Packing school lunch is not an easy task. It requires daily inspiration and motivation to develop new ideas and recipes for a kids’ lunchbox. While this can be stressful for some parents, it doesn’t need to be. There are a few tips that one can use to make it easy and interesting.
The first tip is to aim for balance when preparing a student’s lunchbox. Balance means one should try to ensure all the main food groups are covered on most days. The second tip is to come up with a list of foods one wants their kid likes. It may not be the best idea to try unfamiliar foods if the kid is a picky eater.
Another tip is to keep everything visible and accessible. This especially applies to younger students who need to easily open the lunchbox and see everything they need to eat. If the student is not eating their packed lunch, it is better to pack less for them instead of increasing the amount. In addition to all these tips, coming up with interesting recipes also works well, so let’s look at some recipes that one can consider.
- Ham, Cheese, and Mustard wraps
These are easy to make, freezer-friendly, and great for lunchboxes. Once they are cooked, one can freeze them for up to two months as long as they are in a freezer-safe container. Pair these with some grapes and have the student bring an empty lunchbox home every time. For twelve wraps, one will need:
- 2 cups of self-raising flour and extra for dusting the bench
- Two-third cup milk
- Half a tsp salt
- 150 grams butter
- 3 tbsp mustard
- 150g ham
- Extra milk to brush the scrolls with
- 1 cup of grated tasty cheese
Method
- Preheat the oven at 210 degrees and line the tray with baking paper
- Sift the self-raising flour and salt in a bowl and rub in the butter until the consistency is like that of breadcrumbs
- Slowly add milk and mix
- Lightly knead the dough into a smooth ball and use a rolling pin to roll it into a rectangle before spreading the butter and mustard on the dough.
- Brush one long edge with a little milk, then scatter the cheese and ham over the dough.
- Carefully roll the dough until enclosed, starting with the long side without the milk.
- Place on a baking tray and sprinkle some extra grated cheese after cutting it into twelve slices
- Bake for 25 minutes or until it is cooked through or until it turns golden brown.
- Corn and Ham Mini Quiches
While not many people grew up on mini quiches, they are a yummy quick meal for kids and adults alike. They are perfect for a student lunchbox as they are filling and tasty. The fact that one can fill them with anything also makes them interesting. To make them, here is what one will need:
- Eight slices whole grain or multigrain bread, and remove the crusts
- 50 ham slices, finely chopped
- 125g can corn kernels, drained
- Two green trimmed and thinly sliced onions
- Six eggs, lightly whisked
- 20g softened butter
- 35g grated cheddar cheese
Method
- Preheat the oven to 160 degrees.
- Roll out the bread slices to 5mm thick using a rolling pin, then brush each slice with butter.
- Line muffin pans which are buttered-side down with bread slices.
- Arrange the ham, cheese, green onions, and corn in each pan.
- Bake for fifteen minutes in a preheated oven until lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven, set aside to cool slightly, then place in an airtight container in the fridge to chill.
- Toast Pizza, Carrot, and Cucumber with Hummus and Berries
This is an excellent option for older students who need a little more in their lunchbox. More often than not, older students have more school work to get through and take part in other activities. Sites like ‘do my math homework for me’ help these students with some work, but in most cases, they need all the energy they can get to do the homework themselves.
To make a toasted pizza, one needs a slice of bread and a few toppings. Toast the bread first, add the toppings, and put it in the oven to melt the cheese. It is delicious when cold, just like pizza, which makes it great for lunchboxes.
To prepare hummus, one needs the following:
- One can of canned chickpeas
- One clove of garlic
- Half a cup of plain, low-fat yogurt
- One tablespoon olive oil
- One dash of salt
- One fl oz raw lemon juice
Mix all ingredients in a food processor and blend. Serve chilled
Other ingredients
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Berries of choice
- Cubed Cheese, Pumpkin Seeds, Cherry Tomatoes, Avocado, Blueberries, and Grapes
This is what one would call a snacky lunch, and it’s perfect for picky eaters. It is healthy and gives options to the student when they want to eat something. To keep the avocado beautifully green while in the lunchbox, one can brush it up with a little lemon or lime juice before putting it in the lunchbox, which should be airtight.
- Sweet Potato and Bacon Slice
This is a yummy slice that a student will love in their lunchbox, and the whole family will also enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-raising flour
- 1 tsp garlic
- One shredded zucchini
- I cup grated cheese
- One shredded sweet potato
- Four shredded bacon rashers
- Four eggs
- One tbsp chives
- One diced onion
- One pinch of pepper
Method
- Mix all the ingredients.
- Place them on a non-stick slice tray
- Bake at 220 degrees for 40-50 minutes.
Conclusion
Preparing a lunchbox for a student does not have to be boring or a difficult task. The most important thing is to think ahead and pre-plan, if necessary, to avoid feeling overwhelmed every day trying to come up with new ideas. With these simple recipes, both the parent and the student will be happy and go about their day feeling fulfilled.