Summer is sailing right on by and before long it’ll be time to start packing school lunches again. Don’t get caught off guard by the back-to-school morning rush or be tempted to reach for those pricey pre-boxed lunches at the store. Instead, start gathering ideas now for those first few weeks of school lunches. TheRTAStore has rounded up four healthy lunch ideas that kids will love. Check out these easy, delicious recipes below:
Meat and Cheese Roll-ups:
This breadless option is perfect for the kid that’s gluten-free. Simply take thinly sliced deli meat and lay a slice of cheese on top. Tightly roll up the meat and cheese and secure it with a decorative toothpick. How easy is that? Serve with fresh fruit and cut veggies for a well-balanced lunch.
PB & J “Sushi”
While PB & J “Sushi” is a new take on the classic sammy, it keeps the same flavor profile kids love. Start by rolling out and slightly overlapping two pieces of crust-less whole wheat bread or just use a whole wheat tortilla for faster assembly. Smear bread or tortilla with peanut butter (almond butter is a great option too!). Next, spread fruit jam or add thin fruit slices, like strawberries or bananas, on top of the peanut butter. Tightly roll the bread or tortilla and cut it sushi-style into 4 or 5 uniform slices. This is kid-friendly finger-food at its finest!
Mini Quiches
Prepare this mini quiche recipe a day or two before school starts and pop them into the freezer. First, grease two (24 cup) mini-muffin tins and preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook ¾ pound of bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until it’s crispy. Remove bacon, reserving about a tablespoon of rendered fat in the pan. Cook three cups of diced leeks in the bacon grease until they’re soft (about five minutes). Remove them from the skillet and allow them to cool.
Meanwhile, whisk together 1 ¼ cup of half and half, one cup of grated extra-sharp Cheddar, two large eggs, two large egg yolks, two tablespoons of chopped, fresh thyme (sub dried if needed), salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Stir in the cooled leeks and bacon. Roll out one sheet of puff-pastry dough at a time and cut it into circles using a three-inch cookie or biscuit cutter. Place a round of pastry dough into each muffin cup and pour in about 1 tablespoon of filling. Bake the mini quiches on the top and bottom thirds of the oven for 20 minutes, switching positions halfway through.
Mini Pita Pizzas
Skip the processed boxed version at the store for this more nutritious version. You’ll need small whole wheat pitas, bottled marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices. Spread each mini pita with marinara, top with pepperoni slices, and shredded cheese. Broil for a few minutes until the cheese is melted. You can also leave these unassembled and let your child do it themselves at lunch. Serve with raw veggies and homemade ranch dressing for a healthy lunch!
TheRTAStore has everything you need to get your kitchen organized before the kids head back to school. Check out all of our organizational cabinet accessories, including these sliding woven baskets that are perfect for storing and accessing kid-friendly snacks and fruits.
