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Served day in and day out, carrots and apples — no matter how you slice them — are capital-B Boring. Still … Time to get creative: try apple-licious taquitos and this chocolate-cranberry crunch. (Bill Hogan/Chicago Tribune) |
If you're sick of carrot sticks — you, the trans-fat-shunning, sodium-watching grown-up — it's safe to assume your kids are even more so.
So what to pack as a side dish in that daily test of resolve, aka, the school lunch? Served day in and day out, carrots and apples — no matter how you slice them — are capital-B Boring. Still …
"Lunch is a huge portion of your child's food intake for the day," says Rachel West, registered dietitian and editor of "The Ultimate Kid-Approved Cookbook" (Oxmoor House, $19.95). "It's important to think of ways to get nutritious foods at that meal."
We turned to West and other experts for some side ideas that pack maximum nutrition and minimum fuss.
"While I think it's cute to spend time making a turkey wrap look like a sushi roll or to use a cookie cutter to cut your kid's sandwich into the shape of a polar bear," says Kelly Anderson, owner of The Lunch Bunch, a catering company dedicated to teaching parents and kids how to cook, "the truth is, most parents don't have the time amidst the thousands of other things they've got to get done in the morning."
Anderson is a fan of turning to your pantry and your leftovers for side dish inspiration. To wit, her kicked-up corn bread.
"Pre-boxed corn bread can be very healthy if done right," she says. "Buy a brand that is already low in sugar, and if the recipe calls for vegetable oil, substitute olive oil instead. Add an extra egg for increased protein and texture. If you've got flax seed, add 2 tablespoons for added fiber. Then mix in whatever your heart desires: fresh corn, black beans and 1/4 cup salsa. Feta cheese, shredded chicken and chopped rosemary."
Or Anderson's personal favorite: "Stir in browned turkey sausage and a cup of low-fat cheddar."
Now she has us thinking about our own lunches.
Get inspired
Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids cookbooks (handstandkids.com) offers the following tips for saving your kids — and yourself — from school lunch burnout.
Go global. "Go around the world with your lunchbox. Monday you can do a Latin or Mexican theme with quesadillas and a fiesta corn dip as a side dish. Tuesday can be Chinese. And so on. Building a theme actually really helps busy parents to plan out the week."
Go shopping. "Take them with you to the farmers market or store and let them pick out cool, wacky new fruits or vegetables to incorporate into side dishes."
Go outside. "I always suggest starting your own herb garden, whether it's basil or cilantro or some other unkillable herb. How cool is it for a kid to see their own cilantro grow and sprinkle a little into a dish? Kids take a lot of pride in that."
Go big. "My mom used to always throw extra candy in my lunch so I could share it and make new friends. Pack enough for your child to share, but something with fresh ingredients."
Apple-licious taquitos
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes per batch
Makes: 18 taquitos
So what to pack as a side dish in that daily test of resolve, aka, the school lunch? Served day in and day out, carrots and apples — no matter how you slice them — are capital-B Boring. Still …
"Lunch is a huge portion of your child's food intake for the day," says Rachel West, registered dietitian and editor of "The Ultimate Kid-Approved Cookbook" (Oxmoor House, $19.95). "It's important to think of ways to get nutritious foods at that meal."
We turned to West and other experts for some side ideas that pack maximum nutrition and minimum fuss.
"While I think it's cute to spend time making a turkey wrap look like a sushi roll or to use a cookie cutter to cut your kid's sandwich into the shape of a polar bear," says Kelly Anderson, owner of The Lunch Bunch, a catering company dedicated to teaching parents and kids how to cook, "the truth is, most parents don't have the time amidst the thousands of other things they've got to get done in the morning."
Anderson is a fan of turning to your pantry and your leftovers for side dish inspiration. To wit, her kicked-up corn bread.
"Pre-boxed corn bread can be very healthy if done right," she says. "Buy a brand that is already low in sugar, and if the recipe calls for vegetable oil, substitute olive oil instead. Add an extra egg for increased protein and texture. If you've got flax seed, add 2 tablespoons for added fiber. Then mix in whatever your heart desires: fresh corn, black beans and 1/4 cup salsa. Feta cheese, shredded chicken and chopped rosemary."
Or Anderson's personal favorite: "Stir in browned turkey sausage and a cup of low-fat cheddar."
Now she has us thinking about our own lunches.
Get inspired
Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids cookbooks (handstandkids.com) offers the following tips for saving your kids — and yourself — from school lunch burnout.
Go global. "Go around the world with your lunchbox. Monday you can do a Latin or Mexican theme with quesadillas and a fiesta corn dip as a side dish. Tuesday can be Chinese. And so on. Building a theme actually really helps busy parents to plan out the week."
Go shopping. "Take them with you to the farmers market or store and let them pick out cool, wacky new fruits or vegetables to incorporate into side dishes."
Go outside. "I always suggest starting your own herb garden, whether it's basil or cilantro or some other unkillable herb. How cool is it for a kid to see their own cilantro grow and sprinkle a little into a dish? Kids take a lot of pride in that."
Go big. "My mom used to always throw extra candy in my lunch so I could share it and make new friends. Pack enough for your child to share, but something with fresh ingredients."
Apple-licious taquitos
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes per batch
Makes: 18 taquitos
