Back to school lunch menu ideas

Just wanting to assist with some creative fun ideas for school lunches - so here's what I've come up with...

Makes you want to go back to school again - at least for lunch !!

Image by the cute andersons via Flickr

Let kids help make their own lunches the night before with a "tortilla factory" set up.
Set out different types of toppings, and let them invent their own wrap...who says you can't play with your food ???

Here's some other creative ideas to serve up a fun lunch.

Banana Dog
This is the coolest lunch ever, not to mention the easiest, and will be the envy of your kids' classmates. If peanut butter is off limits at your child's school, use cream cheese as a spread instead.
Ingredients
1 hot dog bun (whole wheat, if possible)
1 tbsp. (15 mL) peanut butter (or cream cheese)
1 tbsp. (15 mL) strawberry or other jam (or honey, if preferred)
1 whole banana
raisins, shredded coconut or chopped peanuts
Cooking Instructions
Spread one inner surface of a split hot dog bun with peanut butter or cream cheese. Spread the other side with jam or honey. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in your child's lunch bag. Also, pack a whole banana (in the peel) and a small container of toppings, such as raisins, coconut, peanuts or whatever else you can think of.
At lunchtime, your child can peel the banana and place it in the bun, sprinkle on the toppings and eat.
Let the other kids drool. It's your lunch, kiddo, and you're the boss of it.

assembly required, but kids love tossing together all the fixings and are sure to enjoy this welcome break from PB&J.


Portable Taco Salad
Ingredients
2 cups shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce
1/4 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup canned kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sour cream (regular or low fat)
1 cup tortilla chips (regular or baked)
Instructions:
In a plastic container big enough to use as a bowl for the finished salad, toss together lettuce and tomato. In a small plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, stir together beans and salsa. Pack shredded cheese and sour cream in separate plastic containers. Finally, pack tortilla chips in a zip-top plastic bag.
OK, you've got all the components. Now what? At lunchtime, open the container of lettuce. Dump bean mixture on top, add a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Finally, crumble tortilla chips on top and lunch is served!

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