Food Safety Tips: Keep your bag lunch cold, fresh and appealing.

• Choose an insulated lunch bag, lunchbox or lunch pouch. Always use the ‘ice chunk’.
• Make a 100% juice box your ‘ice chunk’ by freezing it overnight. Drink like a healthy slushee at lunchtime.
• If you like leftovers then plan to reheat them thoroughly at lunchtime. Do not transport hot/warm.

Creative Tips: Mix it up for your child’s bag lunch or yours.

• Build your lunch sandwich on whole wheat pita bread with slices of ripe avocado, sweet Bell peppers, olives, lettuce. Or use chilled, roasted veggies from the night before.
• Treat your child to a ‘homemade bento box’ with small servings of cheese cubes, nuts, whole grain crackers, one-bite tomatoes and grapes.
• Take a quinoa bowl with leftover cooked quinoa topped with black beans, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro leaves and salsa. Reheat thoroughly.

Ethnic Lunch Tips: Take this out-of-the-box approach for a nice change.

• Asian miso soup + leftover chicken stir fry + fresh melon chunks
• Latin fusion wrap with whole wheat tortilla, tuna salad, corn, lettuce + mango slices
• German turkey brat & spicy mustard on crusty roll + simple tossed salad + cinnamon-y applesauce

 

Copyright@2014 Cindy Silver, Registered Dietitian, LLC. www.marketbasketnutrition.com