Back to Brown Baggin it Hot Ideas for Back to School Lunches

September 3, 2009

If it was one thing my mom dreaded more than anything else, it was making school lunches. Not like it was a terribly difficult or demanding chore, it was just one of those things that always needed to be done, like washing dishes or vacuuming the carpet. I think the real issue wasn't the act of making the lunch, it was the effort of deciding what to put in it. You see, my mother can't stand to make the same recipe twice, therefore making a school lunch day after day was quite the challenge.  Sometimes I'd get into a food rut, like everyone does and only request cheese sandwiches or a thermos of chicken noodle soup and perhaps that was the best thing I could have done for her- take her creativity out of the equation. To me though, there was nothing better than opening a mysterious, crinkly brown bag from my backpack and find a sweet note attached to a handmade sandwich or something silly, like a candy gummy rat or a finger puppet resting just inside to brighten my school day.

Now that school is back in session, it doesn't have to be peanut butter and jelly every day; here are some delicious and creative ideas to surprise your little student.

* Create a mini veggie platter in a reusable container and a small container of ranch dressing.
* Create small, cucumber and cream cheese tea sandwiches without crust, or cut into shapes.
* Cook and chill pot stickers and pack them with raw sweet pepper and cucumber slices.
* Use small cookie cutters to make fun shapes into sandwich bread.

More Fun Ideas

Lunch Box Pasta Salad on Foodista

Turkey and Avocado Wraps on Foodista

Tomato and Mozzarella Skewers on Foodista

Other Fun School Lunch Ideas
Cool School Lunches from MomsMenu.com
Pack a Lunch with Punch by Veg Cooking
Ideas for a Greener Lunch by iLunchbox

Above Photo by Lara604

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