Giveaway: Lunchbox Builder Prize Package! (Now Closed)

By

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Leah

In honor of my youngest daughter’s first day of preschool today, I have a super duper exciting back-to-school giveaway for y’all! Leah is 3 1/2, and she could not be more excited about going to school.  Although it is just two days a week, she feels like a big girl, just like Sara.

She had her backpack ready to go, nap mat freshly washed, and an adorable new outfit from Gymboree (got it on clearance, with a coupon-score!) Unfortunately, her home-packed lunch was a royal flop. She simply decided not to eat the turkey sandwich and sliced apples that were lovingly packed by her Daddy this morning.

To help make school lunches a little bit more fun, Walmart, Smuckers, Motts and Pepperidge Farm have joined together to create LunchboxBuilder.com, a fun site where users can design their own lunchbox — complete with materials, colors and decals. You can print out your design and also add it to the gallery, where other visitors will vote on their favorite design, and the winners will receive an amazing prize package worth over $150!

lunchbox

One lucky Keeping the Kingdom First reader will also win one of these awesome prize packages!  It includes:

  • iPod Shuffle (color may vary)
  • Insulated lunchbox
  • Sharpie pens in multiple colors
  • Crayola Colored pencils
  • Smuckers Uncrustables container
  • Optical mouse
  • Smuckers belt pack
  • Motts reusable shopping bag
  • Smuckers Strawberry
  • Pencils
  • FREE Product coupons
  • $65 Walmart gift card
  • Pedometer
  • 5 Labels for Education, valued at 10,000 points each

For a chance to win (and also to give me some new lunch box ideas):

1. Leave a comment below sharing how you make your kids lunches healthy AND fun! (initial entry) If you are reading via email or in a reader, please click through to the post to enter.

For Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each):

2. If you are a subscriber or follower (thank you!), leave a separate comment. You may subscribe for free updates via RSS or email and leave a comment telling me you have done so.

3. For a third entry, add Keeping the Kingdom First to your blogroll or add my badge to your sidebar. Leave a separate comment with a link to your site.

This contest will close on Tuesday, September 15th at 11pm CST. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted via email. Contest open to US residents only.

Congrats to commenter #48- Jenni!! She said: Our kiddos have really loved their sandwiches cut into shapes with cookie cutters.  They love pitas or wraps…they feel grown up.  They love caramel dip for their apples & ranch for their carrots. And they love notes from Mommy and Daddy (@ least I’m believing, unless I’m told otherwise!)!

Good luck, and thank you for entering!

sig

Comments

  1. deb G. says

    Mt daughter is not a sandwich eater, so her lunches need to be kind of creative. She likes cereal, so this year has started with individual cereal bowls and she buys the milk at school. She also likes mini bagels plain. I then add a disposible spoon of peanut butter in a zippie. She won’t eat the two together, but loves having them seperately!

  2. Carole says

    I have to admit my husband packs our kids’ lunches, but he makes it fun by letting them pick at least one treat to be included. This is usually a fruitsnack or granola bar (which got basically free at the Mega event at Kroger!)

  4. Christina says

    My daughter is very picky, so I have to cut off the crusts on sandwiches, etc. I like making the sandwiches different shapes with cookie cutters – hearts, stars, pumpkins, things like that. Somehow, it’s more fun, so she’s more apt to eat it!
    .-= Christina´s last blog ..Free MP3 Download from Amazon.com =-.

  6. Kristin says

    My daughter loves making her lunch but has a hard time balancing it, so we’ve started using a menu – she picks what she wants to eat out of three categories. Main Event, Drink, and Dessert, and I add in the rest!

  8. Diana B says

    I bought fig newtons for my daughter for the first time and told her they were cookies. She also got a banana and raisins, which she loves.

  12. Mama Baker says

    To mix things up I take a leftover hot dog roll put a healthy amount of peanut butter in it and a peeled banana. Fun, easy to eat and healthy!

  17. Juliana says

    I try to get my kids involved in the entree selection – just yesterday, we decided to make a peanut butter “burrito”, with peanut butter spread on a tortilla. If she chooses it, she’ll eat it!
    .-= Juliana ´s last blog ..09/09/09 Sale! =-.

  19. Felicia says

    I normally have a main item such as a pb & j sandwich and 2 sides like pretzels and an apple or something to that nature to cover most of the food groups. Then juice to drink,
    .-= Felicia´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday (Week of September 7) =-.

  22. Daniell says

    I keep things simple. My kids love PB&J so that is the sandwich they always choose. Then I allow them to pick one fun snack and one healthy snack.

  29. Aniheartsjapan says

    I also do the cookie cutter sandwich thing, but leave the whole sandwich like a puzzle. I also make big happy faces out of rice cakes, peanut butter and raisins. Something else my son loves is cubes of lunch meat and cheese on cute little plastic (reusable) picks. I also have a couple of boiled egg shapers–you put a hot boiled egg in them and wait a few minutes and it turns it into a fun shape–we have a car one and a fish one! :)

  32. Sarah says

    I cookie cutter as well… but my littlest one always knows to pull the sandwich apart to look for the ketchup smiley face from mommy!

  34. Amy says

    I like to use whole wheat breat and natural peanut butter to keep things healthy. But I always throw in a Hershey’s Kiss or something similar that thrills my 3 year old!

  35. Jana says

    I give my daughter fresh veg. or fruit in her lunch everyday. To make lunch fun once a week I add a picture of her little sister doing something funny in her lunch bag.

  36. Bethany says

    My 12 year old is pretty easy to please right now – he’ll eat almost anything and everything! Generally, he gets a sandwich, chips or pretzels. a piece of fruit and right now he gets homegrown veggies (cucumbers or mini tomatoes). I try to mix up the sandwich part by sometimes using tortillas and making it a wrap. Or I’ll pack a hot dog or some leftovers from a homecooked meal. In the wintertime, he often gets soup to go with his sandwich. Occasionally I give him cheese and crackers. I just try to keep track of what my son is enjoying and when he’s getting tired of something. I will often ask him what sounds good and then try to include that in his lunch.

  37. Maggie says

    So my nephew started Pre-k in August (I have been his full time nanny for 4 years) and we were terrified he wouldn’t eat lunch at school! So we got creative- he gets to pick his sandwich, chips, drink, and snack. Then we make it after he goes to bed the night before. We use a cookie cutter to make the sammy fun- we have a star, car, heart, hand, fish, flower so far. On fridays we make a smiley face sammy. Then we put it in his spongebob sammy holder and everyday he reports he ate his whole lunch!! Who knew fun sammies were better!!!
    Great giveaway thanks!
    Maggie – maggiebugjuice@aol.com

  40. says

    I make peanut butter sandwiches out of hot dog buns. My son thinks it is hilarious. We make homemade deserts each week the kids are excited to see their cookies or other treats in their lunch.
    .-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Spray Painting Plastic =-.

