fill your pita with tuna salad or egg salad, and add lettuce. Easy peasy.
More Yummy Ideas
*Avocado, carrot and cucumber sushi. Lay a sheet of nori down, and cover with a thin layer of rice. Layer avocado, shredded carrots and cucumber. Slice your sushi and pack in a cute bento box!
*Chicken sloppy joes. Shred rotisserie chicken and toss with carrots and barbeque sauce. Heat this mixture and store in an air tight container, preferably one that will keep the food warm. Pack a hamburger bun and let your child assemble the sloppy joe at school.
*Turkey salad rolls. Mix diced turkey, almonds, halved seedless grapes, chopped celery and mayo to make a delicious turkey salad. Include a roll or a hot dog bun and have your kid stuff it at school. This would even work great with a pita pocket.
*Chips and dip. If you have a snacker rather than a meal eater, pack some chips and dip. Pick a baked or other healthy tortilla chip. In smaller containers, pack salsa, guacamole and some Greek yogurt.
*Frogs on a log. Ants on a log is a childhood favorite. Shake things up and make it savory instead of sweet. Instead of peanut butter and raisins, adorn pieces of celery with cream cheese and sliced green olives.
*Pizza roll ups. Another kid fave: pizza. Make yours a little different by rolling them. Using a whole wheat wrap, spread a thin layer of pizza sauce, and then layer some baby spinach and cheese and pepperoni. Roll them up tightly and slice into smaller pieces.
Packing a school lunch each day can get difficult after a while. Luckily, there are many ways to liven up your child’s lunch menu, while keeping it healthy. Try some of these yummy ideas and let us know what you think.