HEALTHY LUNCH -PART II - EASY AND NUTRITIOUS LUNCHBOX RECIPES AND IDEAS
Part II (go to Part I)
Israeli couscous with corn, pineapple and grated beets
HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – EASY AND NUTRITIOUS
Now that you have inspiration from all of your new containers, it’s time to start thinking about packing a daily lunch. Great lunches are something your child will look forward to each day.
The best way to start is by letting your children make some requests. Better yet, bring them with you to the grocery store. If they pick it out, they are more apt (and obliged) to eat it. You can then steer them towards healthy selections. They get what they want. Everyone wins.
I try to balance a protein with vegetables or fruits and carbohydrates that contain nutritious grains (such as whole wheat breads or pastas). Here are some combinations that can be used in the various containers I wrote about last week.
SNACK AND DIP
DIP - Hummus, Tabouleh, Ranch or Vinaigrette
THERMOS-HOT/COLD
This is the container I use most when saving some portion of dinner for lunch the next day, especially on nights where the meal is one my daughter really enjoys. I don’t wait to see if we will have extra. I fill the thermos container before we begin eating and put it into the refrigerator right away. I will also take components from the meal, such as cooked beets, when I know they can work with something else.
The thermos is perfect for stews, soups, pasta dishes, rice with steamed vegetables and my favorite, couscous.
These are great for berries, grapes, cut fruit, dips, cereals, nuts and granola.
FUN STUFF
Use cookie cutters to make your lunch interesting, perhaps using a different one each week (“heart” week or day).
Add inspirational notes to your lunches. Some examples:
MAKE A NEW FRIEND TODAY!
TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED!
Teach a math problem (2+2=4) or a new word with a definition on a small post-it tucked inside their lunchbox - they will definitely read it.
Use these ideas as an outline, as they are certainly meant to be flexible. The important thing is to balance nutrition and fun, so lunch is an event rather than a chore.
It’s great to hear what other parents do, so please share some of your ideas too.
HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL EVERYONE! (go back to Part 1)
~Romy
HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS – EASY AND NUTRITIOUS
Now that you have inspiration from all of your new containers, it’s time to start thinking about packing a daily lunch. Great lunches are something your child will look forward to each day.
The best way to start is by letting your children make some requests. Better yet, bring them with you to the grocery store. If they pick it out, they are more apt (and obliged) to eat it. You can then steer them towards healthy selections. They get what they want. Everyone wins.
I try to balance a protein with vegetables or fruits and carbohydrates that contain nutritious grains (such as whole wheat breads or pastas). Here are some combinations that can be used in the various containers I wrote about last week.
SNACK AND DIP
DIP - Hummus, Tabouleh, Ranch or Vinaigrette
SERVE WITH Fill ½ with pita slices, pita chips, pretzel thinsDIP - Tomato sauce or Pesto
Fill the other ½ with carrots, celery, beets, fennel, cucumbers,
red pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, small potatoes,
olives, cornichons.
SERVE WITH Pasta, meatballs, mozzarella slices, sliced chicken or sausage.DIP - Ketchup
SERVE WITH Steamed chicken slices or nuggets.DIP - Peanut butter
Mini-sausage, (try the smoked chicken and apple minis
from Aidells).
SERVE WITH Sliced fruit rubbed with lemon half to prevent browning.DIP – Mustard
Toast points or crackers. Celery.
SERVE WITH Rolled turkey, ham or salami with rolled cheese,DIP- Plain yogurt (sweeten with Agave if necessary)
add some vegetables to this as well.
SERVE WITH Apples, break rice cakes into 1/4s, grapes, berries and granola.DIP - Guacamole
SERVE WITH Rolled quesadilla – make by melting cheese, chicken, pork orNOTE: Use these same components for the containers from Laptop Lunches.
sliced vegetables between two soft tortillas. Roll into log and bake
until the cheese is melted. Slice into rings.
THERMOS-HOT/COLD
This is the container I use most when saving some portion of dinner for lunch the next day, especially on nights where the meal is one my daughter really enjoys. I don’t wait to see if we will have extra. I fill the thermos container before we begin eating and put it into the refrigerator right away. I will also take components from the meal, such as cooked beets, when I know they can work with something else.