  45. says

    I always give her her favorite foods, which are also healthy. She loves cheese cubes, veggies, fruits, whole grains. She thinks she’s cool because she doesn’t get PB&J every day like most kids in her school :)
    .-= Misty Newsome´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday =-.

  47. says

    I like to use cookie cutters to make cool shapes for their sandwiches! they love it!
    .-= Angie´s last blog ..Death in the family =-.

  50. Stacey V says

    My daughter just started morning Kindergarten, so I haven’t experienced backing lunches yet. If I had to I’d probably back a sandwich shaped liked something or a plain bun(for likes them plain). Maybe a cheese stick and some snack? As you can see, I’ll need much help for next year.

  53. Alaina says

    My little one gets a FAVORITE food about once a month. This month, she loves “wrap-ups.” I can put anything in a tortilla and wrap it up and she will devour it! Turkey and Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly (a fan favorite) chicken salad…the list is endless! Along with her lunch, she always gets a napkin with a note from Mom written on it! :) My way of letting her know I love her throughout the day!

  55. sarah says

    Lots of small amounts of healthy foods -veggie sticks, fruit slices, cheese chunks, whole grain crackers. Gives them a variety to pick from.

  57. Christie says

    Lunches are an interesting topic for us! My kids make their lunches for the next day after dinner each night. If they have completed their chores I will make their sandwiches. They especially like a tortilla wrap with turkey, cheese and ranch dressing. At the beginning of the week they will divide a box of cheese crackers, grapes, and carrots into snack size baggies. This makes it easy for them to put their lunch together each day. They usually have a cookie and a juice box too.

  60. says

    I pack my son a variety of different healthy items. Sometimes the raisins are eaten…sometimes the cheese is eaten….or the yogurt….or the applesauce. It is interesting to see what he chooses to eat each day.
    .-= Gina´s last blog ..Sunday Trip to CVS =-.

  64. Laurel says

    My son is allergic to peanuts and eggs and is a very picky eater. So I try to vary his lunches and try to represent all of the food groups. I also buy only 100% juice.

  65. kelly ronca says

    I make my kids lunches fun by adding a special treat once a week. The kids never know which day will be a special treat day, and it always gives them something to look forward to.

  67. Jenni Carlisle says

    Our kiddos have really loved their sandwiches cut into shapes with cookie cutters. They love pitas or wraps…they feel grown up. They love caramel dip for their apples & ranch for their carrots. And they love notes from Mommy and Daddy (@ least ‘m believing, unless I’m told otherwise!)!

  68. Sara says

    One of my daughter’s favorite lunch items is a frozen Gogurt. She loves them and by freezing it, it stays cold but is thawed by lunch time.

  69. says

    My kindergartner has a Batman lunchbox that even has a cape on it. He loves it, so hopefully it makes lunch more fun for him. I give him a sandwich and a fruit, and then I try to include one fun item (I just purchased some Sun Chips…so fun…but at least it has fiber in it).

    My 3 year old starts preschool on Thursday, but I’m thankful I don’t have to pack a lunch for him yet :-).
    .-= Corrie @ “Cents”able Momma´s last blog ..Fun Ways to Make Money for Stay-at-Home Mommies =-.

  71. Laura Shepherd says

    I always include a fun or inspirational note to our daughter from Mom/Dad. It is placed on cut-out construction paper (I do many colors and shapes ahead of time) with fun markers. I usually add a cute sticker and use tape that has little kids on it. The lunch is always small bites of the main food groups ( a good mix of the rainbow, as I tell my daughter)! Blessings!

  73. Laura Shepherd says

    I’m also a subscriber.

    –Another way to keep lunches/snacks interesting is of course to make sandwiches or cheese bites in shapes. I use cookie cutters and my daughter especially loves the mini-sized shapes (I use the Pampered Chef cookie cutter collection of 6). I also add a little touch of a theme during special weeks, days or events (for example everything is heart-shaped or pink for Valentine’s Day), including a cute napkin. ENJOY the day!

  74. says

    My son love Lunchables so whenever they’re on sale and I have coupons I buy them for him. Other than that I like to cut his sandwiches into a puzzle. Little pieces and bigger pieces and then I put them in a Ziploc bag and he puts it together before he eats it. I know, sounds silly but he likes it.
    I also always include a note of some kind. Some days the note is heartfelt, some days it’s wishing him luck on a test and some days it’s just total sillyness (those are his favorite of course).
    .-= Lisa Harris´s last blog ..Freebies for Crafters =-.

  75. Jennifer Y. says

    My DS is not a picky eater, but the thing that made all the difference was a Lightening McQueen lunch box. I pack his snack in there and he loves being a big boy like daddy with his own lunch box!

  89. Cherese says

    I’m really blessed to have a little girls that loves carrots and celery, it is her favorite snack. Eating healthy has come easy to her! I also cut her sandwiches into shapes, her favorite is a gingerbread man, she gets to eat arms and legs!

  91. Tamara B. says

    I put carrot and celery sticks in a lunch baggie, with a peanut butter sandwich, iltle box of raisins. I always left a little post it note with a funny joke or words of encouragement or just a smiley face.
    tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

  92. Sheryl F. says

    I always let my daughter choose what she wants and then I put in something special to surprise her.

  94. Sharon J. says

    For several years, I would add cartoons, jokes, riddles, or intersting quick news articles, my daughter has really liked it. She may not know the answer to a riddle, but a friend next to her might.

  96. says

    To make my son’s lunch healthy and fun I keep on hand carrot sticks, apples, and bananas. All of his favorite healthy snacks. I always write a little note on his napkin. Things like “Have a great day” and “I love you around the universe” (that is our saying to each other)!
    .-= Daleene´s last blog ..Free Honey Nut Cheerios =-.

  104. Angie says

    To keep my sons lunch healthy, I try to include a little from each food group…not always so easy!

  109. says

    I try and keep the food healthy with plenty of fruits and veggies, but my kids think its a real treat to get Horizons Organic Chocolate Milk (shelf stable) in their lunches.

  110. Melissa says

    My son loves string cheese and blueberries, so I pick and freeze blueberries in the summer so he has them year ’round.

  117. Marnie says

    Right now only one of my 3 kids packs a lunch (they are on the reduced lunch at school) because her school is so large that she can’t get thru the lunch line in time to be able to eat before the bell rings. She runs cross country so she definatly needs to eat nutriously because she runs so much. She always has some fruit. She has peanut butter and crackers, usually a tuna sandwich (her favorite) and a snack cake (she is a teenager! LOL)

  119. Pleasant Boswell says

    I home school my 7 year old, but to make her meals more fun (and to get her to eat more healthy) she joins in .. whether it is cracking an egg, pouring the milk or just spreading the peanut butter on the bread.

    pleasantandchad (at) yahoo (dot) com

  121. sspence says

    I love your website! Thanks for sharing…

    One idea I’ve tried with my daughter is to make “kabobs!” I use a straw to poke a hole through the center of a few slices of natural lunchmeat (cut in small shapes with a cookie cutter), a few cheese slices/cubes, and a few pieces of pickle or fruit. Then I use pretzel sticks as the skewers and assemble my “kabobs”. She LOVES these.

