Written by Megan Bailey of Sweet Little Peanut for Building Blocks.
With summer coming to a close, it’s hard to believe our thoughts have turned from the swimming pool to the classroom! Heading back to school means backpacks, notebooks and, of course, packing lunch. Today we’re sharing a few of our favorite back-to-school lunch ideas that are as fun as they are healthy.
An easy way to get kids excited for lunchtime is to get creative with how their meal is presented. Something as simple as changing the shape of their sandwich can interest even the pickiest eaters. Have fun making silly faces out of sandwich garnishments, or use these Stainless Sandwich Cutters to easily cut out fun sandwich shapes. (We used the flower cutter and embellished it with cheese slices cut into flower petals and a cherry tomato to finish it off.)
For storing everything from chips and salsa to dips for fruits and veggies, we absolutely love the Spencer Dip & Chip Container. My boys will not eat fruit or veggies without some type of dip, so for us, this container is a must!
On that note, here’s a recipe for a healthy and delicious dip that’s perfect to serve with sliced apples or celery:
Peanut Butter Dip
Ingredients:
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 6 – 8 oz. original or vanilla Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
Just mix everything together – it’s that easy! We know your little peanuts will be asking for this in every lunch ahead.
For a main dish – and to change things up from the traditional sandwich – try making fun-to-eat mini wraps. Our favorite includes ham and cheese with a little mayo and lettuce, all wrapped up in a tortilla. For a sweeter version, try filling it with peanut butter, thinly sliced apples and cheese.
The All-in-One Lunch Bag and Stainless Steel Bento Boxes are perfect for keeping wraps, sandwiches and even leftovers fresh. (The day after taco night, pack your little one’s lunch with strips of tortillas, pieces of chicken, beans and cheese. They’ll have fun making their own fajitas for lunch!)
Every good lunch needs a little treat at the end. We absolutely love these fun and educational alphabet crackers (we have a hard time keeping our hands off them ourselves!). Try making them with your children as a fun shared activity.
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 ½ sticks unsalted butter (softened for 30 minutes)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Beat in softened butter and slowly add sugar. Add egg and vanilla and beat.
- Add half of the flour mixture and beat until combined. Add remaining flour mixture until completely combined.
- Divide dough into two balls. Shape each ball into a flat disc and wrap separately in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate dough for at least an hour before using. (Tip: chilled dough is easier to cut out and will hold its shape better when baked.)
- Once dough is chilled, use a rolling pin to roll out to a thin layer.
- Use these Mini ABC Cookie Cutters or your own favorite cutters to cut out shapes in the dough.
- Place shapes on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown. Let cool and enjoy!