Lunchbox Ideas for Kids--Easy, Fast, Healthy & Frugal Too!

Lunchbox Ideas for Kids--Easy, Fast, Healthy & Frugal Too!

With the kids back in school, we as parents often worry if they will be getting proper nutrition.  Let's face it, if we hand them a few dollars on the way out to door, they won't be buying vegetables, fruits & whole grains!  After all, they are kids and need guidance.  Then there's the big question, how healthy are school provided lunches?  With terms such as...pink slime(Eeek!) flying around, school lunch is not something I really want my child eating.  

Honestly, we have 2 reasons for packing our son's lunch daily.  The first and most important is his food allergy.  He is allergic(not intolerant) to dairy products.  All of them!  No cheese, no milk, no whey, no yogurt.  We have to be cautious of breaded foods, baked goods, breads, snacks...pretty much everything.  I'm sure some of you out there are dealing with similar allergies such as gluten or nut.  We have to be aware of EVERYTHING they eat!  We have to read every label in detail, double checking that the allergen is not included.  And in my opinion, no one will keep track of your child's diet like you do.

Our second reason for packing our son's lunch daily is cost.  I'm sure you knew I was going to say that.  School lunches can be expensive.  Our son attends a private school.  We love the school.  They do a great job!  But their lunches are pricey...$2.75 a day!  That's more then $600 a year!  Wow!  You can pack your child a healthy balanced lunch at home for a faction of the cost!

I complied a list of lunchbox ideas that are healthy, fast & easy to prepare and cost efficient too!

Not all the recipes are dairy, gluten and nut free.  Make substitutions as needed.  Since I'm accustom to dairy substitutions, I listed my ideas with the recipes.

Sandwiches

Polka Dot Sandwich

Dairy Free:  Skip the cream cheese!  I would use a fruit spread instead!

Round it out with:  Raw Veggies, such as carrots, celery or broccoli, add a fruit and water!

Banana Hot Dog

 Already Dairy Free!

Pack It Up Idea:  Spread the peanut butter on the bun.  Add topping and jelly(if desired).  Send the banana unpeeled.  Your child can peel and add the banana at school so it doesn't turn brown.

Round it out with: Milk(or Almond, Coconut Milk) and raw veggies & hummus.  Let them buy milk at school, if possible.  It's usually much cheaper than buying them at the grocery store.

Checkerboard Turkey Sandwich

 Dairy Free:  Skip the cream cheese!

Round it out with:  Fresh cucumber slices, Greek Yogurt & milk.

My idea:  Place a toothpick in each sandwich stack to keep them together.  I would also add a nice piece of romaine lettuce!

Pear & Avocado

Already Dairy Free!

Round it out with: Baked Pita chips, fresh berries, and milk or water.

Chicken & Waffle Sandwich

Dairy Free: Use dairy free buttermilk substitute found here 

Round it out with: Green or Red Grapes & Milk

Wraps

Turkey Wraps

Already Dairy Free!

Round it out with:  An orange, baked pita chips and milk

Pizza-dilla

 Dairy Free:  If your child can tolerate non cow's milk cheeses, such as goat cheese or buffalo mozzarella, go for it!  I'm sure it would taste great!  If they can't tolerate or do not like goat, sheep and other cheeses, consider leaving the cheese off.  

Round this out with: Grapes or any other fruit, 8oz of  Greek yogurt(not the neon stuff in a tube) and water

NOTE:  I think this will only work if the school cafeteria has a microwave they can use.

Taco Salad Wraps

 Dairy Free:  Skip the cheese!

Round this out with: An Apple & water.

NOTE:  Don't shy away from this recipe because of the long list of ingredients.  It call for several spices which makes it look much harder then it is!

Lara's Chicken Wraps

Already Dairy Free!

Round it out with: Carrot sticks, cheese stick & water

This recipe sounds great!  But here are a few minor changes I would make:

Sub iceberg lettuce for a leafy lettuce, such as romaine
Sub soy sauce for low sodium soy sauce
Sub Mayo for Mayo with olive oil or Greek yogurt

Salads

Shake-it-Up Chicken Caesar Salad

Dairy Free:  Watch the dressing, it may include Parmesan cheese!

Round it out with:  Grapes, banana & milk

NOTE:  If you want to make this recipe even healthier, try making your own dressing.  Kitchen Stewardship has wonderful recipes!  Prepare the salad the night before and add dressing to a small container.  Your child can add the dressing at school.  This will keep the veggies from getting soggy.

 Pasta Salad with Salami and Mozzarella

Dairy Free:  Replace cow's milk mozzarella with buffalo mozzarella, if possible or leave cheese out.

Round it out with:  Fresh Berries(if in season) or an Orange and water.

Make it Healthier Options:  Salami is OK in moderation.  I think grilled chicken would work as well.  Whole wheat pasta can be used to add fiber.  Prepare this ahead of time to make your mornings quick & easy!

Tuna Dippers

Already Dairy Free!

Round it out with: Sliced cucumber & Greek yogurt, an apple and milk.

Snacks & Treats

No-Bake Energy Bites

Already Dairy Free!

Serving Size: 1 (1 inch in diameter)

I can't keep these in my home!  They get eaten within days!

Monkey Bars 

Dairy Free: Use dairy free buttermilk substitute found here.  Use Earth Balance Buttery Sticks in place of butter.  They are soy free as well!

Chocolate Granola Bars

Dairy Free:  Make sure the chocolate chips are dairy free.  I buy Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chips at Walmart.
NOTE:  There are several variations of these bars on The Marathon Mom.  I've tried a few and they are Yummy and very easy to make!

