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Back to school: School lunch ideas your kids will actually want to eat

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By Holly Lasha

Back to School: School Lunches Your Kids Will Actually Eat. Need some mom advice for quick and easy back to school lunches for your kids? Do you have a picky eater or need some non-sandwich options? We have rounded up the best lunch ideas and healthy recipes to share today! Be sure to check out all our lunch box ideas!  Also spend some time with our back to school hacks and back to school teacher gifts.

Before my daughter starting going to school, I had no idea how big of a deal “lunch” was. I mean, I guess I remember from way back in the day when I was in school the social hierarchy of lunch time.  And then I left school and grew up and forgot everything.  Typical mom, right?

As so many things in my life, my oldest daughter is here tell me everything I am missing!

Both of my girls are pretty good little eaters.  They love fruits and veggies.  They don’t turn up their noses to healthy recipes…at least not when mom is sitting there watching.  Then little Aubrey goes back to school and I find  un-eaten, un-opened food in her backpack at the end of the day. Things like PB&J…she LOVES PB&J!

Why uneaten?  “It didn’t look cool.”  Really?  She’s 4!

So the solution, I have found to the uneaten food…make it look cool.  If it’s “cool”..it’s eaten.  (Even when it has spinach on it!)  So some mom advice to  help all us uncool moms with our lame lunches…I have some amazing back to school lunch ideas and healthy recipes that will get your kids excited about eating their lunch!

BENTO BOX IDEAS

1000 SCHOOL LUNCHES FROM WHAT LISA COOKS

This site has over 1000 school lunches that are full of kid friendly foods and creative ideas. These school lunches use a bento style reusable container.

101 SCHOOL LUNCHES FROM THE DATING DIVAS

Here are some more awesome bento school lunches.  I love the variety of options and the healthy food choices.  I especially love the silicone baking cups as dividers.

A YEAR OF HEALTHY LUNCHES FROM EASY LUNCH BOXES

You never need to think to hard about healthy recipes for lunch with this list of a whole year’s worth of healthy school lunches.

30 SCHOOL LUNCHES FROM BENTO LUNCH

Meatballs, wraps and more.  Here are more amazing school lunch ideas.  I love the idea of adding cute little things into their lunches too.  Why not make them look cute, right?

125 HEALTHY SCHOOL LUNCHES FROM HOLLEY GRAINGER

I love these awesome ideas….almost as much as I love this Bentgo box.  This is great for packing things like yogurt or dips without spilling all over the place!

HOT LUNCHES

THERMOS SCHOOL LUNCHES FROM KEELEY MCGUIRE

This post has 26 meal ideas for a thermos.  This is so great for cold days when your kids need something with a little warmth.

THINGS TO PUT IN A THERMOS FROM MY MOMMY STYLE

There are so many ways to use a thermos.  Here are some clever, less obvious uses for a thermos in your kids’ lunches.  What a great way to send healthy recipes in your kids lunch box!!

ALTERNATIVES TO SANDWICHES

DIY FRUIT KABOBS FROM CREATIVE LIVE

Get them excited about their food by jazzing it up!!!  Use these fun little letter cookies cutters to make fruit kabobs!!!  Anytime we can make healthy food look this cute…golden!

KID FRIENDLY WRAPS FROM SUPER HEALTHY KIDS

This post has some awesome healthy wrap ideas your kids will go bananas over!   I love the idea of wrapping different foods and giving them fun and healthy foods in their lunch box.

SANDWICH KABOBS FROM EAT DRINK LOVE

Another amazing kabob idea.  Why have a boring sandwich when you can make your sandwich into a cute kabob??  Mom Advice: These cookies cutters are perfect for little kabobs.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SUSHI ROLLS BY BON APPETITE

Way to make simple PB&J fun and interesting.  This is a winner!  You can make it bite-sized, which cuts down on the mess and they are a hit with the kiddos.

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MUFFINS AND MORE!

HAM AND MAC & CHEESE MUFFINS FROM I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR

Hooray for muffins you kids will love for lunch!!  This is an especially great way to use some left overs too!

CORNDOG NUGGETS FROM LIL LUNA

This recipe for corndog nuggets is easy and would be great for lunch time!  My kids will go crazy for these this year!

PIZZA BUNS FROM SIMPLE AS THAT

Pizza that looks like a cinnamon roll?  Yes Please!!!  This is a fun and easy way to send pizza in their lunch.

CRESCENT HOT DOG POCKET FROM CRAZY ADVENTURES IN PARENTING

Let’s keep the hot dog ideas coming…your kids will love these pockets.  They are functional and fun!

