Fun Stuff for Kids

Follow these easy guidelines to transform bag lunches from the everyday ho-hum to something delicious worth digging into:

• Look for as much variety as you can. Use different types of bread (or perhaps crackers, tortillas or rice cakes) for sandwiches; cut sandwiches into different shapes; look for different colors of fruit and vegetables.
• Enlist your child's help in both choosing the foods for lunch and preparing them. Don't give too many choices. Set parameters for the choice: ask whether she would like grapes or oranges, or a peanut butter or tuna sandwich.
• Since time is of the essence, cut fruit and vegetables into bite-size pieces, peel oranges or tangerines, and make sure food is in easy-to-open containers.
• Try low-fat ranch dressing for veggies and yogurt for fruit to make this part of the meal more attractive.
• If your child likes salads, include bits of leftover tuna, chicken or beef for added protein.
• Jazz up peanut butter sandwiches by including sliced bananas, honey, marshmallow fluff, sliced apples or pretzels. Surprise! It's not the same old sandwich anymore.
• Leftover pizza is a great addition to a bag lunch.
• Make fruit, vegetable or even cheese kabobs.
• To make sure your child gets enough calcium, pack cheese cubes, string cheese, cottage cheese or pudding.
• Encourage milk or water to drink.
• Try hummus or other bean dips with crackers or baked pita chips for a fun and easy-to-eat meal.
• Add a sweet treat for dessert: two or three cookies, pudding, graham crackers and a small muffin are all smart choices.

Instead of a plain brown bag ...

Pack your child's lunch in an insulated container that holds a reusable cold pack, or use a frozen juice box to keep the rest of the meal cold. A wide-mouth thermal container works great for soups or chili. Use microwavable containers to store food safely. Add a sticker, personal note, special napkin or other item that shows you're thinking of your child.