Trail Mix

Already Dairy Free!
A simple and easy snack that will keep for a month! 

 

Apple Smash

Already Dairy Free!

I love this idea!  It would a be a great addition in the lunchbox or as an after school snack.  And with apple season coming, now is the perfect time to whip up a batch!

100% Real Fruit Roll Ups

Already Dairy Free!

These take a awhile to prepare and would be a great weekend project.  I would make as many trays as possible at one time.  This idea excites me!  My kids love fruit snacks & fruit roll ups, but I really don't like to buy them.  They are packed with sugar and other things I can't pronounce.  I think I'll give this a try on Sunday!  Look for my full review soon!

I hope this post helps you provide a healthy and balanced lunch for your child.  I'm sure you noticed all these lunches are made at home.  Whether you get up 10 minutes early or prepare their lunch the night before,  the small amount of extra time will reap huge rewards!  Your child will have a balanced energizing lunch that was made with love!

Please keep in mind that a child's diet is higher in calories than an adults.  Don't worry about how many calories your child is eating.  Be sure that they are getting a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains & protein.  Try to limit sugar, including juice.

Recipe and Photo Credits: Kraft Foods, Disney Family Fun, Parenting, My Recipes, Martha Steward, Real Simple, Smashed Peas and Carrots, Cooking Light, The Marathon Mom, Love U Madly



Live Frugal.  Live Happy.

10 Tips for Back-to-School Savings

10 Tips for Back-to-School Savings

It's that time of  year again.  School is just around the corner which ushers in the 2nd biggest retail shopping time of the year.  According to the National Retail Federation, the average family with children in grades K-12 will spend $688.62 on clothes, supplies & electronics up from $603.63 last year.  Total sales are estimated to be over $30.3 billion!

So how can you save on back to school clothes, supplies & electronics?  I have 10 tips to share with you that can save you big bucks!

1.  Shop at home first!  Before you go out shopping to fulfill teachers' lists, check what you have left from last year.  Pencils, pens, paper & binders can often be used for more then 1 year.  Take inventory of everything you have on hand.  Same goes for clothes.  Have your children try on their clothes to see what still fits them.  We only buy what's needed to start the school year since children tend to outgrow their clothes & shoes half way through the year.  It actually works out great, since that half way point falls around the holidays(or slightly after) when you can score some awesome deals!
2.  Make a list and a budget and keep it with you at all times!  You never know when you might stumble across a great deal while your out.
3. Shop around town and don't limit yourself to one store!  Many stores will offer what the retail industry calls “loss leaders,” such as notebooks and pens for pennies on the dollar, as a way to lure you into the store(with hopes that you'll grab a big ticket item too...resist!).  Watch for flyers and advertisements from big-box stores like Walmart, Target, Staples and Office Depot for their specials.
4. Sign up for e-mail alerts from your favorite discounters and be ready to jump when you get one. Many will offer one-day specials. Keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for those offers, also.
5. Buy in bulk. This is a good time of the year to stock up on supplies you’ll need all year and many items come with deep discounts when they’re bought in bulk. Don’t want to have the stuff sitting around the house for the entire school term? Find a neighbor, friend or family member who will split the spoils.
6. Wait till after Labor Day — or even later — to find deeper discounts, especially on clothes, as retailers look to unload unsold inventory, cutting 50% to 75% off full price.
7.  Go to coupons sites like Coupons.com, Savings.com, CouponCabin.com or MyCoupons.com to download coupons that match your needs. Remember that most retailers also will offer coupons on their own sites.
8. Consider alternative means of collecting the goods you need. Look at second-hand shops and garage sales, which often sell never-worn clothes and items, even with the tags still on. 
9. Many states have tax-free holidays around the start of school. Make sure to check whether your state has a tax free holiday and go shopping during those times.(PA is not one of them)
10. Most importantly-- Stick to what is Needed!  Stick to your list! Your kids will try to convince you that they have to have a certain item when they see it. If you already have the final list and the item is not on it you can easily explain to your kids that it is not really needed. 

Live Frugal.  Live Happy.

Bathtime Fun!

Bathtime Fun!

My kids love bathtime.  Even my 9 year old still has a blast playing in the tub.  But playing with the same bath toys everyday must get boring, right?  So I decided to spice things up for them alittle with an awesome idea I saw on Pinterest.

Homemade Bath Paints!

It's so simple to make and washes off the tub easily.  Here's what you'll need:

1 can of shaving cream

Food coloring of choice

Bowls or cups(plastic, foam, paper...unbreakable!)

A spoon

That's it!  I also grabbed the paper towels because I'm messy(more than the kids sometimes).

Simply squirt some shaving cream into a bowl or cup

 Add 4-5 drops of food coloring

Stir with fury!! (just kidding, but hubster took a pretty funny pic :))

Make all the colors your kids want!  We tried purple but it can out a grayish gross not at all purple color so I tossed it.

Roman & Riley were so excited!  We put them in their bathing suits, grabbed the paint brushes & let the games begin!

They played for about 45 minutes and had an absolute blast!

Clean up was very easy.  I just rinsed the walls with warm water and the shaving cream washed right off.  The only thing that didn't fare well was the fabric shower curtain.  It was spattered with bright pink paint and I'm working on removing that stain.  So you may want to make sure yours is well out of the way along with any towels.

After we got the kids cleaned up in a normal bath, I got lots of hugs and "thanks mom" and even a "you're the best mom ever" from my sweet son(he melts my heart).  I love doing stuff like this with the kids.  It gets us away from the norm and trying new & fun things.  They were so happy which made me & hubster very happy as well.

Live Frugal. Live Happy.