Tracey Bybee - 31 Deliciously Easy Lunchbox Recipes & Ideas

Crabby Morning Mommy Series

31 Deliciously Easy Lunchbox Recipes & Ideas

One Month of Ridiculously Easy Packing

by Tracey Bybee

Cloudchaser Publishing

31 Deliciously Easy Lunchbox Recipes & Ideas: One Month of Ridiculously Easy Packing

Copyright 2013 Tracey Bybee

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Other books in the Crabby Morning Mommy Series:

31 Deliciously Easy School Breakfasts ( http://amzn.to/1cLo6of )

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Crutch for Building Lunchboxes

Are you in a rut with packing school lunches? Are you short on time but worry about whether your child is getting a nutritious meal at school? Then this is the place for you. As a mom of three girls, I have packed my fair share of school lunches. I used to dread getting up in the morning to pack them. And, to be honest, mornings still are not my cup of tea. Blurry eyed, and usually running late, I used to revert to the same ol same ol.

About four years ago, I started collecting and developing my own better lunchbox menu ideasA sort of go-to crutch in the morning where I did not have to think to pack the simplest, nutritious and variety-filled lunches. We know what foods our kids like, we know what is healthy, but sometimes its hard to remember those quick options available when you are rushed and/or tired.

Meals so delicious parents will want to eat them tooWhich is a huge time and money saver in itself, because working parents can now look forward to brown bagging it to work as you throw together the same lunch for your kids. Just because they are kids doesnt mean they have to eat a perpetual mix of princess and action hero packaged garbage everyday. Try acquainting them to new (and easy) lunch menus. You might be surprised!

Variety is the spice of lifeThere are probably things in here your kids havent tried. Give them a whirl and dont get discouraged! I realize a lot of kids are picky eaters, but unless we introduce them to a variety of foods then they will never acquire new tastes. Food is fun, and its fun to try new things.

Portions You know your kids best. From my lunchroom observations, I see two things: a lot of waste, and a lot of large portions of unhealthy items (of mostly things like chips). A discussion on our nations obesity problem is for another book. Still, in these pages feel free to tailor the portion to meet your childs needs; keeping in mind they dont eat the same quantity as you do. A lunchbox of 400-500 calories low in fat should do for a 4 to 8 year old.

If you want zero work, then this isnt the book for youthats where you send along a Lunchable pre-packaged deal or send money for the flabby school lunch. What I promise here are good ideas that are easy, fast, well rounded, and nutritious with minimal planning. My hope for this book is to present lunchboxes in a ridiculously simple way. These arent new ideas, just menu items and combinations that you may not have considered for a while, or werent aware of how easy and fast they were to throw in the ol lunchbox. This is a compilation of menus/recipes that you can use as your handholding in your own crazy busy pre-dawn household. I hope you will try these simple lunch recipes and edit them to find yours or your childs favorite taste.

I hope by sharing my collection, that you find some new tricks to re-tool your own arsenal of ideas, and share with other moms who are bored of the usual lunchbox drill. This is how I got through a year of monotonous lunch building. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Get Your Veg On: No-Lettuce Salads & Rice Bowls

Salads like ones that follow are more popular with my kids than their lettuce-version cousins because, since they travel better, they look more appealing at the other end. Take a break from sandwiches; skip the thermos and keeping stuff hotthese meals pack nutrition and offer variety to the same ol same ol. These are equally wonderful for mom and dads lunchbox too.

TIP: I was frustrated some days when I packed a new lunch the girls hadn't seen before because most of it came home in a mangled mess. Something that has worked for me has been to call them over in the morning to see what I am preparing and loading up for them so they can get a sneak peek (and I can explain how yummy its going to be). It gives me a chance to head of any doubts they have of trying something new! I've also given a "surprise" at the end of the day if the new lunch is entirely eaten (honor system here on this point).

Couscous

Couscous is a ridiculously easy and fast item to prepare, with a ton of add-in options! It makes a great side dish the night before, so leftovers make this lunchbox even easier. And, it is great hot or cold! Thats why I put it in the No-Lettuce-Salad section. Think of it as a speedy (10min) rice that can be paired with almost anything. Once again, you can shave the chicken from the pre-made roaster chicken you bought for other recipes or there is pre-cooked chicken in your freezer section. Same goes for time-saver pre-cook veggies. Here are some of my girls favorites that just take 15min to prepare:

1. Chicken Cheese Couscous

Prepare couscous according to directions. Mix in 2c of chicken diced, 1/4c feta cheese, and 1c fresh chopped tomatoes, 1/2c broccoli florets, 1 clove of garlic chopped.

2. Parmesan Chicken Couscous

Prepare couscous according to directions. Mix in 1c diced chicken, 2T Parmesan cheese, basil (fresh is best)

TIP: I like packing healthy lunches and if I feel like I have a well-rounded meal, I throw in a Halloween-size chocolate as a treat. The kids feel like they are getting something special but not in the ridiculously large king-size version weve grown accustomed to.

3. Tomato Parmesan Couscous

Prepare couscous according to directions except replace water with chicken broth. Add 2 cloves diced garlic, asparagus spears (pre-cooked ones in your freezer section), 1 diced plum tomato, 3/4c Parmesan cheese.

*Other great add-ins includes peas, green onions, Gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries, pesto sauce, mushrooms, and diced bell pepper. Mix and match what tastes suit your lunchboxer!

4. Artichoke Dip

This is amazingly filling! In a deep bowl combine: 1 can artichoke hearts, 1 can chickpeas, cup of mayonnaise, garlic salt, 1T lemon juice, 2T Parmesan. I use a hand blender like the kind you make smoothies with to blend until pureedthis saves on cleanup of your food processor. Send along to school with pita chips or sliced veggies.

TIP: One of my favorite lunchbox tricks is frozen 8 oz. waters that I use to keep lunches cool. By the time lunchtime rolls aroundice cold water!

5. Blueberry Corn Bean No-Lettuce Salad

Combine 1c blueberries, 3/4c frozen corn, 1 can black beans rinsed. Toss with your favorite vinaigrette and cilantro. Send along with a buttered roll.

TIP: Short on time and want to add more vegetables? Look for menu items (like spaghetti sauce) that you can add a 4 oz. jar of squash or carrot baby food to. Its a fast way to sneak in more nutrition without bothering with pureeing.

6. THE Chicken Salad

A personal favorite! Use the rest of the pre-made roaster chicken you used in Hail Caesar! Combine 1lb chopped chicken, 1 can artichokes, 1 can black beans, scallions, capers. Mix with 2 Tbs of your favorite vinaigrette and send along with pita bread or pita chips.