Lunch Ideas for Kids
Spring Season
Nature’s April Fool’s joke this year surely has to be the horrid, blustery, wintery weather we are experiencing. The results from Groundhog Day have proven to be accurate… at least 6 more painful weeks of winter. In theory we should start to feel the warmth of spring air NOW though! With Easter right around the corner, these seasonal snack ideas will bring a smile to your kids’ faces and remind us that spring IS indeed coming.
Lunch Ideas for Kids: Coconut Macaroon Baskets
These mini Easter egg baskets are seriously adorable, plus they are sugar free. Coconut is extremely high in fiber, electrolytes and magnesium and low carb. It offers a much healthier alternative to a conventional cookie that is both high in sugar and carbohydrates with little to no fiber, protein or other nutrients/vitamins.
Ingredients:
4 egg whites whisked into stiff peaks
1/4 tsp. salt
½ cup coconut nectar
3 cups coconut flakes, unsweetened, shredded
1/4 cup coconut butter, melted
Mix all ingredients (excluding whisked eggs) until combined, slowly fold mixture into fluffed egg white mixture. Spoon out with cookie cutter into mini muffin tin, gently press a dent in the middle with your thumb. Bake for approximately 10 minutes in a 350*F preheated oven until the mini coconut shells turn a light golden brown. Promptly remove from heat and place baked coconut baskets on a cooling rack. Fill with little goodies. Fill them with tiny dark chocolate pieces along with other healthier treats such as a combination of nuts, seeds, that way it’s still relatively healthy and you don’t have to worry about too much sugar.
Lunch Ideas for Kids: Devilled Eggs Chicks
These are adorable and SUPER HEALTHY to include as part of a lunch-box or after school snack. Eggs are naturally high is the “good fats” that facilitate brain functionality, good cholesterol and digestion. They are also pure protein.
Ingredients:
12 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
2 tbsp. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. mustard
1 tbsp. jarred pickle juice
1 tbsp. horseradish
12 black olive slices cut into tiny pieces (for eyes)
12 thinly sliced carrot rounds cut in quarters (for beaks)
Pinch salt and black pepper
Horizontally slice through top third of eggs (reserve cooked yolk in top third) and carefully remove yolk from bottom 2/3 of each egg, placing yolks in a bowl. Mix yolks with remaining ingredients (excluding carrots and olives). Place in zip-lock bag and cut tiny hole in bottom corner to pipe yolk mixture back into bottom 2/3 of egg whites. Add “beak” and “eyes” to each chick egg.’
Lunch Ideas for Kids: Spring Trail Mix
Yogurt covered raisins are by no means a health food, it’s more suitably placed as a candy. However, when combined with almonds and seeds, you can transform an otherwise sugary candy-like product into something more balanced that offers more sustained energy. Natural almonds are my top choice as they are high in good fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin E.
Ingredients:
1 bag Sun-Maid Yogurt Raisins Mini-Snacks
2 cups bunny-shaped cheddar crackers
2 cups almonds
3/4 cup lightly-salted dry-roasted peanuts
½ cup each sunflower and pumpkin seeds
Lunch Ideas for Kids
