School Lunch Ideas

I can’t believe that school is back in session in just a short two weeks!  This summer has flown by this year.  Jayna will be starting the 3-year-old program at her school and will once again be eating lunch there as well.  So twice a week I have to come up with fresh, healthy, and portable food for her to eat.  And her routine lunch of peanut butter and jelly, heated up leftovers, a bunch of grapes, and a fruit snack won’t work at school.  And yes, she really does eat all of that!  And to top it off, I’m just not that creative {or a morning person}….so I can’t be one of these moms.

 Source

So I’ve been scouring the internet {aka Pinterest} for some easy, make ahead meals.  Preferably ones I can maybe freeze too.  Here’s what I came up with:

I love the idea of smoothies.  Healthy AND yummy.  But they are kind of a pain to make every morning…..but, if I make several and freeze them, by the time Jayna’s lunchtime rolls around, they shold be nice and thawed in her lunchbox!  This site has a bunch of different flavor ideas.

Meet the Dubiens

And I found a bunch of cute ideas of muffin-tin lunches.  Although Buggy won’t have access to a microwave, I’m hoping if I heat them up and wrap them in foil, they’ll stay pretty warm.

Little Potpies stocked with veggies and meat and topped with Bisquick!

Betty Crocker

Don’t you just love the tiny pepperoni?

Really From Pinterest

Here’s one I’ve actually made before.  The personalized mac and cheese bites are definitely a crowd pleaser!

Mostly Food and Crafts 

And the next two are from my friend Jaima….she has tons of great freezer and toddler recipes on her site.

 Ring Around the Rosies

And the seven layer dip that we bring to um, every single party? What if I just make them in little individual Tupperware instead?

The Girl Who Ate Everything 

I also had a few of my own ideas too! {gasp!}

• I make these little cream cheese pinwheels for parties using tortillas, cream cheese and dry ranch dressing….I’m thinking of doing those again, but adding more veggies (like peppers, broccoli, carrot strips,etc.) inside before rolling them up and slicing them.
• We routinely make stuffed crescent rolls for dinner and it has become a favorite quick dinner.  We’ve done pesto, mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes….cheddar, apples and onion vinagrette….and of course string cheese, pizza sauce and pepperoni (I’m sure you can find that on pinterest!!).  What about ham and cheese?  Or bacon and eggs inside?  Super portable and freezer-friendly!
• I also thought about making little burrito bowls.  Taco meat, cheese and salsa in a Tupperware in the freezer.  Thaw it out and top with sour cream for the lunchbox? Hmmmm…..

I also plan on stocking up on and pre-washing, cutting and bagging various fruit, veggies, cheese cubes, and crackers.  And this year, because she is in the big girl class, Jayna can finally bring dried fruit to school!  So trail mix is also an option.

How about you?  Got any ideas for me?  They have to be peanut-free though.  Leave me a comment!