Get Packing!

Take the monotony out of lunchbox meals. These recipe ideas and quick tips will make this daily chore a little more enjoyable - and intriguing.

Recipe Ideas

• Roast beef sandwich - Thinly slice the leftover Herbed Sirloin Roast for an incredible roast beef sandwich.
• Soup - Quick Beef Soup offers a fresh and healthy alternative to canned soups. Make it for dinner and plan for leftovers in the lunchbox.
• Pastrami pinwheels - Sliced as a pinwheel or left whole as a cigar, these breadless sandwiches make lunch fun.
• Vegetable Confetti Bagel - Spread a bagel with cream cheese. Sprinkle liberally with finely diced raw veggies.
• Spicy Popcorn - Put about 8 cups freshly popped popcorn (popped in oil) in a paper bag. Sprinkle with one teaspoon no-salt seasoning and 1/4 teaspoon chili powder. Shake it vigorously.
• Stuffed Apple - Fill a cored apple with peanut butter and top this with raisins.

Planning Tips

• Get the kids involved in meal planning.
• Let the kids take charge. Fill three bowls: one with fruits, another with vegetables and a third with snacks and desserts. Let the kids choose one item from each bowl. You add the sandwich.
• Organize lunches around colors, shapes, holidays or nationalities.
• Vary the bread-use hot dog buns or pitas for sandwiches.
• Cut it out-Pinwheel sandwiches or sandwich kabob (all sandwich parts on a skewer) makes the meal more fun.
• Pack a fruit smoothie in a thermos. Blend half a banana, half cup of any frozen or fresh berries, and a cup of milk.

Packing Tips

• The night before, fill a freezable drink container halfway with the beverage you plan to pack. Freeze the liquid overnight. In the morning, fill the rest of the bottle with a little more of the same beverage. By lunchtime, your child's drink will be just cold enough.
• Eliminate soggy sandwiches-Butter the bread first or use flavored cream cheese. For PB & Js, spread peanut butter on both pieces of bread then layer the jam in between.
• Add a box of fruit juice that has been frozen overnight. By lunchtime, they will be defrosted and will help keep the other foods cool.
• Create an assembly line to speed up the process. Place all ingredients and items on the counter in order of use.