Back to School Lunch Ideas and Tips

August 1, 2021 by Danielle 21 Comments

Ever start thinking of school lunches and wonder what the heck you’re going to pack? Well here are some great back to school lunch ideas and a few tips that might help you out!

My son isn’t quite ready for kindergarten yet but will be there next year and we’ve already exhausted a few great ideas for toddler lunches at home. So I’m trying to gather a bunch of ideas and tips so that when I am packing his lunch I can pack something that he’ll enjoy and actually eat. Good thing I have a whole year to figure this stuff out, right?

Ok, I’m not going to spend the whole year working on this. But I did start practicing by packing lunches for us to take with us on his days off preschool. When we’re heading out to the zoo, playing at the park, or heading to the beach, I’ve been able to pack lunches for him and his sister that they both enjoy. And here’s what I found… (some of the links included are affiliate links to Amazon) [Read more…]

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, In the Kitchen, Kids Health, Lunch Tagged With: Back to School, Lunch, toddler lunches

10 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

April 18, 2016 by Danielle 2 Comments

If you have a toddler, you know how tricky lunchtime can be. With children’s ever changing tastes and food preferences, finding the perfect meal can be a challenge. We have tried to take some of the stress away from mealtime with these 10 quick and easy lunch ideas for toddlers below, perfect for filling your child up so they can be well fueled for the rest of the day!

Each week as I plan meals for dinner, I also try and make a list of items we’ll need for lunches as well so we can kill two birds with one stone. Then when we head back home from the store on our weekly shopping trip, I prep both dinners and lunches so it’s quicker to throw together during the week. I also make sure to keep some easy frozen or pantry options on hand as well for those times that we just don’t have prep-time.

If you are looking for lunches you can make in a jiffy that are sure to be enjoyed, give these suggestions a glance!

10 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

1.Mac and Cheese Shells with Veggies and Dip

Mac and Cheese Shells (in the box) with a side of fresh veggies and salad dressing for dipping makes the perfect meal! You will love the ease of a boxed mac and cheese, and they will love dipping their carrots and celery in dressing!

2. Walking Taco

Fill a bowl with tortilla chips and add some shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and chopped tomato if you think your child will eat them. You can also add a touch of sour cream or even diced avocado for the perfect walking taco.

Tip: Put all of the toppings out on the table and let your child choose what they put on their chips! You’d be surprised at what they choose to try.

3. Yogurt Parfait

Try whipping up this easy yogurt parfait for a simple lunchtime treat. Layer plain yogurt and cereal or granola to create a sweet parfait that kiddos are sure to love. You can even top with fresh fruit if you wish!

4. Pizza Dippers

Try this easy hands on lunch that kids are sure to love. Bake some mini frozen pizza bagels and serve with some warmed pasta sauce for dipping. Kids will love dipping their bagel bites and feeding themselves.

5. Fruit Skewers

Kids love creating and eating this sweet treat! Give children a variety of cut fruit chunks and let them make their own fruit skewers. You can give them yogurt for dipping, or even add some cottage cheese on the side.

6. Breakfast Bites

Who says you can’t have breakfast for lunch? Try making some refrigerated cinnamon rolls and serve with fresh fruit, yogurt, or a protein side such as bacon or sausage links. Kids will love the variety and having breakfast for lunch.

7. Baked Potato Bar

Let kiddos build their own baked potato from a baked potato bar. Warm a potato and serve with cheese, bacon bits, veggies, and other toppings you think they will enjoy. Let them build their own potato to their liking.

8. Tasty Peanut Butter Roll Ups

Try spreading peanut butter and jelly onto a tortilla shell. Roll it up and cut into wheels. Kids will love this creative way of enjoying peanut butter and jelly. Sometimes we call it PB&J sushi to make it more fun.

My kid loves ham or turkey and cheddar roll ups too! I use a toothpick to keep them together when I’m prepping them but take it out when I serve it to her.

