Are you stuck in a peanut butter and jelly school lunch rut? Are you worried your child is not getting the brain boosting nutrients he or she needs for school?
Get creative and have fun by changing the ordinary by adding some new and fun options. However, you need to create a buffet of different options and let your child make his or her own creation. It will be hard but do not offer opinions or suggestions. Just watch or even better build a sandwich or snack for yourself. Try something new and get excited about it. Being a role model may encourage your child to be adventurous.
The idea is to mix something new with something old and let it grow into different variations. Offer a selection of sandwich bases, fun spreadables, and don’t forget your toppings or what we call “sprinkles” in our home! Pay attention to what your children make and you will get new ideas for a healthier school lunch.
Good Luck and Have Fun!
Base Ideas:
· Whole Wheat Bread (use cookie cutters for fun shapes)
· Specialty bread (raisin bread, rye, sourdough, etc)
· Pitas
· Rice Cake
· Tortilla
· English Muffins
· Graham Crackers
· Whole Wheat Crackers
· Mini Bagels
· Buns (hotdog/hamburger)
Fun Spreadables:
· Jams/Peanut butter
· Honey
· Hummus
· Applesauce
· Mashed bananas (might have to add apple juice or pineapple juice to decrease browning)
· Pureed Mango
· Sunflower butter (brain boosting)
· Mashed avocado (brain boosting)
· Vanilla Yogurt mixed with peanut butter
· Bean Dip
· Salsa
Sprinkles:
· Flax seed meal or seeds (brain boosting)
· Wheatgerm (brain boosting)
· Raisins or other dried fruit
· Diced/shredded apple
· Diced/shredded carrot
· Shredded coconut
· Granola
· Pumpkin seeds (brain boosting)
· Sunflower seeds (brain boosting)
· Sprouts
· Shredded or diced zucchini, cucumber
· Sliced strawberries
· Cherry tomato diced
· Diced pastured egg (brain boosting)
Here is an example recipe we love in our home: sun butter and yogurt spread! It is great to dip fruit or make a sandwich with by adding thinly sliced apples and raisins.



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Good ideas! Even I found myself stuck in the rut only eating PBJ. Love this post
Great ideas! I’ll send this link to my daughter for her two school age kids.
These are great ideas. Normally my kids do not take lunches, but hubby does and I know he would love some of these!
thanks for sharing…great ideas!