PIZZA MUFFINS BY LICK THE BOWL GOOD

Ummm, yes please may I have another??  These are bited sized and yummy!  And soooo much less messy than regular pizza.  Winner,winner, chick dinner!

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs 033

I hope you loved these back to school lunches and healthy recipes for kids!!  Be sure to check out all our lunch box ideas!  Also spend some time with our back to school hacks and back to school teacher gifts.

 

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EDIBLES

Simplify family dinners with easy, one-pan meals

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(Feature Impact) When busy weeknights leave little time for prepping dinner – or cleaning it up afterward – simple recipes can make a difference. With a few flavorful ingredients and a single pan or casserole dish, you can get a satisfying meal on the family table without spending hours in the kitchen or leaving behind a sink full of dirty dishes.

Convenient ingredients like rice lend themselves well to a variety of easy recipes. For example, this zesty, Asian-inspired Lime-Ginger Shrimp Fried Rice combines sauteed shrimp with sweet mango, citrusy lime, savory bok choy and fragrant Success Boil-in-Bag Jasmine Rice in a weekly favorite that’s ready in about 25 minutes using just a wok or large skillet.

With no additives or preservatives, and now available in a shareable 32-ounce family size, the certified kosher, gluten-free, non-GMO long grain rice’s sweet buttery flavor makes it an easy base for the customizable dish. While the recipe calls for bok choy, you can mix and match vegetables based on what vegetables you already have on hand, including leftovers from another meal, such as carrots, onions, peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, snap peas or corn.

For another easy option, this Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole comes together in just four simple steps and requires a single casserole dish for baking. Using no measure, no mess Success Boil-in-Bag White Rice ensures perfect, fluffy rice that folds into a creamy combination of cream of mushroom soup, broccoli and cheddar cheese for a bubbling, hearty dinner straight from the oven in about half an hour.

For more recipes that make it easy to get a homemade meal on the table with less cleanup, visit SuccessRice.com.

Lime-Ginger Shrimp Fried Rice

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

  • 2          bags Success Boil-in Bag Jasmine Rice
  • 2          tablespoons canola oil
  • 1          pound peeled, deveined medium shrimp, tails removed
  • 8          baby bok choy, trimmed and quartered
  • 1/2       cup diced fresh mango
  • 1          tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
  • 1/4       teaspoon salt
  • 3          tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2          tablespoons lime juice
  1. Prepare rice according to package directions. Allow to cool completely.
  2. In wok or large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp, bok choy, mango, ginger and salt; saute 3-5 minutes, or until shrimp start to curl and bok choy starts to wilt.
  3. Stir in rice. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until well coated. Stir in soy sauce and lime juice; cook 2-3 minutes, until rice is heated through.

Tip: If you don’t have bok choy on hand, use small broccoli florets, trimmed green beans or leftover vegetables of choice.

Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6

  • 1          bag Success Boil-in-Bag White Rice
  • nonstick cooking spray
  • 1          can (10.75 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 2          cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed and drained
  • 1 1/2    cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1/2       teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2       cup crispy fried onions
  1. Prepare rice according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Coat 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. In medium bowl, combine soup, broccoli, 1 cup cheddar cheese and pepper. Fold in rice.
  3. Pour mixture into prepared dish and top with remaining cheddar cheese.
  4. Top with crispy fried onions. Bake 20 minutes, until bubbling.

SOURCE:

Success Rice

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EDIBLES

4 ways to enjoy fresher foods at home

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(Feature Impact) Fresh fruits and vegetables add color, nourishment and satisfaction to life. Knowing your food was grown from the earth and nurtured by the sun and rain can add a whole new dimension of enjoyment to your meals, which processed foods often can’t replicate.

However, if you’ve ever bought a cart full of produce with the best intentions – only to watch as half of it goes bad before you’ve managed to use it – you aren’t alone. Eating fresh foods is often easier in your healthy-eating dreams than in reality. With small habit changes, though, you can transform your household into a place where fresh, whole-food ingredients are at the center of your daily routines.

Consider these suggestions from the fresh produce experts at Avocados from Colombia.

Shop with a Plan

Meal-planning before you shop can help ensure every ingredient you buy has a purpose within its shelf life. Instead of picking out fruits and vegetables with vague aspirations of figuring out something to do with them later, you can simply consult your list and remember you need peppers, onions and avocados for that breakfast burrito recipe you want to try.