9. Banana Boats

Place a peeled banana into a dish and let children top it with shredded coconut, fruit, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and other fun toppings of their choice. They will love crafting their own banana boat and will love eating it even more.

10. Pasta Bar

If your child loves pasta, try making a pasta bar. Boil some pasta for them and let them choose the toppings. You can have cheese, pasta sauce, veggies, pepperoni, shredded cheeses, chicken cubes, and other toppings to make it unique.

See how fun and easy lunchtime can be? Give these 10 quick and easy lunch ideas for toddlers a try and see what fun you can have! They are sure to make lunchtime more enjoyable for all.

What’s your toddler’s favorite meal for lunch?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Lunch, lunch for kids, Lunch Ideas, toddler, Toddler Food, toddler lunches, toddler meals

Simple Holiday Bento Box Ideas

November 2, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

My kids have fallen in love with bento boxes (affiliate link). I started making them when I started packing my lunch (even though I work from home) and they look forward to seeing what I’m going to pack them next. Gone are the days of wanting the same thing for lunch every.single.day like before.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t do elaborate bento boxes for my kids lunches. Instead, I choose one thing to make special or cut up and then the rest just goes with the theme of the bento I’m doing. And I always include foods my kids will actually eat. Because even if the baby eats seaweed, the big kids refuse it.

Luckily coming up with simple holiday bento box ideas isn’t difficult. And when you really get down to basics like I do, you can turn just about any classic lunch into a cute bento idea. Just grab a protein, a snack, some fruit and a few veggies and you’re on your way to an awesome bento lunch for your kids.

You can find these simple ideas featured today on Bentgo’s blog.

How do you add a little holiday cheer to your bento box?

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Kids Health, Lunch, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bentgo, bento box, bento box ideas, kids lunches, Lunch, lunch for kids, Lunch Ideas, Thanksgiving, Turkey

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

September 25, 2015 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Campbell’s Soup Company . All opinions are 100% mine.

Weekend meals can be tricky. While the kid aren’t heading to school, there are a ton of different activities planned over the weekends. Some planned and some spur of the moment. I like to have a great list of lunch ideas handy so that lunch time on the weekends is easy and simple. Luckily, Campbell’s makes that easier for me with their delicious soups.

Now that the kids are older, I’ve simply expanded on our quick toddler lunches to include additional items like Campbell’s Organic soups and fuits or veggies to create the perfect lunch time meal. And most times all I have to do is set out the ingredients and let the kids make their own plates up. Then I serve them the soup when they have everything else on their plate. This is even more helpful when we have last minute guests, like when the kids cousins come over to play.

Campbell’s® Organic Soups are crafted from certified organic ingredients and no preservatives. These soups are perfect for a heart-warming, healthy lunch or dinner. Plus there are nine delicious varieties. My daughter’s favorite? The Frozen noodles. She goes crazy over the fun Frozen-themed shapes and will actually eat her soup (instead of just the noodles) when I serve it up. The boy cousins eat it begrudgingly because they enjoy the soup. Their request? A minecraft version!

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

Quesadillas + Soup

Quesadillas are awesome. You can put just about anything in them and by taking the flavors of the kids favorite Cambell’s soups, we can make complimentary quesadillas. My daughter opts for the classic cheese quesadilla but will add a little grilled chicken when enjoying chicken noodle soup. Plus it’s the perfect cold weather meal with the warm soup and quesadilla.

Sandwiches + Soup

What’s great about sandwiches are they’re so versatile. You can serve them hot in cold weather and cold in warm weather. We always keep some lunch meat on hand along with a few cheeses for the kids to fix up their own perfect sandwich creation. Then we’ll make paninis if the kids request it.

Wraps and Roll Ups

Grab tortillas, pitas, or other flat wraps and grab the same ingredients you’d put in a sandwich or quesadilla! By just changing how the kids eat their food, they can get quite experimental with what they put inside. Add a hummus spread or some avocado to give a little added flavor to your child’s wrap.

