Summary: (http://www.themompodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DynoMite-300x240.jpg)Making lunch for your kids seems daunting sometimes, but giving them wholesome real food for lunch is one of the best things you can do--especially since school lunch programs in the US are very unhealthy. Before you get overwhelmed and throw in the towel, listen to some great ideas that will have you making stellar lunches. Idea Tips: * Check websites for inspiration (I keep a file of pics) * 100 Days of Real Food (http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/04/19/school-lunch-roundup/ ) (they also have a great lunch gadget page) * Bento Box Gallery (http://wendolonia.com/bentoboxgallery/?page=1) * Family Fresh Meals Bento Boxes (http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/search/label/bento%20box) (you might need to modify for school lunches) * Use the holidays to inspire you * Halloween Lunches (http://www.parentmap.com/article/halloween-lunch-ideas-for-kids) * Christmas Lunches (http://www.parentmap.com/article/christmas-lunch-ideas-for-kids) * Valentine Lunches (http://lisastorms.typepad.com/lisa-storms/2011/02/valentine-lunches.html) * Use your kids interests to inspire you (Angry Birds (http://www.bentoblognetwork.com/2011/12/bento-of-week-angry-birds.html), pokemon, hello kitty, star wars (http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/4-ways-to-make-kids-lunches-more-fun/)) * Think out of the bread—sandwich on a stick (http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/sandwich-on-a-stick-687359/), do-it-yourself lunchables (http://karascreativeplace.blogspot.com/2012/08/homemade-pizza-lunchables.html); soup; pancakes; apple stacks; tortillas, salad; turkey wrap-ups Tool Tips: * Use your Cookie Cutters/Sandwich cutters at Wal-Mart/Dollar Store, Lunch Punch * If you have a Japanese store near you, they have cool stuff (Daison and Itchi Ban Kan); shape cutters * Get a few types of containers (Ziploc three compartments, KlipIt Sandwich and Salad (http://www.sistema.co.nz/pages/Sistema-Lunch/Sistema-Lunch.html) at TJMaxx, get small containers, save food-safe containers) * Create a place for all your lunch supplies in one place (containers, cutters, love notes, little treats) * Silicone cupcake cups make great dividers * Dress it up with toothpicks (you can make or purchase) * Good cookbooks: Deceptively Delicious and the Sneaky Chef * Here is a list of good supplies http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/ (http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/) Time Tips: * Think Ahead: dinner into lunch; cook on weekends * Make Ahead: freeze muffins, oatmeal bars, cut out bread and freeze, freeze complete sandwiches; cut out cheese shapes, eyes, applesauce, spaghetti, meatballs, even cupcakes and cake pops * Buy/Make your love notes ahead of time ItsWrittenOnTheWall.com (http://www.itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com/) has the cutest lunchbox notes; file by topic * Buy/store staples you can use in a crunch (sugar free applesauce; crackers, fruit leather, etc) NOTE: If you are looking for a GREAT site with tons of wonderful ideas, ItsWrittenOnTheWall.com (http://www.itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com/) is my new Go-to site for fun ideas. The site has the best lunch box notes and way more--all the best ideas on the web are here! Check them out! And here is a sampling of the lunchbox notes: (http://www.themompodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/freebie30lunchboxnotes-300x240.jpg)