  122. sspence says

    I’m a subscriber—been keeping up with you on feedburner for a couple of months now! Love your site!!

  123. Faith says

    Dippers! My son will eat his fruit and veggies if he can dip them in something. It’s always more fun for him. I also make his sandwiches into fun shapes. He likes to find the suprise in his lunchbox!

  124. Jennifer Laxson says

    My kids tend to like finger foods. Like lunchmeat, cheese chunks, fruits etc. And they either have milk or juice to drink.

  128. Sidni says

    Healthy lunches have come along way since I was a kid. My girls love ranch dressing so its pretty easy to pack some celery sticks, baby carrots or mini brocolli trees with a side of ranch. We also use the fat free caramel dip for apples & pears. Whipped cream cheese for peaches & strawberries. I have learned that its all about the DIPS that keep them coming back for more fruits & veggies! ~SH

  129. Kim Deal says

    For lunches, our kids make them the night before. They like having input into what they will have. I make a peanut butter and oatmeal cookie that I froze in small baggies, they also have these. It makes mornings much smoother and they have to have their main, sandwich or homeade lunchable, fruit or veggie, and their low sugar cookies!

  131. Wendy Cameron says

    I try to send ranch also with the baby carrots. I also buy yogurt in bulk at Costco as my 3 1/2 could live on that alone. He loves getting it in his lunch and I know that he’s eating SOMETHING that’s good for him!

  133. Becky Craig says

    My secret to a healthy lunch for my daughter is…she buys her lunch at school! My daughter is very picky about sandwiches; in fact, she rarely eats a sandwich! And she’s in 5th grade so she always worries about being embarrased in front of the other kids. So if I try anything too creative, she hates it! She does like vegetables, so I’ve found that the best solution is to let her buy her lunch. She gets veggies, fruit, protein, milk…much healthier than I could convince her to eat from a lunch box!

  136. Jenny O says

    I try to make sure that my son has at least one fruit and vegetable in his lunch. He eats a limited selection of carb’s and meats, but he seems to like alot of fruits and veggies so healthy lunches are pretty easy with him.

  141. Tia says

    I pack fun shaped fruit in the kids lunches – kind of like the fruit bouquets but not as fancy and it is a fun way to get them to eat the fruit first!

  145. tosha says

    Alyssa, you have the most beautiful children. They look sooooo sweet. When I would make my kids lunch I made a pb&j on whole wheat bread and packed apple slices or carrots.

  146. Ashley says

    My oldest is a kindergartener and we bought re-usable superman fabric snack bags for his snacks and a transformer water bottle, he eats everything I pack everyday!!!

  149. says

    You can freeze Go-gurt tubes then pack them in the lunchbox in the morning. They keep the other food cold and by lunch they’re thawed. I bough my daughters a soup thermos so sometimes they take soup or heated Raviolis (or even leftovers from supper) and they also like those Starkist or Bumblebee tuna pouches.
    .-= Andrea´s last blog ..Restaurant.com 90% off certificates =-.

  151. says

    We aren’t packing school lunches yet, but I let my 2-year old daughter pick what she eats for lunch. I give her several different healthy options and then its her choice which she eats. She thinks its fun, loves the independence, and it almost always guarantees she’ll eat.
    .-= Dana @ Frugal in VA´s last blog ..Wanchai Ferry Review and Giveaway =-.

  155. Mellisa W. says

    I have been sneeking in a fortune cookie a couple times a week. My son is really enjoying them.

  161. Melissa says

    For us, the way it’s presented is a biggie… we are more likely to eat it if it is cut up into bite sized pieces, even sandwiches into fourths. Also, providing a lot of variety is key for us! One of the big helps is buying a small thermos that allows the food to stay warm, then you can send in leftovers that they like!

  164. Linda B says

    My grandson likes Go-gurt so we freeze them and his Juicy Juice box to help keep his lunch cold. He loves fruit so we include “sample” sizes of several fruits to go with his sandwich.

  165. Kelly says

    Wow, that’s a great prize!
    I have to say the biggest hit in lunches tends to be using cookie cutters. :-) Sliced cheddar cheese in fun shapes, sandwiches cut into fun shapes… some fruits and veggies too. Oh, and my mom recently got a carrot curler (it’s for garnishes) that she thinks the kids would LOVE to have carrots cut up that way in their lunch! Also, I have to say character placement works with the younger crowd. My son is thrilled to take his favorite character on a stainless steel reuseable water battle – so I don’t have to send juice boxes/pouches. Although there are some healthier versions of those out there, I admit.

  166. Kari says

    Having kiddos help make their lunch encourages them to eat it. Plus, anything that makes food look like something else is a good thing (i.e. sandwich cut out with star cookie cutter).

  168. Carol M Redman says

    We are past making school lunchboxes but one special treat that we did put in and still enjoy is homemade cinnamon chips and applesauce. Have your daughter help cut out shapes from flour tortillas with cookie cutters, place on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Coat both sides of cutout shape with melted butter or cooking spray. Sprinkle both sides with Cinnamon-sugar mixture and bake for 6-8 minutes in a 425 degree oven. Dip in applesauce or anyother kind of fruit sauce you like.

  171. Courtney says

    I tend to pack different snacky foods in fun containers for my daughter; like sliced strawberries, pretzels, cheese cubes. Then, when she opens up each container it is a surprise!

  173. Julie says

    My son would eat peanut butter and jelly every day, but he preschool is a “peanut-free” school. He loves fruit, so as long as he has fresh fruit in his lunch, I know he’ll eat at least that part.

  175. Melissa says

    My daughter’s kindergarten does a “fruit break” mid morning -perfect for a healthy snack. We do yogurt, cheese sticks, peanut butter on wheat crackers, carrots with ranch dressing, fruit, or nutrigrain bars. She’s bound to be in the mood for one of these things each day. Packing lunches and snacks is so much fun that my 3 year old tells me what she would pack in her lunch IF she was going to school. Funny!

  177. Rebecca says

    My girls love the frozen Go-gurt. I had just recently bought it at Kroger during their Mega Sale—scored them for only 25cents a box! I had no idea my kids would love them so much or I would have got them a long time ago.

  179. Jo Ann says

    Our 5 year old is very picky but I have found making fun shapes with her food or cutting it up has helped. Also packing fruit instead of chips with her sandwiches is a plus.

    hope_mfc@yahoo.com

  180. April Lewis says

    My oldest is only three and my little one is one. . . they love fruit so most lunches include some sort of fruit.

    Thanks!!

  184. Michelle says

    I’m sure you do this already but my fav. thing is to put a note in the luch box. Just a simple on that says “Smile I love you, Have an awesome day!, It’s Friday we can stay up late!, (My kids really sing this on the way home lol) . And I always put an extra something to make them smile. Gummies, cookies, smarties, etc.