Soup + Salad

Don’t knock a good salad bar when you’re serving kids. You’d be surprised at how many kids will choose to eat salad when given the option to make their own. Just put together a good list of toppings and a few different dressings and be amazed at the kids who will start munching on their greens.

Don’t forget to check out these Delicious Campbell recipes for more great ideas on what to enjoy at lunch time with @Campbells.

What easy weekend lunch ideas does your family serve up?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Uncategorized Tagged With: Campbell's, Campbell's Organic Kids Soup, Campbell's soup, Healthy Lunch, Lunch, Lunch Ideas

Easy Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

July 28, 2015 by Danielle 4 Comments

We’re featuring easy lunch ideas for busy moms in partnership with Social Moms and Foster Farms. Read on for great lunch ideas to prep ahead and grab on the go!

Of all the things I struggle with as a work at home mom, actually finding the time to eat lunch is at the top of the list. I don’t know what it is about making sure I am covered come lunch time but if I don’t pack a lunch like I would if I were working outside of the home, I just don’t eat lunch. It may be the fact that my littlest always decides to take her nap on me when I realize I haven’t eaten in a while…

So I’ve started to pack my lunch in my Bentgo lunch box and am getting a little creative in what I put together. No sandwiches day after day. Though there’s nothing wrong with a good sandwich! I’ve stepped outside the box and have come up with 4 delicious lunch ideas that are easily prepared the night before for a delicious lunch. I’ve even been sharing them on Instagram each day and hope to continue sharing!

In addition to mixing up my lunches with leftovers, I also use my new favorite lunch meat. Foster Farms All Natural Lunchmeat is unique in that it uses high pressure pasteurization to eliminate bacteria and seal in PURE flavor INSTEAD of using natural preservatives like vinegar as an antimicrobial, which often results in a sour aftertaste. And it’s nitrate free with no hormones or steriods OR preservatives. Perfect for the whole family!

Easy Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

Turkey and Havarti Wraps

Includes:

Foster Farms Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast
Havarti cheese
dill pickle slices
baby carrots
1/2 of a fuji apple
1 tablespoon peanut butter

Chicken Ceaser Salad

Includes:

Foster Farms Simply Seasoned Mediterranean Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and diced
cherry tomatoes
1/2 an avocado
1-2 cups romaine leaves
parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons ceaser dressing

Turkey Wraps

Includes:

For the wrap

1 small tortilla
1 tablespoon tomato basil hummus
Foster Farms Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast
spinach leaves

Sides

handful of spinach
sliced cucumbers
1 tablespoon tomato basil hummus (for dipping cucumbers and to be used as dressing for spinach)
handful of blueberries

Chicken and Broccoli

Includes:

Foster Farms Simply Seasoned Mediterranean Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and sliced
1/2 cup broccoli, steamed
1 bunch grapes
probiotic drink

Now that I’ve started preparing my lunches the night before, I haven’t forgotten to eat once in the past week. And I’m not as grumpy. Imagine that! While most of these meals are simple, they’re also a way tp guarantee that at least one meal a day is full of healthy choices.

Interested in trying Foster Farms Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast? Save up to a $1 now by downloading the coupon found here.

What is your go-to lunch on a busy day?

Disclosure: This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Foster Farms blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Healthy Lunch, Lunch, lunch box ideas, lunch recipes, Lunch Time

The Ultimate BLT Sandwich plus Tips on Cooking Bacon

August 25, 2014 by Danielle 12 Comments

There’s one word and one alone that can describe why my family can’t completely kick paper towels. And that word is BACON! While I can clean my counters with cloth rags, use cloth napkins at the dinner table, and dry my hands off with a kitchen towel, nothing compares to using a paper towel to drain and cool off.

My family is pretty obsessed with bacon and we always seem to be cooking more up. With the kids starting to demand bacon on a more regular basis I needed to figure out how to streamline the process but still end up with delicious, slightly crispy bacon for the family.

