Lunch Ideas

Meals They Will Rave About!

My kids will eat anything (well... almost) if it looks interesting! If I give them peanut butter and jelly with fruit and string cheese - they will hardly touch it. BUT, take the same meal and make it a butterfly or space alien - they eat it all up!

PBJ Butterfly and alien/spaceship
Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Cut in half diagonal. Touch the outside corners together in the middle of the plate - these are the wings. Decorate with fruits and other foods. I like to string some string cheese and use that for the body and antennae's. Then I will add sliced bananas and/or raisins on the wings to make a design.

For the alien spaceship, I cut the sandwich into four squares and place them around the outside of the plate. String cheese and have it coming out towards the bottom - add banana slices and raisins for "buttons" and "lights".

Tortilla Roll Ups
I tried these out today and they were a big hit with my kids! Even my picky 3 year old ate them all up!!! Use a large tortilla and spread with cream cheese. Add lunch meat, shredded cheese and thinly sliced tomatoes. Roll it up using the cream cheese as "glue". Slice into 1-2 inch rolls. One large tortilla fed both my 6 and 3 year old.

Little Hula Pizzas
Use half an english muffin and spread some ketchup over it. Top with chopped ham, sliced pineapple and grated mozzarella cheese. Broil until the cheese melts. Toddlers and preschoolers really enjoy making their own food... put the ingredients on the table and let them build their own pizza.

Sandwiches Ideas

Don't just use regular sliced bread for sandwiches - get creative to keep your children interested in the meals you prepare. Here are some sliced bread alternatives.

Pita
Fill a pita with veggies and meat - or even something sweet like fruit and yogurt.

Tortilla Roll Ups
I tried these out today and they were a big hit with my kids! Even my picky 3 year old ate them all up!!! Use a large tortilla and spread with cream cheese. Add lunch meat, shredded cheese and thinly sliced tomatoes. Roll it up using the cream cheese as "glue". Slice into 1-2 inch rolls. One large tortilla fed both my 6 and 3 year old.

Try It Open Face
Turn any sandwich into a pizza by serving them open face. Melt cheese over tuna salad or any sort of meat... even put peanut butter and jelly under the broiler for a few minutes!

PBHB
Try new fillings to staple ideas... Surprise your preschoolers with peanut butter and honey with thinly sliced bananas on it - YUM!