I have to admit that packing a lunch box for Camila every single day has been more challenging than I imagined. She just started school back in September, but it seems like I’m still getting the hang of it all and the snack and lunch box are my biggest challenge. When she was in preschool I had a lot more options because I could serve her warm meals and the teachers could heat it up for her. Now, she barely gets to finish her almuerzo with the ridiculous 15 minutes they get to eat!

I want her lunch to be packed with nutrition, flavor, variety and plain old fun. I know, I survived on the same ‘ole sandwich way back when, but times are different and I want my girl to crave what’s in her lunch box more than whatever’s being served in the school’s cafeteria.

So, I’ve gotten really good at finding products she’ll love and that are good for her, like the 8oz bottles of Cuties Juices and Smoothies found at Walmart that are 100% juice, no sugar added and made with the good-for-you, great flavor from Cuties tangerines! Since there are 10 flavors to choose from, it’s pretty much guaranteed she won’t get bored!

Aside from making sure she gets a good nutrition and protein boost with her juice, I also just started using a bento-style box like the one pictured above. Today I made for her a wrap with low fat cream cheese, shredded carrot and turkey ham. I cut it up like sushi pieces and placed some fun fork picks to spice it up for her. In another compartment I put some steamed broccoli and in the other strawberries and blueberries. I also put in the crunch with some honey wheat pretzel sticks. I’m so happy with all the colors, textures, flavors and the Cutie Juice!

Share: How do you pack nutrition into your child’s lunch?

Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received product samples and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is absolutely no reason why your kid’s lunch should be a boring one.  Cute cooking has become a full-blown craze that has captivated pop culture to the fullest.  Bento boxes, meaning “convenient” in Japanese are an attractive way to encourage picky eaters to enjoy their lunch while at the same time, reducing waste because a reusable container is customarily used.

A bento box lunch uses inexpensive ingredients and are a healthier choice than fast food or restaurant kid’s meals.  They are also helpful in measuring food portions and equally serving carbohydrates and proteins in the meal .

Bento box making requires a few inexpensive tools you can find around your kitchen and at some specialty Asian stores.

Essential tools for Bento box lunches:

• Cookie cutters
• Small knife
• Q-tips for cleaning drips
• Small scissors (for cutting faces out of spinach or dried seaweed)
• Cute toothpicks and appetizer picks

Bento box friendly ingredients:

• Red lettuce, spinach, dried seaweed, arugula
• Cucumber, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, olives
• Carrots, onions, avocado, cabbage, zucchini
• Kiwi, strawberries, apples, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries
• Peanuts, almonds, pistachios, cranberries, pecans, flax seeds, poppy seeds
• Deli meats, cheeses, rice, pasta, hard-boiled eggs

Bento boxes do not consist of strictly Japanese food — be creative! You can use any type of food you wish as long as there is a protein/carbohydrate balance.  Use apples and cucumber slices for animal ears, small berries and seeds can become faces on a round sandwich or slice of cheese.  How about creating some messy hair with alfalfa sprouts or angel hair pasta?  The possibilities are endless when you put your creative mind at work.

I gave this bento box a Mexican twist by cutting out some quesadilla flowers with a cookie cutter and placing them on a bed of arugula and cherry tomatoes.  Pair it with blueberries, strawberries, kiwi butterflies (cut with cookie cutters), almonds and wafers and adorn it with cute animal picks.

By using fun, familiar and nutritious foods you can turn your child’s mundane meal into a fun feast for the eyes.

Below are three of my family’s favorite back to school lunches.  All of them can be mixed and matched with your children’s favorite ingredients and paired up with a favorite fruit or healthy dessert.

All images © NibblesandFeasts.com

Fun Size Pizzas
Kids can’t resist pizza.  What better way to surprise them than by packing mini versions of their favorite treat.

1 whole wheat English muffin
2 tbsp pizza sauce (or spaghetti sauce)
2 tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese
2 slices of salami (or pepperoni or ham), each cut in half
2 zucchini rounds, each cut in half

On each English muffin slice spread 1tbsp of sauce, 1tbsp shredded mozzarella cheese, two half slices of salami and two half slices of zucchini rounds.  Place in toaster over long enough to melt cheese.  Serve with a favorite fruit.

All images © NibblesandFeasts.com

Pinwheels
Cute food shapes and containers such as bento boxes make meal-time 10 times more fun.  Use cookie cutters to cut fruit, bread or tortillas.

1 whole wheat flour tortilla
1 tbsp cream cheese at room temperature
1 tbsp avocado
8 spinach leaves
2 thin slices of your favorite deli meat

In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and avocado by stirring with spoon.  Spread mixture evenly on warm tortilla. Add a layer of spinach and top with deli meat slices.  Roll tortilla carefully keeping layers in place.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Slice in 1-inch pieces.

All images © NibblesandFeasts.com

Hummus, Turkey & Swiss Pita with Cucumber
Hummus is the perfect substitution for mayo.  It is high in fiber, iron and vitamin C.

1 whole wheat pita pocket
2 tbsp hummus
5 cucumber rounds
1 slice Swiss cheese
1-3 slices of turkey ham (depending on width of slice)
2 large lettuce leaves
2 tomato slices

Toast pita in toaster oven (can be eaten cold too).  Open and evenly spread hummus dip.  Carefully tuck in lettuce, turkey ham, cucumber, tomato and cheese.  Enjoy with a favorite fruit.

Ericka Sánchez–Proudly born in Torreón, Coahuila Mexico, Ericka arrived in the United States in 1982 to El Paso, Texas. Her love of food began in her mom’s kitchen but flourished in a food photography studio where she assisted in food styling/design and photo shoots.Now a wife and a mom to a 2-year old toddler, Ericka launched her bilingual blog Nibbles & Feasts in 2010 as a guide to satiating food cravings through recipes and to share her restaurant recommendations and food events in Los Angeles. You can read all of Ericka´s recipes here.