School Lunch Ideas

This is the mission: Fun and Nutritious Lunches at School or at Home.

Step 1: Get Inspired!
Think protein, carbohydrate, and fat sources as your baseline, add in veggies, fruit and dairy to make it balanced.  Ask your kiddos (and yourself) what do you want to eat for lunches this week?

Need ideas?
Amazing Moms 
School Family
Brown Bag Lunch Recipes

Step 2: Write It down
When is your regular grocery shopping day? Have you remembered to include lunch items on the list?

Step 3: Make It to Go!
A few tips when it comes to prepping lunches:
1.     Stock up on small storable containers and lids to make packing up easy.
2.     Save time by chopping up veggies for the whole week or purchase them pre-cut. Examples: slicing 2 bell peppers, halving a ½ pint of cherry tomatoes, slicing up carrots or broccoli
3.     Is there anything that you can cook ahead of time…likes hard boiled eggs, grilled chicken, a cold pasta salad, blanched veggies?

Prepping ahead choices:
A.     The Morning Of
B.     The Night Before
C.     2-3 Days at a Time

There is not one right solution to when to prep your lunches. The important thing is that it gets done and you find a time that you can be consistent with doing it.

Zen Recipe Corner:
Homemade Pita Chips with Yogurt Dip
1 package whole wheat pita bread
2 tbsp olive oil
½ cup plain, whole milk yogurt or traditional Greek yogurt-like Fage or Quark brands

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. With pizza cutter, slice pitas into mini triangles. Using small brush or paper towel, brush a little oil on each triangle slice. Place on baking tray oiled side down then brush the opposite side with oil. Bake for about 5 minutes or until desired browness, turn pitas then make opposite side for another 5 or so minutes. Let cool. Serve with yogurt to dip. Enjoy!

Variations:
Mix different herbs into the oil before brushing it onto the pita.  Try adding salad dressing mixes to the yogurt to make tasty new dips. Ranch is a go-to favorite in my house.