And, of course, create a deliciously simply BLT sandwich while I cooked up my last batch of bacon. Complete with an avocado ranch spread that really hit the spot. [Read more…]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: bacon, Lunch, Lunch Ideas, sandwiches

Healthy Back to School Lunch Ideas and Tips

August 21, 2014 by Danielle 6 Comments

Packing lunches can start to feel monotonous really quickly if you don’t have a lot of variety. This year I’ve been challenged to really thinking outside of the lunch box when it comes to packing healthy foods for my kids.

And since it’s the first official year I’ll be packing my son’s lunch for Kindergarten (and not just a day out like last year) I’m kind of excited to find new ideas to keep things fresh and exciting for him. Since we also have to send along a snack, I’ve included some snacks in here as well.

And, of course, I’ll be sending along some cute lunch box notes for my son to read as well when he’s munching on his goodies.

If your brain is really stuck on what to pack this year then check out some of these tips:

Healthy Back to School Lunch Tips

Keeping Things Bright

To mix things up this year, I really wanted to do something colorful and healthy. That’s where I got the idea of parfaits for their school lunches. Have the kids help make their school lunch parfaits the night before if that gets them excited.

You can use easy to open containers to help keep things from getting too messy at lunch time. I like to use whatever organic fruit I have on hand, which can get really colorful.

Healthy Back to School Lunch Tips - parfaits

From Left to Right Clockwise: Broccoli, Grapes, multi-grain crackers, Honest Kids Tropical Tango Punch, vanilla yogurt parfait with granola and strawberries, almonds, Applegate ham, Organic Valley sharp cheddar

DIY Lunchables

I’ve always loved the idea of how easy store bought lunchables are, but sadly they’re not very healthy. I’ve recruited my whole family into loving the idea behind DIY lunchables.

All you really need to complete this fun and healthy lunch idea is to have a container with trays or at least separate containers to give the lunch that ‘lunchable’ feel.We LOVE our Laptop Lunches bento box to make things easy at lunchtime. I pack organic juice, crackers, lunch meat, fruit, and then a “bakery” treat. My kids really love the variety that a DIY lunchable brings to the table.

Healthy Back to School Lunch Tips - pizza lunchable

From Left to Right Clockwise: Honest Kids Tropical Tango Punch, Cucumbers, Annie’s Bunny Grahams, Applegate Farms Turkey Pepperoni, Marinara Sauce, organic string cheese, french bread slices, peach

Mix It Up

If you are really having a hard time finding things to pack for your child, consider trail mix. My kids really love the idea behind trail mix because it’s yummy and I love it because it’s easy. And only includes 3 simple ingredients: granola, almonds, and raisins!

Even if your children can’t have nuts, there are a variety of items you can mix together to create the ultimate trail mix for your little one. Think of other dried fruits, maybe some mini chocolate chips if they are looking for a small treat? The possibilities are endless.

Healthy Back to School Lunch Tips - trail mix

From Left to Right Clockwise: fruit salad, carrots, Honest Kids Tropical Tango Punch, trail mix, bagel with cream cheese

Dip it Good

One thing we’re discovering this year is yummy and healthy dips to pack in lunches. Let’s face it, packing veggies and fruits can seem bland, we are mixing it up with various dips. Hummus is one dip your children might love trying.

You can also create yummy fruit dips out of organic greek yogurt and chia seeds. With this base, you can add a variety of items to your fruit dip, like chocolate chips and peanut butter. This really brings variety and fun to any school lunch (plus it keeps it healthy).

Healthy Back to School Lunch Tips - dips

From Left to Right Clockwise: cantalope, ants on a log (with almond butter), Honest Kids Tropical Tango Punch, french baguette, pasta with marinara sauce

Multiple Fruits & Veggies

I’ve noticed that when I pack my kids a variety of fruits and veggies it gets gobbled up. My kids love opening up their lunch to find a garden full of fruits and veggies. Of course, I like to arrange it so it’s more fun to eat. I might make the container represent a forest with broccoli as trees and little grapes as the bottom part of the forest.

