Kids Can Cook
Wraps: Ideas
Wraps can be sweet or savory. For growing kids, try letting them make a few smaller wraps instead of a single larger one. Our favorite combinations: peanut butter, honey and banana; ham and cheddar cheese; turkey, Swiss cheese and lettuce; baked tofu and peanut sauce. As a parent, laying out the fillings can be a great time to discuss (or sneak in) some vegetables kids usually might not think to eat on their own. A few great examples: shredded cabbage, baby spinach and thinly sliced bell peppers.
Bento Boxes: Basics
The word “bento” originated in Japan, and today bento boxes are a popular lunch traditionally containing meat, a little rice and a vegetable—all partitioned into sections in a portable lunchbox. They’ve become popular outside of Japan for their simplicity, visual allure and balanced nature. As most parents know, when kids are interested and invested in what they’re eating they'll likely eat it versus nibbling, trading or simply tossing it.
Bentos: Ideas
Modern boxes contain sections that might include sliced fruits or seasonal berries, bread cutouts with bean spreads, small sandwich roll-ups, pulled chicken or pork, sliced cheeses or hardboiled eggs. It’s a nice excuse to clean out the crisper, and kids quickly become aware of what it takes to create a balanced meal—a win-win for everyone!
Cold Noodle Salads: Basics
Cold noodle salads are a great way to use up leftover pasta or soba noodles. Simply lay out possible mix-ins, and kids can fold together their own nutritious creations before the day kicks into first gear. Cold noodles are a really refreshing break from the lunchbox rut, and they encourage parents and kids alike to experiment with different ingredients that a sandwich usually wouldn’t invite. In addition, once you get ahold of some good plastic or metal containers, cold noodle salads travel well, as they don’t require reheating or other fussing.
Cold Noodle Salads: Ideas
Buckwheat soba noodles are a great pick for cold noodle salads. While they are made of buckwheat, the flavor is quite mild, and the texture is much like regular pasta noodles, so they’re an easy way to sneak whole-grain nutrition into your child’s day. Beyond the noodles, themselves, you can pre-slice vegetables or leftover meats the kids can add in. If you have pesto, that’s nice folded in toward the end … as is a little olive oil and some fresh herbs. Before you know it, you’ll be doubling the batch so your lunch is taken care of, too.
Pita Sandwiches: Basics
In makeup, pita sandwiches don’t stray too far from traditional sandwiches: They have a top and a bottom layer and are filled with something substantial. The nice thing about pita is that kids can easily (and quickly) make a sandwich for lunch by simply jamming a few choice ingredients into the pita and calling it a day. There doesn’t need to be much spreading or layered construction—pitas are meant to be a bit of a jumble.