  186. Rebecca Gorton says

    The two things that I’ve found to be inspirational this year are the following:
    http://www.citizenpip.com/containers.html – BPA-Free Reusable Lunch containers (my son’s school is a Zero Waste school so we don’t use baggies, etc). The cute little airtight containers make it kind of fun for me to find things to fit them. They wash beautifully, as well.

    Also, I just bought this book: Brown Bag Success: Making healthy lunches your kids won’t trade
    http://www.amazon.com/Brown-Bag-Success-Healthy-Lunches/dp/0471346640/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252520782&sr=1-6

    I liked the idea of making a sandwich with cheese on the outside and bread in the middle…also my son likes soup in his lunch with a straw and a spoon for eating. I got that idea from another mom. I send tomato with goldfish crackers on the side.

  189. Jenna H says

    My son is very picky so we pack a PBJ for his lunch. For his dessert, I pack him some fruit snacks. Sometimes, I’ll leave a note for him to make his day go a little better!

  191. Lori says

    My son likes PB&J and we buy double fiber or sandwich thins bread. He also likes meat/cheese & crackers (homemade lunchable). He eats more meat if I roll it up and cut it in 1/2.

  193. 4monkeymama says

    We can’t do lunch without fresh fruit or veggies and dip. On days I’m feeling lazy my 4 monkeys always ask if I’m forgetting something!

  195. says

    Well, I don’t have kids unless you count my husband as a kid – yeah, he is a kid so I have challenges to keep lunch interesting for him as well – Apples with Peanut butter dip, Trail mix made from popcorn, raisins, cranberries, almonds, peanuts with m&m’s, Homemade Pizza slice with a side salad, PB&J (pineapple jam) with Chips and a cookie, Or creative leftovers – we had hobo stew last night so he has a bowl of hobo stew with a baked potato on the side.
    .-= Nancy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.

  196. Kimberly says

    My favorite lunch time ideas are *changing it up – wraps, sandwiches, cut meat, cheese, bread in fun shapes… *fun notes in big, bright letters and of course *sweet surprises!

  198. Kathy Rambousek says

    Eating a healthy meal is tough – more so when they become teenagers. They eat constantly, but don’t usually choose “healthy” options. I try to always have fresh fruit and veggie available during lunch, and encourage “better-for-you” snacks like cheese sticks and popcorn. I do my best

  203. Tracy says

    My daughter likes ham, turkey, or chipped beef with cream cheese spread on it and rolled up. Add some greenpepper, cucumbers, and carrots on the side with a drink (sometimes a surprised chocolate) and she’s a happy eater!

  206. Heidi says

    We make homemade granola bars where you can add whatever sweet thing you want and they are healthy with no preservatives!

  209. Kelly says

    here are some lunch favs: Salsa & Chips, fruit/veggie and dip, PB&J’s cut out using cookie cutters to make fun shapes.

    Thank you!
    ~blessings,
    Kelly

  210. says

    since i cook a lot from scratch, the older 2 usually fight over the leftovers, and because the cookies are homemade, they can throw in 2(or 3!) and I not have to worry about what’s in it
    .-= april´s last blog ..Super Savings Saturday =-.

  213. says

    My daughter’s favorite is a tortilla spread with veggie cream cheese, sliced turkey, shredded lettuce and diced tomato. We roll it up and wrap in foil. She also loves grapes, so I keep plenty on hand.

    Another favorite is a layered salad made in a salad shaker. This is the best thing I ever purchased from one of her school fundraisers.
    .-= Tammy´s last blog ..Menu Planning Monday =-.

  216. karen says

    My daughter is now a senior in high school so I have packed lots of lunches for her. She currently enjoys a variety of peppers from our local farmer’s market with ranch dressing to dip. I always include a note on a heart shaped post it note telling her I love her, or encouraging her about a test. Even though she is 17 she doesn’t mind, and I have seen her save the notes from time to time. Next year I will miss packing her lunches, but am looking forward to sending care packages to college.

  218. Rachael Lowry says

    I don’t pack lunches yet, but so far my daughter prefers veggies to sweets, so I am going to try to maintain that preference until she starts school. My favorite veggies that I would put in my own packed lunches for work are sugar snaps, celery and cauliflower-Hopefully Em will love these too!

  219. Rachael Lowry says

    I am now a subscriber to your blog! I actually just found you when I was looking for info on cashbaq :) Glad I did.

  220. TJo says

    My daughter is a senior in high school and doesn’t want to waste a moment she could be sleeping or texting by using that time to pack a lunch or sit down for breakfast LOL so once every two weeks, armed with coupons we load up on healthy grab and go items for the main part of her lunch along with fruit and baby carrots, cheese sticks, etc. . I invested in a travel mug (on clearance of course) that can be microwaved for her to put a warm beverage in during the winter. I know she’s eating well and we aren’t wasting money on items she throws away.

  221. Crystal T. says

    My son has had a very hard time eating lunch due to an orthodontic problem with his teeth not aligning properly. So, getting foods he can eat that don’t take long to chew has been a challenge. But thanks to the school working around his problem and a wonderful dentist he’s on track to an aligned jaw and is eating better and more healthy foods for lunch. He loves applesauce and usually grilled cheese with some YoGos.

  224. Betsy Mod. says

    I make it healthy by including tons of healthy food like turkey, fruit and veggies. I make it FUN by drawing pictures on his napkins.

  226. Stacy says

    I’ll be honest up front and say I don’t have kids.
    One thing that’s a bit different that I like for lunch is using tortilla wraps to hold lunch meat and veggies instead of just plain bread.

  232. Estera says

    Every time i make lunches ( 2 of them now, soon 3) i always think healthy. Baby carrots, fruit cups, apple, heatlthy bars, yogurt…..The kids love them….especially the yogurt…

    Estera

  233. wendy says

    My youngest loves the blueberry applesauce,choc.soy milk, goldfish and pb&j! The older two favor ham on wheat or ham and shredded cheese rolled up in a tortilla.

  234. chrissyb says

    I make my son healthy meals by using only organic products for his sandwiches and fresh fruit for snacks.

  236. chrissyb says

    Opps forgot to add that I use cookie cutters on the sandwiches for him to make his lunch fun! So healthy organic meals with fun shapes.

  237. Tanja says

    My preschool age son Noah loves fruit of any kind. I know it’s usually the first thing he eats in his packed lunch and I tend to pack a lot of it! Grapes, bananas, apple slices, pineapple, you name it. I try to keep the sweets and processed snacks to a minimum. And of course, his staple is jelly sandwiches with the strawberry jelly we made this summer. He comes home at 1 and usually has eaten his entire lunch. We fill in the blanks with breakfast and dinner from the pyramid.

    Tanja

  241. JessW says

    I like to make snacks fun, like ants on a log (celery, pb, and raisins) instead of boring celery sticks!

