Columbia Family / August 2012 / Happy Sandwich, Happy Child

Aug 1, 201201:02 PMColumbia Family

Ideas And Resources For Mid-Missouri Parents

Happy Sandwich, Happy Child

One of the strongest memories of my school days is lunch!  Lunch not only signified the middle of the school day, it meant recess came next!  Even the most relaxed learners need to stretch their legs, take in new scenery and interact with their friends. The back-to-back time slots of lunch and recess help achieve these much needed mental breaks. However, to this day, I cannot pack a sandwich for lunch or eat ramen and cheap microwave meals. Taking the same lunch almost every day killed my desire and pallet for the foods that were part of my lunch.  In an effort to avoid the same for my children, I started seeking out new and fresh ideas for their lunch box.  Here are a few of those simple and easy changes that help break the routine and change up the cycle.

            Cookie Cutter Sandwich

            You’ll need:

• Various Cookie Cutters
• Peanut Butter & Jelly or Honey
• 2 slices of bread

Let your child pick out the shape or surprise them!  Build the sandwich and use the shape to cut out the design. Pack & send! This also works for turkey, ham, tuna and various other sandwich fillings.  Change up the meats, cheeses, condiments and bread to avoid the same ole sandwich every day. My kids love choosing a cookie cutter but also ask to be surprised. It’s fun to open your lunch box and find something different inside. Keep in mind that these cutters are versatile, helping you achieve the most bang for your buck. Use them for cookies, tracing, play dough and various other imaginative and creative ways.

Mini Pizza Delights

You’ll need:

• 1 tube (11.3 ounces) refrigerated dinner rolls
• Pizza Sauce – any kind, pick your favorite
• 1 package shredded cheese – any kind, pick your favorite
• Sliced turkey, ham, pepperoni, onion, green peppers or any of your favorite pizza toppings

Cut the dough into eight separate rolls.  Cut each of these into quarters, making four separate pieces.  This gives you 32 mini rolls of dough.  Using a mini muffin pan, press each piece into its own cup, making sure to cover the bottom and sides. Make sure the pan is coated with a cooking spray so they don’t stick.

Load the cups!  Layer the cups with sauce, toppings and cheese. Using a spoon makes this process easy. Bake the cups at 375 degrees for 15 -18 minutes. The crust should be brown and the cheese melted. Serve warm or cold.

Tip: These can be made ahead and refrigerated for the next day’s lunch.  If you make them for dinner, the left overs are sure to be a hit the next day.

Apple Delight

What you’ll need:

• Apple cored and sliced
• Peanut butter or yogurt

This lunch is not only healthy, it’s easy. Simply core an apple and slice it to make wedges or chips. Pack plenty of peanut butter or yogurt for dipping. Kids love finger foods and dipping. What could be better?

The most important thing to remember is variety. Feel free to take ideas and make them your own. Contour to taste, change up jelly flavors, turkey or ham flavors (mesquite, smoked, Cajun) and give a little variety If your child is happy and healthy they will be able to concentrate and learn better.  Plus, it’s fun to be the cool mom on the block.  Remember it doesn’t have to be difficult but life should be fun!