The daily lunch box grind....

[sunshinebub]

Tell me some of your lunchbox ideas for a healthy lunch. I get sick of the same thing day in day out and my kids do too. But I want to give them healthy food too.

They usually have a sandwich, two pieces of fruit, a sugar free juice (apple), a treat - like cheese and bikkies or a lamington etc or I might do home made muffins or muesli bar etc. More ideas please:D

[Gloominous]

DD has tuna & cracker snacks, yogurt, cheese shapes amonst the normal things like sandwiches and fruit.

I would love to hear other ideas too

[Deserama]

Smash has started a nude food campaign and are selling lunchboxes specifically designed for fresh food with no wrapping and stuff. I'm sure you'll find some ideas on there.

Take a look www.nudefoodmovers.com.au (http://www.nudefoodmovers.com.au)

[nicky1988]

Mini Quiches

3 Short Crust Pastry, 3 Shallots, 2x 125g Cream Corn, 1/3 cup cheese,4 Eggs, 1/4 cup Pure Cream

Preheat oven 180 and grease muffin tray. Cut out 7cm Circles and place in muffin tray. whisk eggs, cream, shallots, corn in a jug pour into the muffin trays and top with cheese. Bake in oven til golden and set.

Can also add some ham or cooked bacon on top as well. Very yummy hot or cold.

[joshysmum]

I make a massive macaroni and cheese home style. Just make up the white cheesy sauce (ask me how, if you not sure) and then Ill add what ever I have on hand. Whether it be chopped bacon, shallots, corn or creamed corn. Just your pasta through it and cheese on top. Its great to cut up and freeze in portions. I keep meat trays (washed very throughly and never chicken ones) and they fit perfectly in these. Then just store in freezer to grab one at a time. A good recipe base for this is:
www.taste.com.au/recipes/366/cheesy+ham+and+macaroni+bake
Or theres this one too: Zucchini slice
www.taste.com.au/recipes/5546/zucchini+slice
Mac and veg frittata
www.taste.com.au/recipes/2708/macaroni+vegetable+frittatas
MIni meatloaf:
www.taste.com.au/recipes/12074/mini+meatloaves

Or also another good one is cheese and bacon muffins (I think usual muffin mix, less sugar and just chuck in the rest. Would be on Taste.com.au too)

Or you got the whole link for ideas:
www.taste.com.au/recipes/collections/lunch+box+ideas
I also just do leftovers. I don't know what's suitable for at school, as I do these for daycare where they have fridge but I reckon most is okay with insulation in their lunchboxes.

Good luck. Ill be def watching this post in hopes for some more ideas too.

eta: Nicki.... that sounds very yummy and quick and easy too!!!

[xkwzit]

This thread is a great idea. I feel awful packing the kids the same thing every day, but I feel worse when they don't eat what I've packed.

Des, thanks so much for that link, I HATE gladwrap and avoid it whenever I can. Those boxes look GREAT. I'm buying TWO!!

The only thing I could think of adding was carrot sticks. Not too much chopping, just a smaller carrots peeled and cut into quarters. My DD2 loves them (DD1, of course, does not :p ). There's also dried fruit (apricots and sultanas, but I don't like to give the kids too much of that). We also do rice crackers (but not every day, due to the salt).