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3 Healthy School Lunch Ideas Your Kids Will Love

August 22, 2017 by

PB&J, ham and cheese, and bologna sandwiches all have one similarity…they are the most common sandwiches that get packed into a kid’s lunchbox. But, after weeks of eating the same 3 sandwiches, lunchtime is bound to get boring.

With the school season quickly approaching for most and already started for others, we thought it might be fun to share some of our favorite and unique brown bag school lunch ideas to spice up your kid’s lunchbox.

And not to worry…all of these recipes are easy to make, can be prepared ahead of time, and are good for your kid’s growing body.

Try some of these recipes out…

Pasta Salad Recipe

Pasta salad is a great alternative to packing a sandwich every day. When made with tri-color veggie pasta, this meal will keep your kid energized and free from carbohydrate-induced blood sugar crashes throughout the day.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound tri-colored spiral pasta
  • 6 tablespoons salad seasoning mix
  • 1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian-style salad dressing
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, chopped

Directions:

1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.

2. Whisk together the salad spice mix and Italian dressing.

3. In a salad bowl, combine the pasta, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and olives. Pour dressing over salad; toss and refrigerate overnight.

Recipe Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/14385/pasta-salad/

 

Crunchy Veggie Rice Paper Wraps Recipe

If your kids are a fan of Asian-inspired dishes, they will love to find these crunchy veggie rice paper wraps in their lunchbox. The best part…these wraps can be made a few days in advance and will keep fresh in your fridge.

Ingredients:

  • 15 rice paper sheets (6 inch)
  • 1⁄2 cup green cabbage, finely chopped
  • 1⁄2 cup fresh carrot, finely chopped
  • 1⁄2 cup sweet onion, finely chopped
  • 1⁄4 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1⁄4 cup sweet green pepper, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons black sesame seeds
  • 5 ounces imitation crabmeat (optional) or 5 ounces shrimp, chopped (optional)
  • Oriental sweet chili sauce (or any other favorite spicy sauce, allow 1/2 – 1 tsp per roll)

 

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients except rice paper and Chili sauce. Shortly before serving soften each rice paper wrap separately. Do this by submerging the wrap in a bowl of warm water for a minute of two.

2. When it is pliable it is ready, so remove that one from the water and drop in another one.

3. Lay out a couple of paper towels and place the softened wrap on the towel.

4. Don’t rub it; just place it on the towel. Place 1-2 tbsp. of the veggie mix in the center of the wrap and add 1/2- 1 tsp. sweet chili sauce.

5. Fold up the bottom and then fold in the sides and roll to form a sealed roll.

Recipe Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/crunchy-veggie-rice-paper-wraps-89246

 

Whole Wheat Waffle Strips Recipe

Breakfast foods are one of our favorites. So, we thought, why not pack them for lunch? This whole wheat waffle recipe is easy to make and is a treat any kid would love to take to school. Throw in some cut-up fruit and a yogurt as sides, and you’ve got a well-balanced meal in a box.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour or Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
  • 1/3 cup melted butter or vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Preheat your iron while you make the waffle batter.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and butter or oil.

4. Mix together the wet and dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. The batter will be a bit lumpy; that’s OK.

5. Cook the waffles as directed in the instructions that came with your waffle iron.

6. Cut waffles into strips, put the strips in a container, and throw the container into your kid’s lunchbox. Option to add a smaller container of maple syrup if desired.

Recipe Source: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/whole-wheat-waffles-recipe

Do you have any unique lunchbox recipes your kids love? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

 

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5 Tips for Getting Back into a School Routine

August 1, 2017 by

Over the summer, our schedules tend to slow down a bit. For those with kids, it’s nice to know that you don’t have to get up early and rush out the door, but after a few months of sleeping in and staying in pajamas until lunchtime, it’s easy for kids (and adults!) to get thrown off a normal routine.

Now that we’ve reached mid-August, it’s important to start making some changes to get yourself and your kids into a back-to-school routine so the whole family has an easier time adjusting to the school schedule.

Not sure where to start? No problem. We have a few tips we think will help you out. Check them out now!

Tip #1 – Set an Alarm Clock

One of the best ways to get yourself back on schedule is ensuring you wake up at a normal “get ready for school” time in the morning. Over the next few weeks, set both your and your kids’ alarm clocks a littler earlier so you can ease into a normal back-to-school wake up time.

As you begin to wake up earlier each day, you should naturally be tired and want to go to bed earlier each night.

After a few weeks of following this routine, it will be no problem for your kids to get up in the morning in time to catch the bus.

Tip: If you or your kids are having a hard time going to bed earlier at night, try reading a book, taking a hot bath, or doing a puzzle 30 minutes before bed. These types of activities are helpful for settling the body down so you can get a good night’s sleep.

Tip #2 – Brush Up on Your Skills

It’s easy for a child’s spelling, math, and reading skills to deteriorate over the summer months—especially if your children have done nothing but enjoy playtime, cartoons, and video games.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a brain break during the summer. But, before school begins, it’s a good idea to brush up on a few of the skills you learned during the previous school year.

You can find educational workbooks on just about any subject at any bookstore or online. Order a few age-appropriate workbooks and have your child do a page or two in the evening.

Tip #3 – Make a School Lunch List

There’s nothing worse than putting the effort into packing your kid’s lunch only to hear your child say, “Ew, I don’t like PB&J sandwiches anymore!” as you’re walking out the door.

To avoid this problem, it’s a good idea to sit down with your children and make a list of the foods your kids enjoy. Having their favorite lunchmeat, fruit, and snack on hand will easily take the drama out of packing lunches in the morning.

If you want to be super prepared, stock up on your kid’s favorite non-perishable lunchbox favorites, like juice boxes, pretzels, or raisins, before school even begins. This way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting important lunchbox items.

Tip: If you have younger kids, spend some time before school teaching your kid how to pack his/her own lunchbox. Once he/she becomes a pro packer, this will save you time in the morning.

Tip #4 – Plan School Outfits in Advance

If your kid is a fashionista, you know how time-consuming it can be for him/her to pick the perfect outfit in the morning.

To avoid this problem, have your kid lay out an outfit the night before school. Or, if you have small children, you can lay your kiddos’ outfits out ahead of time so you don’t have to rush and do it in the morning. This makes getting ready for school a breeze in the morning.

Tip: Watch the weather together the night before school. This will help your kid pick out an outfit that is appropriate for warm weather, cold weather, rain, or sun.

Tip #5 – Purchase Back-to-School Items Early

Most schools will send out a list of school supplies your kid needs to purchase for personal use in the classroom. To avoid the headaches of last-minute shopping, plan a day when you are still on summer vacation to get your shopping done.

Doing your shopping ahead of time will help reduce the stress of having to do last-minute shopping and will also help ensure your kid gets prime pick of all the supplies before it gets picked over by all the other kids. It may also even help get your kid excited to head back to school.

If you have a little extra in your back-to-school budget, consider donating some supplies to your kid’s classroom. Some teachers provide lists of items they need. If they don’t, dry erase markers, tissues, pencils, and markers are always useful.

Do you have any tips for easing back into a school routine? Share them in the comments below!

 

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