Kick start the new school year with great breakfasts and lunches - part 2
It's pretty disheartening when your children arrive home and their lunches have barely been touched. It's hard to compete against the packaged convenience food your children see some of their classmates eating. So here are some fabulous lunch ideas followed by a top 10 list of awesome Canadian made snacks, to help your kids to keep their eyes on their own lunch boxes!
Little pizzas. Take an english muffin topped with your favourite sauce, and add pizza toppings and mozza cheese. Pop in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 or so minutes. Let cool and then wrap. Great cold or warm from the microwave.
Leftovers - Everyone has a favourite supper, even the sprouts. Set some aside before dinner is served to ensure it's available for lunch.
Homemade burgers - The fast food variety may be loaded with fat and calories but a lean ground beef, chicken or bison burger made at home fits the fun and healthy bill! Take your favourite burger recipe and make some patties; let cool and package individually (the leftovers can be frozen for a quick lunch another day). Take your bun and dress it up with lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup etc. At school, just warm up the patty and enjoy.
Pancake sandwich! - Take 2 pancakes, spread each one with cream cheese, then place sliced strawberries on one pancake, drizzle with honey, sprinkle with orange zest and cover with the other pancake to create a sandwich. Yummy!
Inside-out sandwich wands - The bread is in the middle and the meat is on the outside, which is what makes these inside-out sandwiches a hit! Check out the recipe at Canadian Family.
Here are five great Canadian made snacks and sweets for the lunch box from our fabulous members!
Allan's Gourmet Kettle Corn -Trans fat, cholesterol, peanut, nut and gluten free. This snack is a huge win and super fun to eat. Popped in canola oil and sprinkled with suger and sea salt only, your kids will love it!
Purdy's No Sugar Added Milk Chocolate Bars - Keep the sugar rush at bay and enjoy the full chocolate flavour of these milk chocolate bars.
David's Milk Chocolate Potato Chips -I am drooling already! Sweet and salty, crunchy and smooth, chocolate AND chips, a match made in heaven.
Jakeman's Maple Pretzels - Another sweet and salty treat with the sweetness coming from pure maple.
Martin Munchies Cinnamon and Brown Sugar bites - Chewy bite sized clusters of whole roasted barley and rice and a hint of cinnamon and brown sugar, I am keeping my eye out to grab some of these little bites, pronto!
With a little creativity and thought, lunches can be a great hit! Don't forget to include some fruit or veggies and a beverage (a smoothie in a thermos, for example) to complete the meal.
For more fun lunch ideas, check my back to school post from 2009. What are you packing in your children's lunch box this season? What are your tips to keep it new and exciting?
