Locker-friendly Lunchbox Ideas
Parents are interested in packing bagged lunches that need to meet a few requirements: Typically a parent wants to know:
- What keeps well in a locker or backpack for several hours?
- With the latest rises in food cost, what is inexpensive?
- And always, what is nutritious?
Lunchbox Ideas
Here are some bagged lunch ideas that meet all of the requirements so that you can be assured you're sending your children off to school with safe and nutritious foods to get them through their day.
For those tired of the old peanut butter & jelly stand by try these creative sandwich suggestions.
BLT Pita Pocket: Cut a round of pita bread in half and stuff with cooked bacon, lettuce and tomato. Dress with low-fat mayonnaise.* Chill overnight.
Peanut Butter & Banana with Honey: Assemble peanut butter spread, thin sliced bananas, and drizzled honey between two slices of whole wheat bread just as the name says.
Apple Sandwich: Spread peanut butter between two slices of whole wheat bread and top with thin sliced apples.
Dips & Skewers: Kids love to dip! They will eat just about anything if they can dip it. Pick up some hummus dip at the grocery store (or make your own from recipe below) and pack it with sliced veggies like carrots, celery, cucumber, sugar snap peas (which also come bagged & washed now), cherry tomatoes, or red and yellow bell pepper slices.
On toothpicks, you can skewer small pieces of cantaloupe, banana, pineapple or apples. Pack the skewers in a Tupperware container to keep them from getting squashed.
Easy Hummus Recipe
Prep Time = 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Preparation:
In a food processor, blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. This mixture can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.
*Commercially prepared mayonnaise is not a food safety problem. Many foods that are typically used with mayonnaise, such as chicken, ham, or potatoes, are more susceptible to bacterial growth than mayonnaise itself. Mayonnaise contains vinegar, lemon juice and salt which create an unfavorable environment for bacteria that slow or prevent its growth. Just make sure to chill well before packing, keep out of direct sunlight, and discard any uneaten food after lunchtime.
This information has been developed by Angela Rossi. Angela is a certified chef and the Director of Food Services as well as Clinical Nutrition Services at National Jewish Health. For specific diet information tailored to your needs, we recommend you consult with one of our registered dietitians.
