But first, think outside the box! 

You can buy a typical themed lunchbox decorated with your child’s favorite movie or television character, or you can create a personal lunchbox. Sew up a simple fabric lunch tote or purchase a small muslin tote bag available in most craft stores.  Decorate with pretty ribbons and other crafty knick-knacks found at your local haberdashery store, and either sew them on or attach them with fabric glue.  Write your child’s name in an attractive way across the top using permanent fabric markers.  You can adapt the decorations to suit your child’s personality or interests.  If the lunch container is fun, then lunch will more fun too!

Mix them up

When considering lunch fare, don’t discount the usual cheese or peanut butter or jam sandwiches.  They are tasty, and only become boring when they are offered every day.  Enlist your child’s help in making up a chart for at least two weeks’ worth of lunches.  Not only will you maintain an interesting variety, you will never be at a loss early in the morning trying to decide what to pack.  You merely have to consult the chart.

Tupperware

Invest in small containers or small zipper storage bags so that you can send raw veggies with your child every day.  You can offer carrot sticks, broccoli bits, celery, sweet pepper strips, and even pickles or olives.  Small rigid containers are good for cubed fruits or a handful of berries.  You can also put trail mix in them.

Bread basics

Sandwiches are convenient but are not always necessary.  When you do send sandwiches, vary the types of bread you make sandwiches with.  There are many varieties available beyond the standard white or wheat.  Check the bakeries in larger stores and see what they might have available. Rye bread has a rich flavor that goes well with a light layer of cream cheese.  Add some chicken, lettuce and a thin slice of tomato and your child will beg for more!  Consider non-traditional bread ideas such as wraps and rollups.  Add your meats and salad ingredients to the middle of a flour tortilla and roll up burrito style.  You can also spread cream cheese across the surface of the tortilla, add a fine layer of ham and perhaps some sliced green onion, then roll up tightly and refrigerate.  When it becomes firm, slice the roll into pinwheels.  Slice a croissant in half and fill as you would a sandwich, or fill a pita with chef salad ingredients.

Fillings

Traditional fillings are always good but you can vary them by choosing non-traditional ones now and again.  Add crisp bacon to the usual fillings once in a while.  Try splitting a pita and lining it with hummus, then tuck in sliced olives or dates.  Create a pizza treat the night before by rolling thawed frozen bread dough thin, layering pepperoni and mozzarella and Italian herbs, then rolling up jelly-roll fashion.  Bake these according to package directions, let cool, and refrigerate.  The next morning slice them into pinwheels and put into plastic zip bags.  They are excellent eaten cold the next day.

by Rachel Goodchild