The start of a school year deserves something new and exciting to go along with it. Kids need a boost, not a sugar high that bottoms out and drag them down. Mom and Dad also need a little help with making the best of stretching time and dollars. All of these can come together in one simple area, lunch! Here are some ideas to help busy parents provide a healthier lunch for the kiddos no matter what grade they’re in!
But first…we should begin with a few basic tips. There are so many lunch options yet few ways to keep them fresh and at a tasty temperature. Starting with a bento lunchbox will keep lunches sealed tight, fresh, and delicious. Next, use a thermos for more than drinks, such as keeping spaghetti warm or a fruit combo cold. Put bottled water or canned drinks in the freezer 20-30 minutes before departure, then by lunchtime they will be waiting in the lunchbox still cold and refreshing. Sandwiches are old news but a burger will stay warm tucked in a reusable thermal pouch. If cold is what you’re after, slip in a slimline lunch box ice pack. You could put one on the top and bottom for an extra layer of certainty that your child’s lunch will be a cool one! Last but not least, no one wants a fruit salad quesadilla, so stock up on these lunchtime lifesaver meal prep containers that will keep everything in its proper place. Now for some lunches to look forward to!
Ham, Egg, and Cheese Quesadilla Brunch
Often there’s no time for breakfast so why not serve brunch for lunch? This one can be made ahead and reheated in a microwave in thirty seconds!
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 cup diced ham
1 cup chopped broccoli florets
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
Salt and pepper to taste
4 four-inch tortillas
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup blueberries
4 tangerines, peeled and sectioned
Directions
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
-Add garlic powder, ham, and broccoli until broccoli is tender, about four minutes.
-Add eggs to the skillet and cook, stirring until thickened and set.
-Add salt and pepper to taste.
-Divide and spoon egg mixture on half of each tortilla.
-Sprinkle with cheese.
-Fold in half and place on a baking sheet.
-Bake until the cheese melts.
-Mix fruit in a bowl.
-Place quesadillas and fruit in your choice of a meal prep container.
Easier option: Prep a few quesadillas for the week by starting with a soft taco tortilla. Add shredded cheese, fold in half, and place in a warm skillet. Toast on each side for three minutes, or until the cheese starts to melt. Flip and brown slightly. Add guacamole and salsa for dipping. Include sliced veggies and tortilla chips for additional dipping!
Grilled Chicken Burrito
Exchange lunch meat and bread for a rolled-up, delicious surprise with five-star kid reviews! This recipe makes six incredible lunches that will be on top of the popularity list!
Ingredients
1 pound boneless chicken breast
2 tablespoons olive oil divided
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups fresh broccoli florets or spinach
6 flour tortilla wraps 8-10 inch size
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
-In a mixing bowl, stir together one tablespoon olive oil with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
-Add chicken to the bowl and coat well.
-In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat the remaining olive oil.
-Transfer the chicken to the skillet and cook thoroughly.
-Remove from heat, cool, and slice each breast into strips.
-Steam broccoli or spinach, covered in the microwave until crisp-tender.
-In the center of each tortilla, spread the sour cream evenly, then add the chicken, veggie, and cheese.
-Bring the bottom edge of the wrap tightly over the filling, folding in the sides, then roll until you reach the top of the wrap.
-Place the wraps in the skillet used to cook the chicken with the seam side down.
-Press gently for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown and the cheese has melted.
-Wrap in a paper towel, place in a thermal pouch, then in an insulated lunchbox.
Easier option: Wrap cooked chicken, diced cucumber, lettuce, and a dab of ranch dressing into a tortilla and roll it up. Add healthy sides like grapes, sweet potato chips, and a Trader Joe’s peanut butter bar.
Homemade Hamburger
If you want to make a childhood memory, let your kids open their lunchbox to a full-size, hot hamburger meal they can really sink their teeth into! Mix and match the containers and helpful items above to keep each part separate. Your child can arrange the burger in a “have it their way“ fashion. With a main course like this, they’ll be happy with any side and dessert! Tip: When you eat out, start collecting condiment packets for a free and easy lunch box addition!
Seasonal Surprises
Everyone loves a lunchable but there is much room for improvement in the quality and quantity of the store-bought version! Use seasonal cookie cutters to cut out larger, more filling versions of meat, cheese, and fruit. Add healthy crackers instead of empty calories and lack of nutrition to give your student a satisfying lunch that will give good reason to smile and “say cheese”! Examples for Fall cookie cutters are leaves, acorns, and squirrel shapes. For Halloween; bats, cats, and rats are nice. Other occasions can include hearts, deer, bunnies, Christmas trees…and the endless list goes on!