Pay Attention to Where Food Comes From

The source of your food can make a big difference in its freshness. When produce is grown and harvested with care then shipped quickly to its destination, it preserves quality and simplifies the journey from the farm to your table.

Consider fresh fruits like Avocados from Colombia, which aren’t just grown but raised at high altitude in rich volcanic soil, nourished by mountain rain and harvested by the hands of growers who care about their land and their craft. The fruit reaches U.S. shipping ports in as little as 3-5 days, so you can confidently choose flavorful produce that arrives as fresh as possible from beautiful Colombian orchards.

With two harvest seasons across nine growing regions, fresh Colombian avocados can be enjoyed throughout the entire year, whether you want to serve bright guacamole or dice an avocado as a cool, creamy topping for a warm winter chili.

Use Fresh Ingredients in a Variety of Ways

It’s always easier to use fresh ingredients when you’re brimming with ideas of things to do with them. For instance, avocados can be transformed into guacamole, creamy salad dressing or flavorful sauces; sliced for use in grain bowls, salads or avocado toast; or frozen to blend into smoothies. This also makes it easier to buy produce in bulk or take advantage of sales.

Find Inspiration Online

Recipes like these Chicken and Avocado Rollups can be an easy solution for putting fresh avocados on the menu, offering the type of everyday joy the growers behind Avocados from Colombia hope you taste. Their new “Raised by Colombia” short film puts faces to that idea, following Don Hernando, a grower of 40 harvests, and his granddaughter Camila, who brought the science of growing home. It ends where your avocado does: at a family table, where the grandmother of the house serves it in a kitchen like yours.

To watch the film and discover more recipe ideas, visit AvocadosColombia.com/RaisedByColombia.

Chicken and Avocado Rollups

Recipe courtesy of Avocados from Colombia
Total time: 20 minutes
Servings: 5-6

  • 2          tablespoons mayo
  • 2          tablespoons sour cream
  • 1          tablespoon lime juice
  • 3          large flour tortillas, warmed
  • 1          large avocado, smashed
  • 2          Roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1/4       cup red onion, diced
  • 3          tablespoons cilantro, chopped
  • 1          cup cooked chicken breast
  • 6          slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  1. In small bowl, mix mayo, sour cream and lime juice.
  2. Place tortilla on flat service and spread with lime crema followed by smashed avocado.
  3. Layer with tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, chicken and bacon. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  4. Roll tortilla into tube shape and cut into pieces. Repeat with remaining tortillas and fillings.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (avocado on cutting board)

SOURCE:

Colombia Avocado Board

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EDIBLES

Enjoy a tangy, spicy Buffalo Chicken with Superfood Swap

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(Feature Impact) When you’re craving a specific comfort food, other flavors just aren’t going to hit the spot the same way. The good news: It only takes one or two simple ingredient changes to satisfy your taste buds while leveling up the nutrition of a meal.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MtmGlJZJqgk%3Fsi%3D3povqSwlt4EsTVDq%26controls%3D0

For instance, if you’re jonesing for the zesty kick of buffalo sauce, your mind might initially go to pizza and wings. This Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweetpotatoes recipe featuring North Carolina Sweetpotatoes invites you to rethink that takeout order and enjoy the same bold, satisfying flavors in a more nutritious way. They’re a little sweet and a little spicy with savory chicken and creamy avocado stuffed jacket-style inside a nutrient-dense baked sweetpotato.

Sweetpotatoes – deliberately spelled as one word to better differentiate this unique root vegetable from traditional potatoes – are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. The American Diabetes Association even calls them a “diabetes superfood,” as they raise blood sugar more slowly than other starchy foods while allowing you to savor some natural sweetness. They’re also a great choice for athletes, thanks to complex carbohydrates that boost energy and nutrients that support endurance and recovery.

Find more ways to level up your favorite flavors at ncsweetpotatoes.com.

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweetpotatoes
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

  • 4 sweetpotatoes
  • 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • 1 1/2 cups buffalo sauce
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 2 tablespoons diced chives
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Place sweetpotatoes on lined baking sheet and use fork to pierce each one for venting. Bake 45 minutes, or until tender.
  2. Let sweetpotatoes cool slightly then use knife to gently cut each open lengthwise and crosswise. Use fork to lightly mash inside sweetpotatoes.
  3. In large bowl, combine shredded rotisserie chicken with buffalo sauce until evenly coated.
  4. Spoon buffalo chicken mixture into each sweetpotato. Top with diced avocado and chives.

SOURCE:

North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

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