Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1995 TAG: 9509070110
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Probably the biggest complaint among parents is that their children either don't eat or they trade their lunch for something better. Some signs that this is the case include children bringing home the food you sent with them, coming home exceptionally hungry, or displaying mood changes or abnormal behavior.
The following suggestions from the Aseptic Packaging Council and the Campbell Soup Company promise to help stop lunchtime swap.
Consider packing in brown paper bags. They're inexpensive when bought in quantities, and are great for older kids, who wouldn't be caught dead with a lunch box. Inside, use zip lock baggies to seal in freshness and to avoid leaks. Use recyclable containers, such as drink boxes.
Younger kids love theme lunch boxes. Wrap lunch components in colored plastic wrap or wax paper and close it with a sticker.
Don't let the lunch get soggy. Keep mayonnaise to a minimum to cut fat and bacteria. Wrap tomatoes and pickles in separate plastic bags or wrap pickles in aluminum foil.
If sending fruit, peel it first so the kids will eat it. Dip in lemon juice to decrease browning.
To bypass the morning rush, make lunches the night before. You can even make dozens of sandwiches over the weekend and freeze them for later use. Remember, mayonnaise doesn't freeze well. Use butter or mustard instead.
Make a sandwich more fun to eat by using cookie cutters to create different shapes.
If your kids are older and want to assemble their own sandwiches, send the bread (pita is popular) and pack the fillings separately.
Let them have leftovers! Pizza is always appreciated; also use meat loaf or chicken. Many schools now have microwaves to warm up the foods.
Freeze a drink box the night before and then use it as a cold pack, placing it right next to the meal.
Enclose a fun note of encouragement, a reminder or greeting to your child: Good luck on your test; I'm proud of you; Remember that today you're going home with Bobby; etc. Enclose a fortune cookie or a cartoon drawing or funny picture you've found.
Communicate with your kids and find out what they really want to eat, and then come up with a happy medium. In the end, you'll both be glad.
To get you started, here are some Monday through Friday menu suggestions:
MONDAY: FIESTA LUNCH - A MEXICAN MUNCH LUNCH BOX
Take canned low-fat refried beans, shredded lettuce and low-fat cheese, and roll them up in a soft white flour tortilla. You can also pack the ingredients separately and let the kids roll the tortilla at school. Add tortilla chips and pineapple spears, packed separately in plastic bags. An aseptically-packaged apple-grape juice box is the perfect complement. Include a small container (1/4 cup) of salsa mixed with 1/2 tsp. of sour cream on the side, and they'll be ready to say Ole!
TUESDAY: CREATIVE KABOBS LUNCH BOX
Use your child's favorite cold cuts to create a special kabob. Try alternating low-fat turkey, bologna, ham or low-fat cheese. On the side, make a colorful kabob filled with vegetables or other finger foods and use colorful, seasonal fresh fruit for dessert. Add yogurt or a cucumber dip on the side with cut-up pita bread to make sure that all food groups are included.
Add two oatmeal-raisin cookies and an aseptically-packaged chocolate milk box. Drink boxes need no refrigeration, are compact, lightweight, shatterproof and recycleable. By using products that can be recycled, children feel like they are participating in cleaning up the environment, complementing the lessons they learn in class.
WEDNESDAY: LUSCIOUS LEFTOVERS LUNCH
Update a sandwich by using toasted waffles instead of bread. Stuff it with leftovers from the night before, such as roasted chicken, meatloaf or fish with tartar sauce. Line the sandwich's sides with lettuce to prevent the waffles from getting soggy. If desired, cut the sandwich into easy-to-handle pieces ; kids love finger foods! Include some low-salt pretzels or grapes and add an apple juice box.
THURSDAY: HOLE IN ONE
Score big with a choice of scooped-out and refilled mini-bagels, including pumpernickel, refilled with low-fat cottage cheese; plain, refilled with cheese and pimento; cinnamon-raisin, refilled with cream cheese; or any combination of your choice. Add a 100 percent fruit roll-up and a granola bar to create a low-maintenance, high-satisfaction lunch, perfect for the parent who has minimal prep time. A cranapple cocktail box completes the meal.
FRIDAY: PBJ, MOST POPULAR
Finish up on Friday with probably the most popular lunchtime choice among kids everywhere - a good old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Prepare it on whole grain bread and then cut it into a fun shape with a large cookie cutter, for younger kids, especially if they never eat the crust anyway. Add flavor and texture to the peanut butter and jelly with toppings of raisins and/or banana slices. On the side, top two celery sticks with extra peanut butter and sprinkled coconut. (This keeps the peanut butter from sticking to the wrapping and it tastes great too!) A strawberry milk box tops it all off.
Recipe for ENTICING TUNA POCKET
by CNB