| Kids lunch times at school are short and they | | | | and recipes that will be sure to make your child's |
| spend half of the time talking and fooling around, | | | | lunches memorable and fun. Go to for a complete |
| so what do parents do to make sure they eat? | | | | list!Butterfly SandwichNeed: |
| The answer is make it fun and interesting!! First of | | | | bread |
| all, kids like packaging...so, the better (and cooler) | | | | peanut butter |
| you make something look, the more apt the are | | | | raisins |
| to eat it. You don't need to make it extra special | | | | favorite jelly or jamMake a peanut butter and |
| every day, but maybe you can use some of | | | | jelly sandwich. Cut into four triangles and arrange |
| these ideas once or twice a week. *Write a note, | | | | in butterfly shape. Use raisins to create an |
| or make a heart on your child's sandwich with | | | | antennae. Easy and fun!Daisy AppleNeed: |
| food coloring *Wrap sandwiches in colored | | | | 2 Tbs. raisins |
| cellophane wrap Cut sandwiches into fun shapes | | | | 2 Tbs. crunchy or creamy peanut butter |
| or letters *Wrap ribbon around carrot sticks or | | | | 1 Mcintosh apple |
| celery sticks and place in a plastic baggie *Put a | | | | Peanuts for garnish (omit if making for small |
| note in that says "I love you" or "I am thinking | | | | child)Set aside a few raisins for face. Stir |
| about you" *Put a little prize in once in a while like | | | | remaining raisins into peanut butter. With apple |
| a sticker or a pin or a plastic ring *Use banana | | | | corer or paring knife, remove core and seeds |
| bread to make a PB&J sandwich *Always put a | | | | from apple. Using a small knife or spoon, push |
| napkin in, and sometimes draw a little smiley face | | | | peanut butter mixture into center of apple. Make |
| or write a note on it *Include a fun straw *Put in | | | | a happy face on top of peanut butter using |
| a new fun pencil *Put a lipstick kiss on their napkin | | | | reserved raisins. Optional: Arrange peanut halves |
| *Put a in Hershey's Kiss with a note attached | | | | around edge of peanut butter forming a circle. |
| "Here's a Kiss for you" *Put a in Hershey's Hug | | | | Chill before serving.Surprise BananaNeed: |
| with a note attached "Here's a Hug for you" *Put | | | | BananaEvery once in a while I write with the tip |
| soup in a thermos and be sure to include a | | | | of a knife(adults only) a note to my girls on the |
| colored plastic spoon *Give them chocolate milk in | | | | banana that is in their lunch. It doesn't show up |
| their thermos instead of regular *Put a flower in | | | | right away but by the time they eat it at recess |
| *Make a fruit kabob *Remove crust and cut | | | | or lunch my "I love you" or "knock knock" joke is |
| sandwiches into triangles *Include homemade | | | | very dark. They love it!Pam Lester is a former |
| cookies *Give a special piece of candy once in a | | | | art teacher and mother of 2. She is the owner |
| while *Put in fresh fruit or vegetables cut up *Tie | | | | and creator of and The sites offer free kids |
| ribbon around utensils *Cut sandwiches into strips | | | | crafts, recipes, games and activities for parents, |
| *Roll up lunch meat and cheese and secure with a | | | | teachers and caregivers. Please visit TheIdeaBox |
| fun toothpickNow - Here are some other ideas | | | | for more great ideas! |