  243. karen says

    My boy has his favorite lunchbag (Star Wars of course) We use a BPA free reuseable water bottle for liquids ( luckily he is such a water kid) He also is a creature of habit, so he likes his lunches very similar: sandwich, carrots, banana, cheese and some sort of little treat. I keep the majority healthy and add a little not so healthy just because. Not any new ideas, I hate to say, but for the time being it works for us. (Thanks for the give away, by the way!)

  249. says

    Well I don’t have any little ones in school yet but we do pack picnic lunches all the time. Chloe loves to ‘help’ pack so if if it putting grapes into a container etc. it means she is more willing to eat of it if she packed it.

    Cheese cut in fun shapes, sweet pickles and goldfish crackers are also big hits!
    .-= Jenn @ Beautiful Calling´s last blog ..TUT: 10% Less of Me! =-.

  250. says

    My daughter is a very picky eater. So I pack her a variety of about six different things along with a sandwich. She never eats all of it but at least I know she will eat two or three things that I pack.
    .-= Thena´s last blog ..9-9-9 =-.

  252. says

    I try to put healthy snacks in his lunch like yogurt, cheese or fruit. I also send organic juice so that he doesn’t have a lot of sugar during his school day. I try to make it fun by packing a surprise note now and then for him. Although now that he’s in middle school, I doubt he’ll want that anymore because it won’t be as “cool” as it used to be.
    .-= shelly´s last blog ..Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday =-.

  255. says

    I have been very blessed by a non-picky eater, my only child at school right now. He eats his meals in order– veggies, sandwich, fruit, dessert. It cracks me up. We did discover that he really likes it when we put frozen peas and carrots in his lunchbox. They don’t stay frozen, but he likes them cold. It shakes things up a little from the usual carrot sticks. :)
    .-= Erin´s last blog ..09/09/09 =-.

  258. Kim says

    My kiddos prefer the proverbial PBJ. Although, in our house it is called peanut jelly. I use different size cookie cutters to cut the sandwiches into shapes. They like cheese cut into shapes as well. As far as healthy goes…we try to avoid anything with HFCS and added colors (a big job since EVERYTHING has those two added ingredients)! We make fruit smoothies and homemade mufffins – they love these! Muffins are good anytime – breakfast, lunch, snack ( and they typically freeze well). I am sure there are more ideas…I just can’t think right now (oh the pressure).
    .-= Kim´s last blog ..Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!! =-.

  259. says

    What a great give away. How do I make my kids lunch’s fun? Well, I only have to pack them on Friday’s since we are homeschoolers – but I leave them notes and they get items we wouldn’t have at home – like juice boxes.
    .-= Kristal´s last blog ..365-252 =-.

  261. Kim says

    PSS. Now you’re on my blog roll!
    .-= Kim´s last blog ..Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!! =-.

  262. says

    I am the mama of 3 boys. I have one preschooler, a two year old and a new one. My oldest just has snacks at school, but I would LOVE the giveaway.

  264. rachael metcalf says

    Years ago I ordered a shape cutter set from Pampered Chef. I use it to turn cheese, sandwiches, and anything else into fun shapes like hearts, stars, etc… :) Hopin’ to win with my one little entry!

  268. says

    Lunches are kind of boring at our house due to the fact that my kids are SUPER picky. But I always try to pack a fruit, sandwich and healthy snack. I try to make it fun by leaving lil notes for them to read at lunch so that they know I am thinking of them throughtout the day!
    .-= Mandy Melton´s last blog ..Bath & Body Work: Free Item w/Purchase =-.

  272. Tracey says

    I try to serve lots of fresh fruits and veggies and make pieces small enough for my toddler to pick up and feed himself. Two-year olds are so independent!

  274. kendra says

    we love using cookie cutters in fun shapes for his sandwiches. he enjoys deciding “what animal” he wants to eat today. :)

  277. says

    I make my son’s lunch fun and healthy by sharing my lunch with him…(22 months)…he loves avocado and tomatoes and then when I’m feeding him something different I put some kind of healthy “sauce” on it. He’s crazy about “sauce” and I try to make sure we have things that he likes that aren’t full of sugar or high fructose corn syrup!
    .-= Summer´s last blog ..Happy dance =-.

  279. Abby says

    Lots of fruits and veggies for my boy – he’s still too young for me to really make it fun for him yet. He does love to feed himself, so finger foods make it fun for him.

  281. Hope says

    I add “Adventure mix” (cheerios, craisins, gunmy bears, pretzels, and whole grain animal crackers) as the desert. No cookies here (unless they are homemade or on a really good sale!)

  283. Amie says

    I have to be out of the house one day a week with my 2yo and 4yo and we are all gluten-free. In the interest of frugality and our health I pack our lunches. This tip may not work so well for school lunches but it works for our situation. I pack a big cooler with food for all of us for the day. Food for the meal(s) plus several options for snacks. The key is all of the options are acceptable. They can choose whatever they want for a snack, out of the cooler. Apple slices, cheese, dried fruit, whatever. There are no bad choices in the cooler.

    Also, I pack a picnic blanket. Eating your own boring food is more fun if it is a “picnic”. It also makes cleanup easier.

  287. sarah says

    We make lunches fun by cutting the sandwiches with a dinosaur cutter we got at Walmart. I also always serve fruit and/or veggies with lunch.
    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  289. Riki @ Crazy for a Deal says

    I try to do one fruit, one veggie at least per lunch. My son likes ham sandwiches or lunchables and my daughter likes peanutbutter sandwiches or lunchables. We mix it up with apples, bananas, carrots, broccoli, peaches, plums, strawberries, pickles, etc. String Cheese is fun and the yogurt in the form of drinkable or crushable or straw, etc.
    They like chips some too but I usually send water or milk as their drink.

  290. Riki @ Crazy for a Deal says

    You are in my blogroll, check it out.
    My favorite deal sites is what it’s listed under.

  293. Ruth Smither says

    I use different shape cookie cutters to make whole grain bread sandwiches. Also include Chiquita single packs of apples with caramel dip.

  295. Erin says

    My youngest daughter is a very picky eater so this is hard. She wont eat bread so sandwhiches are out. She is picky with the meat she eats and the cheese but she loves pineapple , usually its a fruit cup with only 100% juice (no nasty syrup added stuff) a low fat string cheese and I try to add some kind of meat with whole grain goldfish, my other kids are so not this way so their lunches are easy.

    good luck and thanks I saw some ideas I might try for my kids, yes even the picky eater :-)

  297. Jennette Stoltzfus says

    My son wants the same lunch everyday. A sandwich (whole wheat bun, turkey breast, colby jack cheese and pickles), a fruit cup, raisins and a chocolate milk.

  300. says

    I try to leave her notes, or do something creative with her food, like sandwich shapes, or fruit and cheese “works of art”. summerflood (at) mac.com

  301. angie says

    I pack my hubby’s lunch daily thru the workweek. I don’t have any kids, but I take care of him and this gift set would be wonderful for us. Anything kid related in the set we would give to our niece! I do try to pack my hubby a mixture of healthy fruit/grain snacks along with left overs from dinner the night before. I also sneak little notes in there with loving or funny sayings on there once in a while to keep things fun.

