Snappy Lunch Ideas

Popcorn

String cheese

Nutella, Peanut Butter, Marshmallow Cream sandwich

Wraps instead of bread
 

Granola with yogurt (packed separately)

Dried fruit (apple or banana chips, craisins, apricots, mango)

Asian Rice Balls (recipe included)

Tzatziki with pita  (best tzatziki is on the olive bar at Wegmans!)

English muffin, mini bagels, or rice cake with light cream cheese

Grape tomatoes, string cheese, Italian dressing
 

Pretzels with a peanut butter/nutella dip

Cinnamon/raisin bread with a smear of cream cheese

Salsa, hummus, bean dip or fruit dips with baked chips and veggies or fruit

Sandwich kabobs (bread, cheese, lunchmeat, grape tomatoes, lettuce, pickle, olive)

Mini Muffins (cranberry sweet potato muffin recipe included)
Hamburger Bento Lunch Box
More great Bento Ideas For Kids!

Lunch Packing Tips

*by using a whole-grain, lowfat tortilla, you can add fiber and reduce fat.

*use silicone cupcake cups wrapped in plastic wrap to hold dipping sauces.

*to keep sliced apples from browning, sprinkle with lemon juice before packing.

*cut sandwiches out with a cookie cutter.  Include the crust pieces too like a puzzle.

Asian Rice Balls

3 cups medium-grain white or brown rice

¼ cup white vinegar or rice vinegar

2 T. sugar

1 t. salt

Cook the rice according to package directions.

In a small pot, cook vinegar, sugar and salt over med high heat until sugar and salt dissolve completely.

After the rice is done cooking, remove from heat but let stand in the pot with lid for 20 minutes.  Then cut into the cooked rice with a knife and fold in the vinegar mixture.  Let cool until just warm enough so can handle the rice in your hands.

Spray your hands with cooking spray.  Pick up a handful of cooked rice and form a small ball.  Roll rice in toasted sesame seeds and/or wrap in seaweed.

Serve with dipping sauce.

Peanut Dipping Sauce:

¼ cup creamy peanut butter

1 T. soy sauce

1 T. chicken or veg. broth

1-2 t. brown sugar

1 T. lime juice

1 t. grated fresh ginger

Cranberry Sweet Potato Muffins

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar (i used brown sugar)

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup cold mashed sweet potatoes (i opened a can of sweet potatoes and mashed them with a fork, paige ate the rest for dinner)

1/4 cup melted butter

1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries (i used craisins)

Cinnamon-Sugar

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a small bowl, combine egg, milk, sweet potatoes and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in cranberries.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups half full. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Bake at 375 (i did it at 350) for 18-22 min. (i always error on the under-done side) or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes.