Liven Up Your Kids' Lunches!

We are now in the latter half of the 2011/2012 school year and if you have been packing lunches everyday, you may be losing steam or running out of ideas. Or you may be hearing "I'm tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday..." So, to help you and your kid(s) get through the rest of the school year, we have put together a list of quick, healthy, kid-friendly ideas to liven things up a bit!


Try some new sandwiches!
How about Strawberries and Cream Cheese, Almond Butter with Dried Cranberries and Almond Slivers, Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato, Apple Butter and Apple Slices, Hummus with Sliced Peppers or an awesome sub sandwich? Or ditch the bread, try their favorite sandwiches on a pita, in a tortilla, on a bagel, in between soft pretzels or waffles!


Breakfast for Lunch!
Speaking of waffles...kids love breakfast. Wrap sausage in a pancake or send a breakfast burrito! Pack fresh fruit on the side!


Smoothies in a Thermos!
Create smoothies out of your child's favorite ingredients and put them in a thermos or stainless steel bottle. They will keep until lunch time, especially in an insulated lunch bag.


Make a Rainbow!
Try to include foods from as many different colors of the rainbow as possible! Natural colors from the Earth of course.


Include "Cool" Foods!
Older kids may feel embarrased by healthy lunches, especially when so many of their peers are eating Lunchables and Doritos. Try healthy junk food alternatives such as Stonyfield Farms YoKids Sqeezers, Fig Newmans or Annie's Cheddar Bunnies.


Surprise Them Once in a While!
Maybe on a Friday or when they're doing particularly well in school, surprise them with a special "kids meal." Chicken, fish nuggets or mini corn dogs (or vegetarian alternatives), tater tots or fries (available here in organic), sliced apples and an organic soda or soda alternative such as Izze. Include a prize. It doesn't have to be something new from the store, just surprise them with something they will like. It will give them something to strive for.