  302. scott says

    I do not have kids of my own, but I often help my sister with her daughter (my niece). I know that her lunches are always healthy. Even the cookies are organic! LOL! She also gives her food that you can play with…like carrot sticks and organic dressings or stuff like that. Makes eating healthy fun. I am entering this giveaway for my sister and myself. Anything that I cannot use myself (I take my lunches to work), will go to my sis.

  303. Erin says

    Well, my baby just started solids, so I suppose that I make his lunches fun by making his baby food myself!

  306. georgette says

    my teenage boys don’t necessarily need a fun lunch, but they do need a filling and healthy lunch. i always pack a fruit and vegetable. since i also pack some sort of dairy other than milk (cheese stick, yogurt, etc) they drink water at lunch and we don’t have to pay for the over-priced school milk.

  307. Trish Rowell says

    I have a super hard time with my daughter as she does not like a lot of foods. She loves when I pack mini bagles with cream cheese. I alsohave to make sure that I pack small size stuff as she is a slow eater and they dont have a lot of time. She like applesauce and I will send teddy grams for her to put in them. Thanks

  308. says

    The fun part of our lunches is “The Menu”: our daughter gets to pick what she wants from the healthy options that we have compiled (pictures and descriptions + facts like why this particular veggie good for you, etc.) like an actual restaurant menu, and she feels all grown up making her smart selections :)
    I also like to tuck a little note or a treat for her (like some fruit leather) so there’s an element of surprise there as well.

    Thank you for such an interesting topic (I’ll make sure to read through all the comments to get more tips and ideas) and for a chance to win this awesome prize pack!
    .-= Zoya´s last blog ..Free magazine subscriptions =-.

  309. Leanne says

    On occasion I use a Thermos and I can put leftovers from supper in it or I can make up something like mac & cheese and send that in. I also have made up my own version of a Lunchable. I know that way what I am sending them with and I can keep it healthy. Apple slices and dip are a favorite here as well.
    Thanks for the chance!!

  311. J says

    Well, my kids aren’t in school yet, but for at home, I keep it fun by giving them a choice of 2 main items for lunch. We also do lots of picnics outside.

  313. amy says

    My kids like picking out their fruit for their packed lunches. They think it’s fun they get a choice, and I’m thrilled it’s healthy!

  314. Kristin R. says

    Well, I don’t have kids yet, but I do stock the kitchen with easy lunch items for my husband (middle school teacher) to take to school. He likes Lean Pockets, granola bars and peanut butter crackers. We would LOVE to win (he could really use the insulated lunchbox, school supplies and we can always use the Walmart gift card for great deals on groceries!) Thanks!

  316. Kathryn says

    One thing that is fun is including a little note that just says I am thinking about them or maybe a picture or fun sticker.

    I like to include string cheese and yogurt when possible! Thanks for the entry.

  318. Sarah in MO says

    Little bags of things, sandwiches cut in fun shapes, bite sized items are all fun ways to make lunch special. :)

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

  319. C O says

    My daughter just started high school and really enjoys eating healthy foods. We pack her lunch together the night before and have fun just spending that time together.

  320. Nicole Cox says

    We like to make lunch fun by including dipping sauces for fruit and/or veggies. It really seems to make the veggies more appealing.

  321. Jody Stock says

    I make my kids’ lunches fun by always including a healthy “dessert” like fruit leather or such. I am still learning new ways to mix it up so it doesn’t get boring!

  323. Wendy says

    Since my children are still young it is hard trying to find things that they aren’t picky about! I try to do bite sized foods and also include some yummy snacks like granola bars or fruit snacks. My kids favorite part is the juice drink that i include!! Sometimes I will hide some sort of cookies or desert at the bottom ( so that they won’t eat it first).

  326. Crystal says

    My little ones will pretty much eat any type of mini muffin. I bake muffins with shredded carrots, zucchini, pumpkin and or sweet potato. You can also add wheat flour, flax seed, and substitue some of the oil with applesauce. With one muffin they are getting veggies and grains and if you add nuts there is some protein also! I also make homemade granola bars.

  327. Laura says

    I don’t pack lunches for my son yet, but I like to add some variety to my husband’s lunches by packing different fruits and yogurts. I also like to leave him little notes on occasion…he likes those.

  330. Katherine says

    I am still figuring out the lunch thing. I am sending my first to perschool this fall. I did try mini bagels with pb and I think it was successful.

  331. bridget3420 says

    We try to make lunches & fun by always having something a little sweet like fruit or yogurt covered raisins.

  335. Rose Red says

    I cut a sandwich in odd shapes and cut the veggies fancy. Always send fresh fruit or veggies. Sometimes I will use 2 different kinds of bread so it is kind of a patchwork sandwich.

  337. Emily says

    I always serve a protein, a grain, and fruit and then I just talk about how yummy everything is and he eats it!

    princesslimey (at) gmail (dot) com

  338. Cetelia Bullard says

    I don’t have any cool ideas about making cute – but I do pack a healthy lunch for my kiddos. Instead of regular peanut butter all the time, I use almond butter and tahini butter too. I always pack a fruit (sliced apples, pears, peaches) and organic yogurt.

  339. Eryn says

    We like:
    carrots or tortilla chips with hummus
    quesadillas made with refried beans and cheese inside, with salsa to dip
    rice with veggies and peanut sauce on top(if your school allows peanuts)
    trail mix- raisins, almonds, pretzels
    small chunks of chicken dipped in barbeque sauce or other sauce
    Lots of things that I would normally heat up, my son will eat cold or room temp, he doesn’t really want it heated up. Hope these ideas help.
    Eryn
    anahatakar@yahoo.com

  345. Kirsten says

    I try and make my daughter’s lunch healthy by gradually adding more organic foods and soy products. So far, she really hasn’t complained. Or noticed the difference.

    Kirsten

  349. Jaent F says

    I make a healthy lunch for my grandson by serving Yogurt Dip and Pita bread. I also give him a piece of fresh fruit .

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

  350. jamie says

    I try to make the lunch attractive, even if it’s leftovers, and I use cute reusable containers…however, I’m lucky because my son loves fruit and veg and other good stuff.

  351. Sara says

    My kids help me make their lunches, I don’t buy junk food so they love to help pick out what kind of fruits and vegetables that I buy. Thanks

  353. Anne G says

    I usually pack yogurt, cheese, fruit and chips or crackers for my daughter (she hates sandwiches). A couple times a week I make her a yogurt smoothie as a special treat. Making lunch fun is harder, especially now that she is in middle school she finds lunch stressful, since who you sit with at lunch is a huge issue in middle school. I like to put encouraging notes in with her lunch, and that helps some.