If I want to make things bright, like a rainbow, I’ll pack cut up a green and red apple, peel an orange, and add red and green grapes. Eating with color is always more fun, especially when it’s arranged to look cool.

How do you spice up school lunches while keeping them healthy?.

Lunch Box by Thirty One | Bento Box by Laptop Lunches | Containe r by U·Konserve

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, In the Kitchen, Kids Health, Lunch, Uncategorized Tagged With: Back to School, Healthy Lunch, Lunch, lunch box ideas, Lunch Ideas

Salad In A Jar Ideas

March 31, 2014 by Danielle 9 Comments

Even though I work from home, I need something quick and easy for lunch or else it’s 3pm and I’ve realized I haven’t eaten since breakfast. So when I saw a few salad in a jar ideas I knew I had to create a few of my own.

So when Fresh Express sent out a few coupons for me to test out their salads and partake in their 30-day Salad Swap challenge. Basically the challenge is to take mealtime favorites that are higher in calories and swap them for a delicious, lighter salad creation.

I just took the challenge one step further and put my salad creation into a jar for easy access and easy storage. Now I just have to grab a salad from the fridge and chomp away as I work without actually having to prepare anything! Win-win. [Read more…]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Soups & Salads, Uncategorized Tagged With: Lunch, Lunch Ideas, salad ideas, salad in a jar, salads

Lunch Box Letters – Notes from Mom Printables

August 23, 2013 by Danielle 8 Comments

As your packing your child’s school lunch the one thing you want your child to know is that you’re preparing it with love. And what better way to share your love with your child than with lunch box letters?

A few simple words of encouragement for an upcoming math test or simply a note to say I love you, kids love this little touch even if they turn their noses up at it in front of you. And what child needs less support? That’s right, none. So enjoy these printables and write a few encouraging words of your own to let your kids know you’re thinking of them even when they’re in school.

Simply click on the photo below to download these Notes from Mom Printables! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crafts/DIY, In the Kitchen, Uncategorized Tagged With: free printables, Lunch, lunch box notes, Lunch Time, notes, notes from mom, printables

How to Make a Panini Without a Panini Press

June 14, 2013 by Danielle

This recipe and post is sponsored by Unilever.

A few weeks ago I posted about my shopping trip to Walmart and the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® light spread I picked up. I was able to use an awesome website called It’s Good To Know and found some great recipes that used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® in them.

Since then I’ve made a few dishes and have incorporated our secret ingredient -I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® – without any fuss from my husband. His favorite recipe so far has been a simple panini I made for him and the kids for lunch one day. And we don’t have a panini press.

Being able to use the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® spread instead of butter has made these paninis even easier to make! No crumbs everywhere or hard, cold butter stuck to one corner and not budging. Just smooth, easy spreading! If you’re interested in finding out how you can make a panini without a panini press check out my YouTube video tutorial below.

The kids like to call them “fancy sandwiches” and love that I can switch up the ingredients inside to make different combinations. Served with a tasty side of veggies or a nice garden salad and it’s the perfect healthy meal! Plus it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare!

10 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas for Toddlers

1.Mac and Cheese Shells with Veggies and Dip

2. Walking Taco

3. Yogurt Parfait

4. Pizza Dippers

5. Fruit Skewers

6. Breakfast Bites

7. Baked Potato Bar

8. Tasty Peanut Butter Roll Ups

9. Banana Boats

10. Pasta Bar

What’s your toddler’s favorite meal for lunch?

How do you add a little holiday cheer to your bento box?

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

What easy weekend lunch ideas does your family serve up?

Easy Lunch Ideas for Busy Moms

What is your go-to lunch on a busy day?

Healthy Back to School Lunch Tips

Keeping Things Bright

DIY Lunchables

Mix It Up

Dip it Good

Multiple Fruits & Veggies

How do you spice up school lunches while keeping them healthy?.

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