Easy Apple Slices for Lunch

Your kids love apples for lunch, but they are a pain. If you precut the apple it is brown by lunch time. If you don't cut the apple most of it doesn't get eaten.

You can cut the apples and put them in the lunch bag without them turning brown with just a couple of options.

If they only want a half an apple, cut the apple and tightly wrap in plastic wrap. The apple will not "rust" if air cannot get to it.

If they want the whole apple, cut it apart as normal. When you are done, put it back together and hold it together with a rubber band. You can also wrap it in a bit of plastic wrap to keep the juices from getting loose.

Easy Lunch Prep.

It is back to school time! I found a quick and easy way to prepare lunches.

I picked up a package of small disposable containers. Once I got home I had my daughter pick out the fruits and vegetables that she wanted in her lunch.

I let her fill each container so that she knows exactly what is in each container.

Once they are all filled and sealed I place in the refrigerator and now when we make a lunch we grab a container and place in her lunch bag.

If they don't make it home, I don't worry about it. If they do make it home I just wash up and refill with her choice.

Quick Lunch Fix

My daughter does not like the hot lunches at school. I hate trying to get lunches ready every day, and she likes getting them ready in the morning. I came up with a system that works great for both of us.

I set up some plastic bins in the pantry with labels like Sweets, Crackers, and Fruit Snacks. When I shop I make sure that I pick up a variety of items for each bin. Sweets can be cookies or candies. Crackers can be Triscuits, Popcorn/Rice Crackers. Fruit Snacks can be fruit leather or chews.

I set a drawer in the refrigerator that I place baggies of veggies, ready to go and containers of yogurt, fruit, cheese and pudding.

Now when she is ready to make her lunch all she has to do is make her sandwich and go into each container and pick one item for her lunch box. From the fridge she grabs a fruit and a vegetable and cheese or pudding.

I keep juice boxes in the freezer, so when she grabs one it keeps the rest of her items cool until lunch time.

Balanced lunch of her choosing and I am happy.

Hot Lunches

You have some wide mouthed insulated containers that you use for soup for lunches, but you can't always think of a soup to put in it.

Why limit the choices to soup? I will make up a can of the current favorite spaghetti or ravioli and place in the container. I will reserve any leftovers for a later date.

Want something different?

Place some rice in the container with your favorite topping.

How about some home made spaghetti or alfredo?

The options are endless for a not so boring lunch!

Silly Sack Lunches

When you are packing lunches for the kids, have a little extra fun! Write down a joke or drop a clipping from the comics into their lunch. It will give them something to smile about and share at school.

For your spouse or older kids, (even though they might still like comics....) pick up a page a day calendar for a topic that they might like, or a puzzle book/word find book. Each day drop a page in their lunch for a change of pace with the lunch break.