If you intend to pack your child’s lunch for school everyday, you’d better put your thinking cap on. After all, you can only get away with fixing peanut butter and jelly for so long. Don’t make your kiddo dread opening his lunch box. Try some of these cold and hot lunch ideas to keep his taste buds happy.
Cold Lunch Ideas for Kids
- Shredded Chicken Pita Pockets: Instead of using boring sliced bread to make your child’s sandwiches, shake things up a bit. Stuff a pita pocket with some shredded chicken, raw spinach leaves, sliced roma tomatoes and cheddar cheese. Add a bit of mayo and viola! Slap a piece of fruit and a pickle on the side and this lunch is sure to be a hit.
- Tortilla Wraps: If your child is sick of sandwiches, try putting some grilled chicken strips or cold cuts on a tortilla. Top the tortilla with your child’s favorite toppings, roll it up and then cut it in half. Baked chips, a pickle spear and a container of yogurt will make this lunch complete.
- Tuna Salad: Tuna salad is easy to prepare and pack. After the tuna is prepared, put it in a reusable plastic container, top it with a few diced tomatoes and put it in your kid’s lunch box. Crackers and sliced strawberries work well with tuna salad.
- BBQ Chicken: Instead of traditional fried or baked chicken, wrap a piece of BBQ chicken in aluminum foil and stick it in your child’s lunch box. Serve the chicken with a side of potato salad and a piece of fruit for a cold lunch that will hit the spot.
- Taco Salad: Pack seasoned hamburger meat in an airtight container. Put shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and taco chips in separate plastic baggies. Your child can assemble the taco salad during lunchtime.
Hot Lunch Ideas for Children
- Macaroni and Cheese: Pack macaroni and cheese in a warm food container. For a complete meal, put some green beans and baked cinnamon apples on the side.
- Beans and Franks: Cut up hot dogs and mix them with baked beans. Hot dogs pose a choking hazard to small children. If your children are under the age of 5, cut the hot dogs lengthwise first and then dice them up to reduce the risk of choking.
- Chicken and Rice: If you have leftover chicken and rice from dinner, heat it up and send it to school with your child for lunch the next day. Throw in a few mixed vegetables for a hot meal your child will enjoy.
Packing Hot and Cold Lunches Safely
Obviously, if you pack nonperishable food items like PB and J, crackers and fresh veggies or fruit, you don’t have to worry about them spoiling. However, perishables like dairy and meat products need to remain at appropriate temperatures.
Bacteria can grow rapidly when food temperatures are between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. To keep bacteria at bay, pack hot food in a thermos or hot food container, and then place the thermos in an insulated lunch box. The thermal container combined with the insulated lunch box will keep your child’s lunch hot enough to minimize bacteria growth for up to 5 hours.
To keep cold food cold, pack it in an insulated lunch box with a reusable ice pack inside. If you don’t have a reusable ice pack, a frozen juice box or a frozen bottle of water will do.
If you have problems finding appropriate hot or cold lunch storage containers at local stores, try online vendors like Amazon and Lunchbox.com.
References:
Washington State University. Pack a Safe Lunch
Charlina Stewart - Charlina has dedicated more than a decade of her life making a positive difference in the lives of children. During her time as an early ...
