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Articles by Chef Nick
Back To School Lunch Time Tips
by Chef Nick Cavataio
Most kids only get about 15 to 20 minutes to eat their lunch.
Because this time is packed with distractions your lunch food
choices should be packed with easy to eat, easy to open items
that will not have to be peeled.
· All small children do not eat large amounts at one sitting.
Pack appetizers instead of a large sandwich and whole piece of
fruit. Pack more choices of smaller quantity. Wrap small amounts
of food in foil to fill the lunch box.
· Small foods are easier and more fun for our children to eat
and handle. Use the small 6-inch wraps, cut sandwiches into
smaller pieces, and serve small pieces of veggies cut up into
strips, and baby carrots with ranch dressing is always a winner.
Peel and cut fruit into smaller pieces ready to eat.
· Try different types of bread for sandwiches and dippers. Some
suggestions might be mini waffles, mini croissants, raisin or
cinnamon bread, mini muffins, crackers, small bagels, pita bread
tortillas, rice cakes.
· Check out the prepackaged lunches at the grocery stores, you
know the ones you let you kids pick out so life will be easier
on Monday morning. Kids love them, but they aren't very
nutritious. You can pack the same types of snack foods, but use
healthier choices.
· Salsa, bean dips, or fruit dips with baked chips and veggies
or fruit are good lunchbox choices, since these foods contain
more vitamins and fiber.
· For food safety. Freeze juice boxes. Use an insulated thermos
for hot and cold foods. For best results, rinse out a thermos
with very hot water to heat it before adding hot foods. Rinse it
out with ice water to chill the thermos before adding cold
foods.
· Make your own snack mixes; you can include healthy additions
like dried fruits, unsalted nuts, pretzels, and baked crackers.
Kids love to munch on something crunchy and sweet or savory.
· Homemade cereal bars are a great choice, they pack a lot of
nutrition into a food kids love to eat. Raisins, currants, or
other dried fruits can be included in the recipe for additional
flavor, color and nutrition.
· Try to include something fun - a sticker, cookies specially
wrapped, sandwiches cut into small shapes, meats and cheeses or
fruits threaded on a stick.
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Chef Nick Cavataio is the author of 'Conquering Healthier
Recipes and Beyond,' an cookbook packed with more than 300
mouth-watering recipes you can cook quickly at home.
http://www.conqueringhealthierrecipes.com
Nick Cavataio 99 Hall
Road Owego NY, 607-687-5654
mailto:ncavataio@stny.rr.com |
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