by Colleen Newman

With the start of school right around the corner, you will also need to start thinking about what to pack in your child’s lunch box. Between picky eaters and trying to provide a well balanced, healthy meal, let’s face it, it isn’t an easy task. According to the USDA, “The Dietary Guidelines describe a healthy diet as one that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars”. Unless your child is willing to eat peanut butter and jelly, apple slices, and a glass of milk everyday, you will need to get a little creative. Here are some suggestions and tips to get you started:

· Smoothie - loaded w/good stuff
· Chocolate Milk – Use Carnation Instant Breakfast for taste and added nutrition
· Not just for breakfast- Orange Juice, Breakfast Bars, Muffins, and leftover whole-wheat pancakes or waffles, Yogurt with granola for sprinkling on it
· Cheese Stick or Shapes
· Hard-boiled egg
· Chili pie- Pour chili in a thermos. Send along a baggie of corn or tortilla chips and another bag of shredded cheese.
· Roll-ups - Ham or turkey and cheese
· Bean Burritos
· Cheese Quesadillas
· Mini-kabobs – Deli style, cubed meat, cheese; Veggie style, sweet peppers, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes; or Fruity, grapes, melon, and kiwi.
· Veggie Snacks- Baby carrots, bell pepper strips, sugar snap peas, cucumber coins, cherry tomatoes, broccoli florets, and/or zucchini sticks.
· Trail Mix or mixed nuts
· Pizza on a whole grain bagel or English muffin
· Previous night’s Dinner Leftovers

Tips for keeping food at the right temperature:
Heat hot foods at home in the morning and place in a thermos.
To save on space, use water bottles for a dual purpose. Put them in the freezer and then put them in the lunch box in the morning. Tubes of yogurt are good for this too.

For more information on the USDA or the new Food Pyramid go to: http://www.MyPyramid.gov

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Colleen Newman, owner of My Baby and More ~ Parent Coaching and Educational Services, has her degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. She has several years of teaching experience; working with infants through adults. Colleen has a passion for helping children live happy, healthy, and secure. She also loves spending time with her best friend and husband, John, and raising her 2 year old son and infant daughter.

2 cups peanuts
1 cup salted cashews
1 cup dried banana chips
1 cup dried pineapple pieces
1 cups coconut flakes

Mix; store in airtight container.
12 servings.

2 cups graham cracker pieces
OR
2 cups graham cereal
½ cup tiny marshmallows
1 cup peanuts
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup raisins

Mix; store in airtight container.
10 servings.

It’s easy for kids to throw together a quick trail mix with whatever you have on hand. Keep a batch in a big airtight container for impromptu snacking fun! Some tried-and-true options include:

Cereal
Popcorn
Peanuts, pecans, walnuts, almonds, soynuts
Raisins, shredded coconut, other dried fruit
Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
Animal crackers, teddy bear crackers, goldfish crackers
M&m’s, Chocolate, butterscotch or peanut butter chips
Mini marshmallows
Chow mein noodles, rice noodles

1 ½ cups M&M’s
3 cups thin pretzel sticks, broken in half
3 cups bite-size Cheddar cheese crackers
1 ½ cups raisins

Mix; store in airtight container.
18 servings.

1 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups rolled oats
½ cup coconut
½ cup wheat germ
¼ cup water
½ cup oil
½ cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
Optional: 1 tbs Sesame seeds, ¼ cup nuts, and/or ½ cup dried fruit.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl (except for optional dried fruit).
Combine remaining ingredients in small bowl.
Mix together contents of both bowls.
Spread mixture evenly on two spray treated cookie sheets.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring twice during baking.
Cool; stir in dried fruit if desired.
Store in airtight container.

TIP: Go ahead and double or triple this recipe, because granola can be frozen. Just take out of freezer in time to thaw, and it tastes as fresh as the day you made it!

3 cups cheddar cheese goldfish crackers
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried apricots, chopped
1 cup peanuts

Mix; store in airtight container.
12 servings.

4 cups crispy corn cereal squares
1 cup dried mixed fruit, chopped
¼ cup yogurt covered raisins
½ cup chopped mixed nuts
1 cup banana chips

Mix; store in airtight container.
12 servings.

4 cups shredded wheat cereal
1 cup peanuts
½ cup light margarine
½ cup peanut butter
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl combine cereal and peanuts.
In small saucepan heat & stir margarine, peanut butter and cinnamon over low heat until melted together.
Slowly pour over cereal mixture, mixing well.
Spread out in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes; stirring occasionally; Cool.
Store in airtight container.
10 servings.

5 cups honey graham cereal
3 cups bear-shaped graham cookies
2 cups ramen noodles, crushed
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 tsp orange juice

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix honey graham cereal, cookies, ramen noodles, almonds, and raisins.
In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter, and blend in honey and orange juice.
Spread over the honey graham cereal mixture, and toss to coat.
Spread mixture onto a large baking sheet.
Bake 10 minutes. Cool; store in airtight container.
20 servings.