The thermos is perfect for stews, soups, pasta dishes, rice with steamed vegetables and my favorite, couscous.
MINI CONTAINERS FROM IKEACouscous Recipe – A form of pasta, originally from Morocco and environs, couscous is very easy to make. The tiny sand-like couscous cooks in less time than it takes to make a sandwich. Pour uncooked couscous into the thermos container, about halfway to the top. Pour boiling water over it to cover. Add the lid and wait for 10 minutes (or less, depending upon the size of the thermos) until water is absorbed. Mix in cubed cold or hot veggies as desired. Simple!
(freeze yogurt sticks so they will thaw and be cold by lunchtime)
FUN STUFF
Use cookie cutters to make your lunch interesting, perhaps using a different one each week (“heart” week or day).
Add inspirational notes to your lunches. Some examples:
MAKE A NEW FRIEND TODAY!
TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED!
Teach a math problem (2+2=4) or a new word with a definition on a small post-it tucked inside their lunchbox - they will definitely read it.
Use these ideas as an outline, as they are certainly meant to be flexible. The important thing is to balance nutrition and fun, so lunch is an event rather than a chore.
It’s great to hear what other parents do, so please share some of your ideas too.
HAPPY BACK TO SCHOOL EVERYONE! (go back to Part 1)
~Romy
Posted by Doughremekids Blog at 9/4/2009 12:20 PM 
Categories: lunchbox,recipes,healthy lunch,kids,back to school,lunch ideas
Tags: pasta fruit tabouleh yogurt kids containers easy nutritious thermos lunch ideas pesto healthy hummus dip recipes couscous pita vegetables
Categories: lunchbox,recipes,healthy lunch,kids,back to school,lunch ideas
Tags: pasta fruit tabouleh yogurt kids containers easy nutritious thermos lunch ideas pesto healthy hummus dip recipes couscous pita vegetables
Trackbacks
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9/7/2009 11:42 PM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
HOORAY!! IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!!Part One - Lunch Containers (Go to Part II) Now that they are back to school, it's time to think about what to make for lunch again. Making lunch can be fun or it can be a real drag. The easiest way to get creative with lunch is with great lunch containers. This is where it all starts. If you can find containers that accommodate several items, they will allow for your experimentation. Most kids like to eat small portions of many items, rather than a large portion of ... -
9/14/2009 1:44 PM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
HOORAY!! IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!!Part One - Lunch Containers (Go to Part II) Now that they are back to school, it's time to think about what to make for lunch again. Making lunch can be fun or it can be a real drag. The easiest way to get creative with lunch is with great lunch containers. This is where it all starts. If you can find containers that accommodate several items, they will allow for your experimentation. Most kids like to eat small portions of many items, rather than a large portion of ... -
9/17/2009 10:46 PM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
HOORAY!! IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!!Part One - Lunch Containers (Go to Part II) Now that they are back to school, it's time to think about what to make for lunch again. Making lunch can be fun or it can be a real drag. The easiest way to get creative with lunch is with great lunch containers. This is where it all starts. If you can find containers that accommodate several items, they will allow for your experimentation. Most kids like to eat small portions of many items, rather than a large portion of ... -
9/17/2009 10:51 PM
BLOG.DOUGHREMEKIDS.COM wrote:
As many schools and parents must contend with peanut allergies, bringing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to school isn't a simple matter. Some schools ban all peanut products outright, and others isolate the peanut-toting children to their own table.Faced with this dilemma early on, I started buying and serving nut butters to my daughter instead of peanut butter. At first she didn't enjoy the flavors of these "peanut butters". However, once we found sunbutter (or sunflower seed butter) at the recommendation of a friend, she was hooked. In fact, she refuses to eat any other ...
I forgot about that israeli couscous...I love that stuff...where is the best place to get it?
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Locally, we get it at Fairway. You can also look in the organic bulk bins at your supermarket or stores like Whole Foods.
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I've used regular couscous with chicken dishes, but Israeli couscous is much, much bigger and would probably go better with salads, beans, and rice dishes.
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