Lunchtime Can Be Yum-time!
If your child has a special diet it can be a tough when the lunch bell rings. While some kids are very proud and vocal about their dietary differences, others are a little uncomfortable eating meals that look different than their classmates.
My favorite part of back to school shopping was picking out my new lunch box. Today’s kids have so many choices we never dreamed of. The stainless steel tiffin below comes in 1 to 4 levels. Add in a little salad or fruit and your picky eater won’t feel quite so overwhelmed. It always works with Cheryl my 40 year old, and she can be fussier than 10 year olds I know!
Personally, I love my tiffin because I can pack breakfast, lunch and a snack a have the whole day planned before I walk out the door to work. The one thing about having a special diet is grabbing a last minute meal can be harder depending on where you live. These stackable beauties cost more than a typical lunchbox, but will last forever.
Bento boxes of all kinds are wonderful too. I love the not-quite-right English on some of them, but they are fun no matter what. Amazon has has tons of bento boxes and veggie cutters that help decorate it beautifully. I like a panda bento and a cat bento. Plus they have the cutest soy sauce containers too.
One way to help your child fit in is by packing them sandwiches. They seem to be great middle ground. There are great gluten-free breads that look just like its wheat counterparts. And something as simple as a rinsed can of chickpeas can become a wonderful mock tuna salad once it’s mixed with a few staples in your fridge. Use dinner rolls to make mini sandwiches, lavash to make rollups, and you can even use whole grain crackers to make a healthy “Lunchable” substitute.
One of my favorite sandwiches is just as easy as spreading a little vegan cream cheese and topping it with thinly sliced veggies or fruit. I loved an herbed cream cheese with cucumbers or tomatoes. But you can’t beat plain with fresh sliced fruit and a bit of jam.
Don’t forget to work that thermos. Of course they are perfect for left over soups and stews, but they can hold so much more. Vegan nacho cheese stays warm and will be envied by all as the dip whole grain tortilla strips in.
Sloppy Joes of all kinds are perfect for a thermos. The variations on these are practically endless, but always delicious if you’re a kid or not! Check out the two recipes below for a lentil bbq and a Hawaiian one with pineapple. They are both by Key Ingredient members.
Make sure to sign up for your own Key Ingredient account if you haven’t already.
