School Ready

 School is going to start in the next few weeks or right now depending where you live. Are you ready with  school lunch?  while it's easy to get a fun container and bag  it's not so much fun to pack something that cylospora and salmonella free. Can school lunch ever be the same?

There are a few things that's= should cheer up any mom or student. Dollar Tree and Dollar General have some neat sandwich and Bento lunch box cases.Get the sandwich boxes that feature such a characters as Bluey, Stitch, Disney princesses and a baby Spderman. These hold a regular sandwich and keep it fresh.It's just so much fun to have too.  There are also checkered lid  food containers in pink sage and blue. (these are on my radar to get) Dollar Tree as Bento boxes that kids can use too. Other places to buy them is Amazon and Temu. Dollar General has food containers as well.Also look to Temu and Five Below for modern takes on lunchboxes. A more expensive version is the Stanley All Day Mini Lunch box for $33.75 on sale from Stanley. This looks like a designer purse and comes in a variety of different colors from deep burgundy to light aqua. You can get cheaper from Vera Bradley for $14.99 and has cute cat and dog prints along with a red quilt pattern. You could also just get sandwich bags and stas time in your kid's knapsack too.Stock up on sporks too for easy eating, whether for a cold pasta salad or pudding.

What to bring is a big trickier than what to bring it in. Cyclosporine makes it difficult to create salads and salmonella seems to be everywhere. Sometimes the best choice is the classic one. Peanut Butter and jelly should work if there are no peanut or nut allergies.A simple ham and cheese sandwich is also good . Also vary it with chicken and London Broil slices (Stop & Shop has this for a good price and it tastes like homemade)For both  big and little vegans there is plant based versions.One of the best is Tofukey's Peppered Tofurkey slices that have a nice black peppery bite and the texture of actual meat. This is one of my go to s and works well with vegan mayo on any kind of bread (rye really brings out the flavor).Try Tofurkey's turkey again good with mayo and the bologna. Have this last on white bread with a good dollop of sharp mustard.It would be tempting to add bite sized veggies like broccoli and carrots yet even these may be too risky.I would lean towards avocado , banana or orange slices . These have thick rounds that can protect the actual flesh. As for dessert get fresh apples and pears and peel the skin off . Also raisin oatlmeal cookies are great too and the occasional Hershey's kiss.

The school year is about to start. Be ready .Be smart about having a good lunch ready.

That First Lunchbox

Lunchboxes will always hold a special place in kids' hearts. Little ones facing a full school day need the comfort of a well stocked lunchbox. Unfortunately it sometimes has moms stumped, especially when their eldest is the first to being the full school day.

First, mothers shouldn't freak out. Pack what your kid likes, even if it is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. For these and any other sammies, think about cutting them  out with cookie cutters or buying sandwich cutters. Pottery Barn has such shapes as bunnies and cats along with airplanes and trains.They're not expensive being priced anywhere from $2,50 to $7.50 a cutter. One thing to remember is that create sandwiches with whole wheat and/or whole grained breads. Everyone , from Panera  to Pepperidge Farm have some excellent ones. If moms are good with baking, then think about baking loaves, filled with oats, honey and love.Many little ones love wraps.These are fun to make and fun to eat. Have the little scholars help create them. Again ones made from whole wheat would be preferable however if your little gourmet prefers tomato basil or spinach herb , then use them. Again be creative with fillings. Shredded mozzarella, sliced tomatoes and pepperoni  can make for a wonderful cold pizza. Or try egg salad with just a hint of curry for something different.

Another fun idea is subbing the lunch box with a Bento one. This Japanese import - which can easily be bought at Target - is gaining in schoolyard popularity.It has four sections that can easily hold the main dish, along with veggies,fruit and a snack. Think string cheese or peanut butter with apple slices for protein along with grapes and carrots for sweet and crunchy sides. Another idea is hummus with pita chips,Pair with apple slices and celery chunks.If the kindergartener or first grader still wants a lunchbox with inside verve ,consider some fun alternatives. Try stackers, which is a Ritz cracker with a cut out slice of meat and topped with cheese Again use cookie or sandwich ones to cut out such meats as low sodium ham and turkey and cheeses such as a mild cheddar or American. To make them fancy, add a little blob of mayo topped with a pitted olive.Ants on a raft will definitely insure the  little one's popularity. This wild bite is nothing more than peanut butter spread on Saltines and topped with raisins Edible emojis  are a great lunches. Take rice cakes, smear cream cheese on them and create faces , from sliced vegetable bits such as grape tomatoes, peppers, carrots and celery.

Fill your little one's first lunchbox with memories of fun and good foods.They'll love what you've made. It'll be the talk of the lunchroom.