The key to serving sandwich combos for quick and healthy lunches is to pair each main part of the lunch up with a fruit or side dish. Many combinations can be made this way, adding variety to kids’ diets. SOme suggested pairings include the following lunch combinations. Adding a snack food may be necessary at times when there is a long break between lunch and dinner. Pretzels, popcorn, and crackers are popular choices for older children.
1. Egg Salad & Apple Cinnamon Wedges: Prepare a few hardboiled eggs and dice. Mix with mayonaise and serve on wheat bread or toast with a few lettuce leaves. Apple wedges can be seasoned with a cinnamon and sugar mix.
2. Tuna Melts & Side Salad: Tuna melts are easy to prepare. Mix canned tuna with some mayonaise and spread on a slice of wheat bread (openfaced). Place in a toaster oven or broil in the oven after placing a slice of cheese on top until cheese melts. Tomato and lettuce may also be added, and a toasted slice of wheat bread can top the final sandwich.
3. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup: Lightly butter two slices of wheat bread and place one in a warmed skillet or pan on the stove. Put a slice of cheese on top of one slice and cover with the second slice. Flip once. Cook until toast is tan to brown in color. Tomato soup can be warmed stovetop or microwaved and served with the grilled cheese. Some kids like to dip the sandwich in the soup.
4. Turkey & Red Grapes: Dress up a turkey sandwich with some lettuce, tomato, and any other healthy food that will fit on the bread. Thin sliced turkey from the grocery deli works best for kids. Red grapes can be served on the side. This is a great lunch for warmer weather.
5. Ham & Cheese with Applesauce: The classic ham and cheese sandwich can be made many ways. Start with wheat bread and choose Swiss, Cheddar, or American Cheese and some light mayo or mild mustard. Put all together on the bread and serve with a side of applesauce.
Soup Lunches
Soup lunch combinations can be prepared easily and are great choices for winter months. Homemade soups are the healthiest, but even prepared canned soups are often better than fast food choices. Pair each soup with a side and offer saltine or oyster crackers to garnish the soup.
1. Chicken Noodle Soup & Crackers with side of Yogurt
2. Vegetable Soup & Fruit Slices
2. Vegetable Soup & Fruit Slices
Happy Face Pizzas
These easy to make pizzas can be one of the first meals that children can learn to make with you in the kitchen. English muffins, pizza sauce, mozzerella chees, and a few toppings are the main ingredients for this kid friendly lunch. Place English Muffins open face on a cookie sheet or toaster oven rack and spread some pizza sauce on. Sprinkle mozzerella cheese generously over the sauce and top with favorite pizza toppings to make a “face” on each muffin. Broil in the oven or toaster oven for about 3 minutes or until the cheese has melted and started to turn golden at the edges. Serve with some fruit slices, side salad, or yogurt.
Roll Ups
Roll Ups are a variation of the typical sandwich. Purchase some soft tortilla or quesedillas (vegetable, whole wheat, plain) and place some lunchmeat, light condiment spread, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, or any number of other combinations on the flatbread tortilla or quesedilla. Roll up and secure with a toothpick. Larger sizes may be cut into small, kid-sized slices. Serve with some side dips or plain.
Pasta!
Kids seem to love pasta and there are many fun varieties on the market to add pasta as a regular lunch meal. Whole wheat pasta is available, as well as many vegetable based, colored pastas, fun-shaped pastas, and the classic spaghetti noodles. Add some spaghetti sauce or butter and parmesan cheese to make a quick lunch for kids. Serve with a small side salad, slice of garlic toast, or fruit.
Fresh Salad Bowls
Fresh salads make a great lunch for kids, especially when they include vegetables or fruits. Pre-bagged salad mixes offer a variety of different salad blends that are extremely easy to serve as lunch. Toss in your own extra carrot shavings, shredded cheeses, croutons, cucumbers, or other salad staples. The greener the lettuce, the healthier, so choose some of the greener blends once in awhile for better nutritional value. Lunch meats can be sliced into small strips and added to make Cobb type salads. Add spinach to any salad by purchasing a bag of fresh baby spinach and adding it to a regular salad mix.
