Spice Up Your School Lunches
"Variety is the spice of life," and that applies to school lunches too! Looking for a surefire way to ensure that your child eats what you pack for lunch? Offer an assortment of options that are tasty and satisfying, but also meet your high standards for good healthy eating.
Flavor is key. You know your child's tastes, both his and her familiar favorites and not so favorites. Let us help you make the most of your child's persnickety palate with some out-of-the-box lunch ideas that both you and your kids will enjoy – and eat!
Get out of the lunch rut with items that go beyond the traditional sandwich. Start with combining familiar items like chicken or pasta, and add a little panache with flavors and ingredients that you know your kids will love.
Mmmm Good Recipes
Here are three recipes that will help add pizzazz to your child's brown bag. Each one is sure to be a hit with the lunchtime crowd.
 | Teriyaki Meatloaf: Say aloha to meatloaf. Our recipe has a hint of island flavor because it's made with Kikkoman Teriyaki Baste & Glaze with Honey & Pineapple. The fruity-sweet flavor of the sauce makes this meatloaf irresistible. Combine ground beef with soft bread crumbs, eggs, onion, chili powder and Kikkoman teriyaki, which is used both as an ingredient in the mixture, as well as a glaze that's brushed on the meatloaf while it cooks. Serve as a single slice or diced and tucked into a pita pocket with lettuce and tomato. |
| Herb Baked Chicken: If your kids love Italian seasonings, then they'll love this flavorful chicken dish. Bold on taste and so easy to prepare — it's made with only five ingredients: Kikkoman Soy Sauce, vinegar, fresh garlic and dried oregano. This chicken is also great as a base for chicken salad — just dice and add mayo! |
| Sesame - Ginger Noodles: There's nothing more fun than eating pasta with all the twirling and slurping! And this zesty Asian noodle dish, made with spaghetti or Chinese-style noodles, is no exception. The sauce is simple but flavorful because it's made with Kikkoman Soy Sauce, sugar, cornstarch (as a thickening agent), white vinegar, fresh ginger root, and green onions. These noodles can be served warm or cold. Put a pair of chopsticks in your child's lunchbox to make eating extra adventurous! |
Any of these recipes would be terrific served at family weeknight dinners. To save time on making your child's (and possibly your own) lunch, make a little extra so you can have leftovers for the week. Meals that kids love for dinner, can be easily packed "to go" for the next day.
Tips for packing lunches and smiles
Here are a few "tips of the trade" to ensure that school lunchtime is a success:
| Let the kids help make their own lunches the night before. They are more likely to eat what they fix themselves. |
| Freeze boxed fruit juice drinks overnight; pack in the morning just before leaving for school. Beverages will be "slushy" by noon and can be eaten with a spoon so it feels more like a dessert than a drink! |
| When you are packing pasta or celery sticks into the lunchbox, also include a little something special, such as:  | Notes that say: "Good luck on the quiz," "Have fun on the field trip" or simply "I love you" |
| A snapshot of the family dog, or your child with a best friend or grandparent |
| Games or puzzles |
| A disposable moist towelette to wipe down sticky hands after eating a messy lunch |
| Dipping sauces or salad dressings that you've created with Kikkoman Sauces and Marinades in mini-round, disposable plastic containers with lids (Kids will love being able to dip carrot sticks, chips or chicken fingers at lunch.) |
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For more great mid-day meal ideas, visit our Recipe Search Page