  355. says

    My favorite thing is cookie cutters- it make the whole grain breads for sandwiches and veggies they have as snacks soooo much more fun to eat and certainly helps keep them excited when surrounded by the junk some other kids get!
    .-= Rebeca´s last blog ..Thankful Thursday: Good Bread =-.

  356. Trisha says

    I buy salads and little addings like cut up turkey or chop up some bacon (if we had it for breakfast that morning) with some cheese and dressing on the side then a little fruit cup that she helps me prepare. She thinks its amazing she gets to make her food herself and I think it is wonderful that it is healthy and she gets all her food groups!!

  358. dlewish says

    Your little one is adorable! God bless her!!! =)

    Me and our two little ones, sit down each week and plan what they want for their lunches. Kids will be kids, so I listen closely to what they want, and improvise to make it more healthy while keeping it fun.

    The dollar store here has chinese food take out boxes. Once a week or so, I’ll save some spaghetti and some cooked diced chicken, carrot slices, etc., and put it in the containers and put chop-sticks in their lunch bag too, so they can use it to eat from the container. They love “chinese food surprise” lunch day!

  359. Summer says

    My son loves to help pack his lunch so that is fun for him. I make sure I include fruit or veggies to make it healthy

  360. Freda Yoo says

    I don’t have any children yet…but I am expecting one to come in December! I am looking into ways to make my baby girl’s meals healthy. I plan to make my own baby food, so I know what’s going into the foods.

  363. Rebecca says

    I love to use fun containers! My son is too young to go to school, but we have a good time making fun snacks to take out with us!

  365. Janna says

    Luckily my kids love fruit, yogurt and nuts. Sometimes I throw a sandwich in there too, but I remember getting bored with those myself as a kid. I do like to put little notes in their luch boxes to let them know I love them and miss them, along with a silly picture I’ve drawn – can’t be too sappy, their boys 8 & 5! =)

  366. says

    Wow this is an awesome giveway. You know it’s good when you need everything in it.

    My favorite luch is rolling up meat or pb &j in a tortilla.

  369. shopping4sheila says

    wraps are a great & easy way to get your kid’s lunch box full of great food. the meats, veggies, cheese and condiments can change for variety. another great thing to add to the lunch box is string cheese, fruit cups, gogurts, and baby carrots w/ranch dip (ok, so the ranch isn’t healthy). my child gets milk at school to drink.
    i like to add notes…they can be simple have a great days, i love yous or a silly saying to go w/a food item exp- you’re a shining star w/maybe a star crunch.

  371. says

    My child is not a healthy eater so to get him to eat healthy I choose his meals Monday -Thurdays and in turn he is allowed to pack his own on Fridays-lvn777 at charter dot net
    .-= Angie´s last blog .. =-.

  372. Sarah G says

    My daughter LOVES her YoBaby yogurt for lunch, and I usually give her peach slices that I canned this summer along with PB&J cut into heart shapes.

  376. cherice says

    My little man likes PB&J with string cheese, apples and milk! Oh and I always put a Wet One for him to clean his hands first. Thanks for the chance.

  378. Tiffany says

    I like cheese sticks and apple slices. Cheese sticks are fun for kids if they can peel them. =]
    .-= Tiffany´s last blog ..Deals :: Snapfish =-.

  380. Becca says

    This isn’t necessarily fun, but it is a time-saver, and what mom doesn’t love that?

    My friend is the mother of quints, plus two school aged kids, so she is the queen of time-saving tricks. She makes enough sandwiches for both kids for a couple of weeks, sticks them in Ziplocs, and throws them in the freezer. When she’s making lunches each morning she just pulls two sandwiches out, and they thaw by lunchtime! I haven’t tried it yet, since my oldest is just two. But she told me it works well for both lunchmeat and cheese sandwiches and pb&j.

  382. Cheryl says

    Make lunches fun by giving them food to dip. I like to give crackers, fruit, and veges with dips/spreads like peanut butter, cream cheese, yogurt, caramel dip, salad dressing, etc.

  383. Tara says

    Always leave a little note for your little one in their lunch box! Pack lunch box with a sandwich, pretzels (healthier than chips), fruit and a dessert.

  386. Debbie Hewitt says

    I also am a follower and subscriber, and love your site. Thanks for all of your hard work and time, it’s GREATLY appreciated!

  387. Debbie Hewitt says

    Last but not least, my third entry, which is my lunch box idea. Everyone in my house has a night where they cook dinner, and this includes my 10 yr old, as well. She usually does quick things, and her favorite is a package of chicken nuggets and a package of tator tots or fries. The next day, she’ll put about 10 nuggets in a zippy, and some carrot bites along w/an apple sauce or box of raisins for dessert into her lunch bag. She’s so proud on that day to tell everyone that SHE cooked dinner last night and this was her ‘left overs’ lol

  388. says

    Our favorite healthy treat that lasts all day would be apples with peanut butter! First, grab an apple, and take the core out (we have an apple corer- which is awesome) then stuff with peanut butter! Yum! I ate these when I was in school, and now my kids love them too!
    .-= jennifer´s last blog ..Kroger =-.

  389. Jeannie says

    My daughter is now in 6th grade, she loves to bring chicken salad on top of lettuce, 3 oreo’s and baked cheeto’s.

  392. says

    I always decorate my kid’s lunch bags with notes and pictures or doodles for their day. While they’re eating they can read what I wrote to them or look at the picture and they feel loved throughout the day! I try to make each day different…a fun tradition my kids look forward to!
    .-= Lori Wrankel´s last blog ..Miscarriage =-.

  395. Jackie says

    We go from lunchables to salami and cheese sandwiches, to PBJ sandwiches. I add fruit, chips, cookies or whatever I have on hand that I got for free and newarly free. I also slip I love you notes in periodically.

  397. Debora Benacchio says

    My daughter loves to have different lunches so that her friends think her lunch is cool. So, I use my cookie cutters to make her sandwich look like different characters, ie mickey mouse, etc. For a healty snack, I usually cut up an apple, bananna, etc and give her different low cal dipping sauces like chocolate, caramel, or whatever I find even Jelly sometimes.

  398. Kerri says

    For my daughters lunch’s I do a wrap with peaunutbutter and Bannana’s rolled and cut into pinwheels. Or a turkey sandwich cut with cookie cutter’s (a bunny) she loves those. And always has cucumbers. And any type of fruit. Thanks for the contest…!!

    KR

  399. says

    I buy the huge honkin’ cans of fruit at Sam’s or Costco, then divvy it up into smaller containers to pack in my son’s lunch. You can buy small bowls with twist-off lids from Rubbermaid, Glad, Tupperware, etc. that work great in lunch boxes. This way you fill several bowls at the beginning of the week, then just grab a bowl each day and toss it in. And it’s so much cheaper than buying the individual cups!

