101 on School Lunches

It took me some time to come up with the title for this post. My original idea was “Taking the panic out of back to school lunches”, since this is how I originally felt: “Oh, 1 day till school starts and I still have no idea how to make it fresh, fun, and fast.” Of course, I could go through a simple rotation of SBJ (sunbutter jelly for us) and turkey sandwiches, but I want to try a little harder. Just look at all the Pinterest boards out there! So here’s my research – and hopefully – some helpful advice on making back to school lunches rock.

Get your Shopping Basics

When you get groceries, stock up on the essentials for your kids’ lunch boxes. Even better, try a wholesaler if available near you. Costco or Sam’s Club will sell larger containers of snacks, fruits and veggies, so you will save and have enough without making additional shopping trips. One of my favorites at Costco is hummus packed in mini-servings, so, while not very environmentally friendly, they will store well and will be easy to pack in a school lunch without extra containers. Some of the basics can include bread, tortillas and pitas, noodles, eggs, apples, grapes, cheese, and peanut or soynut/sun-butter and jelly.

Get Creative Tools

You can start with simple cookie cutters or go with fancier sandwich cutter shapes available at stores like Sur La Table. Stars are a popular favorite but trying a theme around the holidays is common too. Another useful lunch box element is silicon baking cups – easy to clean and easy to pack, plus fun colors make them more appealing to kids. And, most importantly to me, using a bento box makes me remember to pack a variety of nutritional elements and kids like compartmentalizing of all kinds.

Remember Nutritional Guidelines

Whichever pyramid you follow, as a parent, you’re well aware that kids never consume enough fruits and veggies. So I see school lunch as a golden opportunity – a time when they are hungry and will most likely consume everything in their lunch box. Door to Door Organics, a Boulder County-based online grocer that delivers organic and natural foods with free delivery, takes this to heart. Chef Chris Clarke, an instructor at the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, and chef for Door to Door Organics suggests eating a variety of produce. “Your kids should be eating a colorful rainbow of fruits and vegetables each day. But be sure to opt for organic produce that’s free of pesticides, since studies also link these chemicals to ADHD and other developmental problems in children.” His rainbow roll recipe seems easy enough to make. Include both favorite fruits & veggies but also try new ones (after trying at home first, to rule out any allergies).

Prep foods in advance

While making a full sandwich in advance may not be the best idea – it will get soggy – prepping individual foods will give you a nice head start. This can be helpful to you too – having a healthy snack on hand is always great. A few things you can do in advance:

• Boil eggs
• Cut fruits and veggies and place in individual bags. Use lemon juice or green bags (or vacuum seal) to make them last longer
• Cook noodles or use leftovers
• Tuna salad or potato salad

Techniques for Keeping Food Cold/Hot

I could have said “thermos” and be done with this point. There are a few other ways to keep your lunches hot or cold:

• Add an extra bag or extra layer of tinfoil – extra insulation will help the food maintain its temperature longer.
• Use frozen juice or water or (my favorite!) yogurt tubes – they will keep the food near it cold and will slowly defrost for eating/drinking – a win/win. It will take 3 hours for the frozen item to defrost.
• Use an ice pack – easy find at any store. I love creative ice packs from the Container Store – they make it more fun for kids.
• Finally, use an insulated lunch bag.

Leftovers rule!

If you’re a busy mom, you know how to multi-task and that includes repurposing leftovers. Making a roast chicken? Turn leftovers into a chicken wrap – just place cut up chicken with chopped lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and ranch in a tortilla, or cut the wrap into rolls. Pasta is a no-brainer – you can make pasta salad or warm noodles with sauce (using a thermos). Cold salads – tuna, egg or chicken salads – taste even better the next day. Pizza is another good alternative. Whatever your choice, make sure you keep the food safe and use one of the heating/cooling tips above.

Breakfast for Lunch

What kid doesn’t love pancakes and eggs for dinner? Well, we all do. So, surprise your kids with a little breakfast for lunch. You can make an “egg muffin” – English muffin with a slice or turkey or ham, cheese and mini-omelette. Another option is a waffle sandwich – use wholegrain waffles, jelly, a few fresh berries, and even peanut or sun-butter. Chef Chris Clarke suggests this Quinoa Apple and Almond Bars recipe.