We're almost two months into the school year and I'm already burned out on packing daily lunches. Sometimes I just need a new idea to get me excited (okay, who are we kidding, I'm never excited to pack lunches!) My kids are not kids who like eating sandwiches everyday so this presents an even bigger challenge and definitely forces me to be a little creative. If you and your kids are burned out on lunches, here are a few ideas to make lunch more interesting.
1. Hot Dogs (minus the bun)
Like most kids, my kids love hot dogs. However, hot dogs aren't the most convenient foods to throw into a lunch box. Not only will the hot dog be cold by lunchtime but the bun would be soggy. Instead, I like to cook a few hot dogs in the morning before school, cut them into pieces and put them into a thermos to keep them warm. Rather than a bun, I throw in a few crackers instead. Of course, don't forget to include a small container of ketchup for dipping!
2. Mac and Cheese
Again, this is another thermos recipe. About once a week while my kids are eating breakfast I make a pot of mac and cheese and throw it into a thermos. I love this idea because you can pack the rest of their lunch the night before and do this quickly in the morning.
3. Chicken Nuggets
Are you sensing a theme here? Yes, this is another recipe that I cook and throw into a thermos. I know that they serve chicken nuggets for lunch at school, however, I am a little picky about the kinds of nuggets my kids eat and this option allows me to give them a product that I feel good about. This is especially a good idea for kids that are gluten sensitive and need to very specific type of chicken nugget. This is another one that I cook in the morning while the kids are eating breakfast and throw right into the thermos so they are nice and warm for lunchtime.
4. Homemade Lunchables
Yes, I know you can buy these in the grocery store and most of them are fairly inexpensive, but I have looked at the ingredients on the ones in the store and unfortunately I can't pronounce several of them. For me that's a deal breaker so instead I buy the lunch meat and crackers that I prefer and make them myself. This may sound time consuming but it's actually pretty easy. Rather than cutting up cheese, I use string cheese. I include a few crackers and some rolled up lunch meat and Ta Da...a lunchable is what you get!
5. English Muffin Pizzas
One of my kids favorite lunches are English Muffin Pizzas. These are super easy and quick to make in the morning. Here's how you do it:
-Slice two or more English Muffins in half (this will vary depending on how many kids you are feeding and how much they eat)
-Place the muffins on a cookie sheet with the cut side facing up
-Spread with marinara sauce, top with shredded mozzarella and any additional toppings your child likes
-Cook at 350 degrees for 8 minutes
-Let them cool for a few minutes so that the cheese can set
-Cover each muffin with parchment paper or wax paper and wrap in aluminum foil. It is important to use the parchment or wax paper so that the cheese and toppings don't stick to the foil.
I hope some of these ideas are helpful for you especially if you are feeling like you are in a rut when it comes to packing lunches. Stay tuned for more lunchbox recipes in the future!
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