  401. Amanda Y. says

    We’ve learned the hard way, like your little one, that appetites can change a lot between breakfast and lunch, so we pack a variety everyday. Kind of a choice–we know she won’t eat more than she’s hungry for, so that’s not a problem although I’m sure with some kids it might be. We’ll pack maybe peanut butter and home made jelly and a turkey tortilla roll-up (so she has a choice for the main course) and then we pack fruit or applesauce, and yogurt (sometimes two different flavors…but the go-gurts seem to be the favorite no matter what flavor!)…

  402. says

    My son prefers his usual peanut butter and honey sandwich. I only use natural peanut butter and local honey on whole wheat bread. I bought one of those little sandwich containers to save (money and the environment) instead of using plastic baggies. I also like to sneak in a little note for him to find at lunch time and once in awhile some M&Ms for a treat.
    .-= Theresa´s last blog ..Love Long Weekends! =-.

  407. says

    Healthy=fresh fruit and veggies. It’s kinda fun when you use a melon baller for fruit.
    I always loved it too, when my mom would send me with a quarter to buy chocolate milk from the school.
    .-= Diana´s last blog ..Remembering 9/11 =-.

  408. cakes mom says

    a simple lunch to make and yummy to eat: single serving of hummus, some baby carrots, some pita bread, fruit, chips and a bottle of water

  409. sarah says

    The New York Times just had an article about bentos, with lots of inspirational photos for creative meal ideas.

  412. Sara O. says

    My son loves wraps! His favorite is a whole wheat tortillia with veggie cream cheese, turkey, lettuce and shredded carrots! It’s great!

  414. Mary S. says

    I try to keep my child’s lunch healthy by including a fruit and vegetable every day. My daughter loves carrot sticks and apple slices.

  416. Carol M Redman says

    I just want to thank you for all of your hard work with this site. I love the variety, the recipes the savings and your way of thinking with the Kingdom First. Thank you again!

  417. says

    I love to take a piece of ham, spread some cream cheese, put on a pickle and roll it up! Yummmy. Wrap sandwiches are fun and healthy too – turkey is my fave.

    Thank you for doing all the work of hosting a giveaway and thank you to Walmart! I’ve always loved that Walmart lets us RV’ers park in their parking lots.
    .-= Janet Carpenter´s last blog ..Ends 9/19/09 =-.

  419. Kristi says

    We create kabobs out of meat, cheese & grapes. My daughter loves it. I also place a napkin w/ a little stamp (princess/hello kitty/etc) and a note from me.
    .-= Kristi´s last blog ..FREE GeoTrax DVD =-.

  422. lena says

    I always try to do one dairy(ususally yoghurt or cheese), one fruit (fresh or apple sauce) and one carb, which is any sandwich for my oldest and usually waffles for the other 2. Feta cheese and olives is a big favorite!

  426. Leah says

    ah! my name is also Leah. Your girl is adorable!

    Instead of cutting carrots into sticks, we cut them into circles. My girl has to eat a certain “dollar amount” of carrots. For example, the other day I included 8 carrot circles and let her know that she got $2 worth of carrots that day!

    We do the same thing with bananas in the morning for breakfast. She went from not liking bananas to actually wanting to eat a few quarters worth.

  427. Martha says

    My girl is so picky, I can’t pack fruit & veggie lunches.
    But she loves Stonyfield yogurt squeezers, whole grain goldfish in a container and Trader Joe’s or other healthy brand cereal or granola bars. But for sandwiches I’m better off giving her 2 choices to pick from. If she feels as though it was her decision, she’ll eat it!

  434. Rajani Patil says

    I usually make such a lunch for my 8 year old son which also can be used as a breakfast food for my 3 year old too. Saves time and money (no need to buy lunch).
    Mix well 1 egg, 2 tbsp each of finely chopped onion, broccoli and grated carrots, some grated cheese, cilantro or parsley, salt, pepper and 1 tbsp of green bean flour or any lentil flour. Make an omlette of this mixture. Can be served as is or as a sandwich with whole wheat bread. Makes a healthy lunch or breakfast which contains protein, calcium, fiber and carbohydrates.

  436. Melissa N. says

    When we’re home we lke to make our niece/nephew their lunches for pre-school, daycare and we put them lots of fruit and veggies (they love to go out and just pick stuff off the vine, lol)
    eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com

  437. Melissa C says

    My baby girl loves a tray with different options like pretzels with peanut butter, and apples and caramel, and cucumbers with ranch. And to cut back on the fat in the ranch i always make it home made with sour cream in stead of mayo.

  439. denisse quiroz says

    I guess if you give them something they are used to always eating they’ll like it at school also. Just have them eat healthy everyday and they’ll eat healthy at school too :)

  440. Katie says

    Our favorites:
    -cream cheese with salami roll-ups
    -cream cheese & jelly sandwiches, with cream cheese on both sides to keep the bread from getting icky of course ;)

  442. says

    My daugher loves boiled eggs in her lunch. I just make them up at the beginning of the week and put a little ice pack in her lunch box to keep it cold until lunchtime.
    .-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Mom’s Group! =-.

  443. Sarah says

    “Dipping Lunches” can be a really fun thing for young children to find in their lunch box and the vast majority of kiddos love to dip foods anyway so it’s right up their alley. For the main entree, provide hummus, pita chips, cheese stick, low-fat ranch dressing, carrots, celery, etc. Then for dessert have the dip be chocolate sauce or peanut butter with apples to dip into it. This way they’re getting all their needed nutrients in a fun way and without going overboard in any one area.

  445. annalene says

    a good way to keep packed lunches healthy is to pile on the fresh fruits and veggies and also include some whole grains! lately i have really loved snacking on dry museli (i buy the bobs red mill type which includes whole grains, dates, raisins and almonds), it would also be nice to add some other tasty dried fruits or nuts to the mix. you can also pack fresh salads with homemade croutons or veggie sticks with dressing (i use hummus). pitas and wraps are another good way to incorporate some veggies. :)

  448. Karen Nelson says

    My children are all grown, but I have 8 grandchildren attending school in grades 1 thru 10. I know any or all of them would be thrilled to receive the gift package. Thank you for the oppotunity to enter. I have subscribed via email.

  451. Carol M Redman says

    I just saw a neat recipe that looks like it would be healthy and could be fun to make. Mix 1/4 cup of healthy peanut butter with 1 Tbsp of honey, set aside. Core an apple and slice into thick slices and put in a bowl of ice water with 1 tsp of lemon juice to keep from browning. Pat dry the slices and spread the peanut butter mixture on one side of a slice and sprinkle with dried cranberries (I think you could use raision too if you would like) then top with another apple slice. Let your daughter help with any of those steps you think she could handle.

  452. says

    To keep lunches fun, I often cut my son’s sandwiches into fun shapes with cookie cutters. He loves dipping, so we experiment with that. Yogurt or cream cheese dips for fruit, something more savory for veggies, etc. He also likes it when we make a rainbow of food, a great way to get extra fruits and veggies in.
    .-= Sarah´s last blog ..Saturday Giveaways =-.