Back to school: Lunch Ideas

This past week I had the opportunity to be on the local news station, Channel 5 West Palm Beach and speak with John Favole to share about healthy and fun school lunch ideas for back to school!! Please check it out to learn my best tips in the video!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I brought a few boxed lunch options, each had a fruit, veggie, sandwich and dessert.

For fruit I recommend what’s in season and currently there are abundant fresh strawberries so I cut those up and added fresh mint leaves. Grapes cut in half and watermelon cut into stars.

Veggies, I packed sliced cucumbers, grapes tomatoes and added fresh mint along with carrots precut into chips which are great to dip into hummus.

Make eating fun by cutting sandwiches into heart shapes, I made sunflower seed butter and honey sandwiches because peanut butter is not allowed in area schools. Preferably buy the unsweetened sunflower seed but that is just ground up sunflower seeds with salt which you can find at Trader Joes or Whole Foods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On set I made no-mayo chicken salad, this is great to stuff into pitas, mom and dad will want to take this for lunches too! Make a big batch the night before and put together with fruit and veggie choice. Get kids involved with packing their lunches, have them help pick out their fruit and veggies combo for the next day. Add a sweet note when they aren’t looking for a nice surprise. I took a blank note card and cut into thirds then wrote on each one, “You’re amazing!”, “I believe in You!”, and I Love You!”

My chicken salad recipe was originally published on Vitacost.com

Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

3 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 medium/large avocado, diced (about 1 cup)
1 cup apple, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced

For dressing:

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 tsp. each salt, pepper and cayenne pepper

Directions:

In small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients.
In large bowl, combine chicken, avocado, apple and celery with dressing.
Fill pita halves with chicken salad. Wrap up to bring for lunch the next day.

Yield: 4 cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit by Melissa Perlman of Blue Ivy Communications.

Thanks Melissa for the opportunity to go to news Channel 5 WPB to share my message of health for families!!