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Cool school lunches

All parents have a different idea of what is healthy food and what is not

by Cheryl Tallman | 1592 views | 0 comments | Rate this now!

4.) Talk to your child about lunchtime: Don't assume that your child's uneaten lunch is sign that he did not like the food. If you ask a few questions, you may find that your child does not have enough time to eat lunch or that he is spending more time socializing with his friends than actually chewing. Asking questions will give you the opportunity to help him learn other important skills such as managing his time and selecting times to socialize.

5.) Simple lunch box recipes:

Pineapple Kabobs

4 Fresh Pineapple Chunks (1/2-inch pieces)

2 ounces Colby-Jack cheese cubes (½ inch pieces)

2 ounces deli ham (1/4 inch slice, cut into 1-inch squares

Toothpicks

Assemble four mini-kabobs by stringing 1 ham square, 1 pineapple chunk, 1 ham square, and a cheese cube on each toothpick. For a vegetarian option, substitute teriyaki-flavored baked tofu for the ham/cheese. Baked tofu can easily be sliced into small cubes and is very tasty with the pineapple.

Trail Mix

Combine any or all of these ingredients in an airtight container and toss gently to mix: cereal (choose one with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving), small pretzels, graham cracker or rice cake pieces, animal crackers, dried fruit (use kitchen shears to cut big pieces), sliced almonds, pecan pieces, cashew pieces, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or peanut pieces.

Kiwi Wraps or Rolls

These wraps can be served as a traditional wrap sandwich or slice it into pieces (like a sushi roll) for bite sized treats.

1 tablespoon peanut butter or sunflower butter

1 tablespoon cream cheese

1/2 kiwi

Tortilla -- whole wheat or plain (cut into squares)

Remove the skin from the kiwi and slice it into thin rounds. Spread peanut butter over half the wrap and cream cheese on the other half of the wrap. Arrange the kiwi slices evenly over the cream cheese. Beginning on the cream cheese end, gently roll up the tortilla forming a log shape. The peanut butter will act as the glue to keep it together.

About the Author

About the author: Cheryl Tallman is the co-founder of Fresh Baby, creators of the award-winning So Easy Baby Food Kit, available at many fine specialty stores, BabiesRUs.com, Target.com and national chains including Whole Foods Markets. Visit Cheryl online at www.FreshBaby.com for more delicious tips.