How great does it feel to give your child something nutritious and interesting to eat in their school lunch? I am, on a daily basis, trying to find ways for my daughter to eat her veggies without a struggle. It can be hard to know how to constantly mix it up and make things interesting with limited time and energy, but here are just a few easy, fun, and yummy suggestions for you to try this week that I recommend, and hopefully your kids (and you) will love them!
BLTA Wraps
Mash an avocado with lemon juice, then spread onto a whole wheat wrap. Top with crumbled bacon, chopped tomatoes, and thinly sliced romaine lettuce. Roll up and wrap in parchment or wax paper to secure the sandwich.
Turkey and Cheese Pita Pockets
Spread a creamy cheese, such as a Boursin, inside a whole wheat pita, then fill with roast turkey slices, baby spinach leaves, and cucumber slices.
Avocado, Carrot, and Cucumber Sushi
Brush a toasted nori sheet with sesame oil and season with salt. Press cold sushi rice on top in a thin layer. Tightly roll avocado slices, shredded carrots and cucumber sticks. Slice crosswise and pack with a packet of soy sauce.
Ants on a Log
Remember these from your own childhood? We also used toothpicks to secure cut carrot piece wheels for the log to turn into a car… Fill a couple of inches of celery with either cream cheese, almond, or peanut butter and place a few raisins in it for the “ants.” This will not only be a conversation starter for your kid at lunchtime, but also makes it fun for her to eat something healthy!
Pasta Salad with Salami and Mozzarella
Toss up this salad with 2 cups of gemelli or other short pasta the night before, and your kid will love the combo of fresh tomatoes, salami, pasta and cheese the next day. To the pasta, add chopped spinach, halved grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cut into pieces, salami, olive oil, white wine vinegar, kosher salt, black pepper.
Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.
