{"id":11455,"date":"2012-01-25T10:24:03","date_gmt":"2012-01-25T15:24:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blessingsmultiplied.com\/?p=11455"},"modified":"2012-01-25T10:24:03","modified_gmt":"2012-01-25T15:24:03","slug":"tips-on-making-a-lunch-box-meal-healthy-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/?p=11455","title":{"rendered":"Tips on Making Lunch Box Meals Fun &#038; Healthy!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160873c.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11456\" title=\"School Lunch - PB&amp;J, Chocolate Milk, Yogurt, Jello, Strawberries, Banana Pepper and Tomatoes\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160873c.jpg?resize=374%2C300\" alt=\"\" width=\"374\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160873c.jpg?w=374&amp;ssl=1 374w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160873c.jpg?resize=300%2C241&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 374px) 100vw, 374px\" \/><\/a><em><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>School Lunch &#8211; PB&amp;J, Chocolate Milk, Yogurt, Jello, Strawberries, Banana Pepper and Tomatoes<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This year we made the decision to pack school lunches for the girls in effort to make sure they are eating a well balanced meal at lunch and to save a little extra in the budget.\u00a0 Since Jake and I have pretty much as taken lunches to work the girls thought it was a great idea.\u00a0 They now take their lunch bags to school every day but Friday, on Friday they eat the school lunch (usually it is a special meal like pizza or hamburgers or something else).\u00a0 Brina and Karlie have enjoyed being able to bring a lunch and most days they pick out the majority of the items they are going to take.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here&#8217;s what I pack:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Meat or Protein<\/strong> &#8211; PB&amp;J, Soup, Sandwich or something easy to eat)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diary<\/strong> &#8211; Yogurt or Cheese Stick<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fruit<\/strong> &#8211; Fresh Fruit or Applesauce<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vegetable<\/strong> &#8211; Fresh Vegetable<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snack<\/strong> &#8211; Pretzels, Teddy Grahams, Jello, etc&#8230;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Drink<\/strong> &#8211; Water, Chocolate Milk, Milk, Juice, Box \/ Bag<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160874c.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11457\" title=\"School Lunch - PB&amp;J, Cheese Stick, Jello, Fresh Strawberries, Juice Bag, Fresh Tomates &amp; Banana Pepper\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160874c.jpg?resize=422%2C300\" alt=\"\" width=\"422\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160874c.jpg?w=422&amp;ssl=1 422w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160874c.jpg?resize=300%2C213&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" \/><\/a><em><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>School Lunch &#8211; PB&amp;J, Cheese Stick, Jello, Fresh Strawberries, Juice Bag, Fresh Tomates &amp; Banana Pepper<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It is important to me that the girls get a well balanced meal at lunch time.\u00a0 One of the fun parts about packing lunches for your spouse and kids is you get to add in what our family calls a &#8220;special surprise&#8221;!\u00a0 Typically the girls \/ Jake do not know that the surprise has been added because they were not there when I was putting the finishing touches on the lunches or I put it in later that evening.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Surprises for lunch boxes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Something Sweet<\/strong>\u00a0 &#8211; about 1 or 2 times a week I will put in a homemade cookie, piece of candy or something sweet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Love Note<\/strong> &#8211; usually on a sticky note and sometimes written on a bag or sandwich container<\/li>\n<li><strong>Random Shapes<\/strong> &#8211; sandwiches cut into shapes (squares, triangles, hearts, etc&#8230;)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Special Drink<\/strong> &#8211; occasionally I will get a special drink (like one that fizzes when they add it to their water, chocolate milk, or something Jake enjoys)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mystery Smiles<\/strong> &#8211; I try to sneak mystery smiles into their lunches by using food, sometimes a random smile on a bag or other ways of sharing a smile (<em>see picture below<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The key is to let your family know that you are thinking about them. Special surprises do not need to take up a huge amount of extra time.\u00a0 I keep a dry erase marker on the fridge and a sticky pad in the kitchen so they are handy for writing a quick note.\u00a0 If I make cookies I just bag some up when putting them away to stick in their lunches.\u00a0 Or if you find a special drink on sale stick that in the lunch box for them to enjoy.\u00a0 The girls express great joy in discovering and sharing their goodies.