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It seems that school starts earlier every year.
So it's time to start thinking about what to
put in those school lunches every morning.
My children always wanted to bring their own
lunches because they didn't really like what
was offered in the school lunchroom. But it
was sometimes a little difficult to make their
lunches nutritious and tasty and also to put
a little variety in their lunchboxes without
spending a small fortune.
If we let ourselves, we can spend a "lot" on
individual servings, lunchables, and treats
for lunches. Here are a few ideas to help
you meet the "Frugal Lunchbox Challenge".
Go to the Dollar Store and buy a few of
those individual serving-size storage containers.
These are very inexpensive and they are worth
every penny.
You can use them for any number of things--like
making your own fruit cups and pudding cups.
And they can also be used to hold dip for
carrot or celery sticks or fill with peanut butter
and pack a zipper bag of pretzels for dipping.
Also at the Dollar Store or discount store,
you can pick up one or two of the small "blue
ice" cold packs. They will help keep lunchbox
items cold and safe. Sandwiches such as egg
salad or tuna salad need to have a cold pack.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, on the
other hand, can be packed without one.
Those zipper bags we all love come into their
own when packing lunches! They can hold vegetable
sticks, popcorn, crackers, homemade cookies, etc.
Muffins hold up well in a zipper-top bag,
as do slices of banana nut bread, or most
any other quick bread.
When the weather turns cool, a small thermos
will come in handy for homemade soup or chili.
I see lots of these for sale at garage and yard
sales, sometimes for as little as 25 cents.
A thermos is also handy to hold whatever drink
your child likes to take.
Try to put some fun in the lunchbox: keep a
stash of small, inexpensive toys, cut sandwich
bread into cool shapes with cookie cutters,
write little notes to your child, cut out funny
cartoons. Children love surprises.
A good routine to get into is while you are
cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, put leftovers
in the storage containers, or make sandwiches and
place in the fridge in a designated area for lunch
items. Get your kids to help--the more they are
involved, the better!
Put napkins, etc. in lunch boxes or bags and place
them where all anyone has to do in the morning is
fill with the prepared items. Now you can all be
out the door in minutes!
Here are a few recipes that will help get you
started this school year:
Apple Surprise
- 1 apple
- Raisins
- Peanut butter
Cut apple in half. Carefully, cut out the core
of the apple. Spread peanut butter where the
core used to be and over surface of apple.
Sprinkle raisins over the peanut butter.
Trail Mix
- 2 cups granola cereal
- 1 cup peanuts
- 1 cup dried apple bits
- 1 1/2 cups yogurt-covered raisins
- 2/3 cup chopped dates
- 1 cup dried banana bits
Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight
container.
A small serving of this goes a long way!
Peanut Butter Balls
- 1/2 c. peanut butter
- 2 1/2 tbsp. nonfat dry milk
- 2 tbsp. raisins
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 1/4 c. coconut
- Sesame seeds
Mix all ingredients and form into balls.
Roll in sesame seeds.
This is a good recipe for the kids to help with--
they love to roll the dough into balls.
NOTE: sesame seeds are cheaper in bulk at a
health food store. You can get unsweetened coconut
there, also.
About The Author: Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
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