\u00a0 It doesn&#8217;t take me long to do it but it makes them feel loved and appreciated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160878c.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-11458\" title=\"A banana pepper and two small tomatoes in a snack bag make the perfect mystery smile for a kids school lunch.\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160878c.jpg?resize=476%2C240\" alt=\"\" width=\"476\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160878c.jpg?w=595&amp;ssl=1 595w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/P1160878c.jpg?resize=300%2C151&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 476px) 100vw, 476px\" \/><\/a><em><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>A banana pepper and two small tomatoes in a snack bag make the perfect mystery smile for a kids school lunch.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">What items do you put in your spouse or kids lunches (food or special surprises)?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>School Lunch &#8211; PB&amp;J, Chocolate Milk, Yogurt, Jello, Strawberries, Banana Pepper and Tomatoes This year we made the decision to pack school lunches for the girls in effort to make sure they are eating a well balanced meal at lunch and to save a little extra in the budget.\u00a0 Since Jake and I have pretty much as taken lunches to work the girls thought it was a great idea.\u00a0 They now take their lunch bags to school every day but Friday, on Friday they eat the school lunch (usually it is a special meal like pizza or hamburgers or something else).\u00a0 Brina and Karlie have enjoyed being able to bring a lunch and most days they pick out the majority of the items they are going to take. Here&#8217;s what I pack: Meat or Protein &#8211; PB&amp;J, Soup, Sandwich or something easy to eat) Diary &#8211; Yogurt or Cheese Stick Fruit &#8211; Fresh Fruit or Applesauce Vegetable &#8211; Fresh Vegetable Snack &#8211; Pretzels, Teddy Grahams, Jello, etc&#8230; Drink &#8211; Water, Chocolate Milk, Milk, Juice, Box \/ Bag School Lunch &#8211; PB&amp;J, Cheese Stick, Jello, Fresh Strawberries, Juice Bag, Fresh Tomates &amp; Banana Pepper It is important to me that the girls get a well balanced meal at lunch time.\u00a0 One of the fun parts about packing lunches for your spouse and kids is you get to add in what our family calls a &#8220;special surprise&#8221;!\u00a0 Typically the girls \/ Jake do not know that the surprise has been added because they were not there when I was putting the finishing touches on the lunches or I put it in later that evening. Special Surprises for lunch boxes: Something Sweet\u00a0 &#8211; about 1 or 2 times a week I will put in a homemade cookie, piece of candy or something sweet. Love Note &#8211; usually on a sticky note and sometimes written on a bag or sandwich container Random Shapes &#8211; sandwiches cut into shapes (squares, triangles, hearts, etc&#8230;) Special Drink &#8211; occasionally I will get a special drink (like one that fizzes when they add it to their water, chocolate milk, or something Jake enjoys) Mystery Smiles &#8211; I try to sneak mystery smiles into their lunches by using food, sometimes a random smile on a bag or other ways of sharing a smile (see picture below) The key is to let your family know that you are thinking about them. Special surprises do not need to take up a huge amount of extra time.\u00a0 I keep a dry erase marker on the fridge and a sticky pad in the kitchen so they are handy for writing a quick note.\u00a0 If I make cookies I just bag some up when putting them away to stick in their lunches.\u00a0 Or if you find a special drink on sale stick that in the lunch box for them to enjoy.\u00a0 The girls express great joy in discovering and sharing their goodies.\u00a0 It doesn&#8217;t take me long to do it but it makes them feel loved and appreciated. A banana pepper and two small tomatoes in a snack bag make the perfect mystery smile for a kids school lunch. What items do you put in your spouse or kids lunches (food or special surprises)?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[54,65,68,16,80,40],"tags":[6427,9374,9625,9640,11539,14025,14029,14030,15085,15253,15254,15256,15257,15269,15271,15273,16627,19205,21874,24072,24078,24079,25704,25706,25833],"class_list":["post-11455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-budget","category-family","category-fresh-healthy","category-kids","category-menu-planning","category-teaching-our-children-2","tag-drinks","tag-fresh-fruit","tag-fresh-tomatoes","tag-fresh-vegetables","tag-healthy-lunch-box","tag-kids-eating-at-school","tag-kids-eating-healthy","tag-kids-eating-healthy-at-school","tag-love-not","tag-lunch-box-diary","tag-lunch-box-drink","tag-lunch-box-fruit","tag-lunch-box-fun","tag-lunch-box-protein","tag-lunch-box-snack","tag-lunch-box-vegetables","tag-mystery-smiles","tag-random-shapes","tag-something-sweet","tag-tip-on-making-lunches-healthy","tag-tips-on-making-a-lunch-box-meal-healhty-and-fun","tag-tips-on-making-lunches-fun","tag-well-balanced-meal","tag-well-balanced-meal-in-a-lunch-box","tag-what-to-pack-in-a-student-lunch"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcnfwQ-2YL","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11455\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blessingsmultiplied.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}