6 Lunch Box Hacks; Save Time And Effort

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Collage of six lunch box hacks including a sandwich, peanut butter, salad, fruit skewers, and a wrap.

Teach Your Children to Make Their Own Lunches with 6 Lunch Box Hacks

6 Lunches Your Children Can Make

Shaker Salads
Hot Macaroni & Broccoli
Abracadabra Kabobs
PB Bananarama Rap
Quick Chik’n Nugget (vegan) Sandwich
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO MAKE THEIR OWN LUNCH.

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To Learn How to Make Recipe

#1 Natural Peanut Butter HACK

Here’s a quick tip to get that peanut butter mixed that is so hard to stir. Use a dough hook with your hand mixer. Hold the jar tight so that the oil does not spill. Make sure the dough hook is inserted into the mixer correctly, then turn on the mixer and blend until oil is gone and you have peanut butter that is the correct consistency. This saves time for you and for your hands!

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/palforzia-exciting-new-hope/

#2 Dressing Up Your Salad HACK

Add a little ranch dressing to the bottom of your container FIRST and THEN add the salad ingredients you like. We added some tomatoes, lettuce carrots, and sunflower seeds.

Right before you’re ready to eat the salad (with the lid still on) go ahead and shake it up. Your salad will be evenly covered in salad dressing.

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/baby-spinach-salad-with-roasted-tomatoes-asparagus-prosciutto/

#3 Hot Macaroni & Broccoli HACK

Use frozen macaroni and cheese of your choice. Add fresh broccoli (incorporating veggies) as much as you or your kiddo will eat before microwaving. Cook according to cook time on the macaroni and cheese package. Cover BEFORE putting it in the microwave to prevent any splatter. Scoop it all into a thermos and your mac & cheese will stay warm until you’re ready to eat it.

Watch Our Video: COOKING WITH KIDS: SMALL TREE (Broccoli) Salad

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#4 Abracadabra Kabobs HACK

We made these using cute, colorful little abracadabra magic wands (we found ours at the dollar store). These were made of plastic with no sharp ends. Tip: have the kids be sure to bring home the wand so you can wash and reuse them again.

We had turkey string cheese cut up into little sections, grape tomatoes, olives and we alternated the ingredients on the kabobs. Serve with crackers…they’re magically delicious.

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/cooking-kids-kiddie-cobb-stick/

#5 PB Bananarama Rap HACK

This one’s fast and easy. Grab a tortilla, spread peanut butter, then spread applebutter or applesauce. Then get a banana, peel it, break it in half and then roll up your tortilla. Cut the rolled up tortilla in half before putting it into tinfoil…and that’s a wrap!

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/cooking-kids-banana-sushi/

#6 Quick Chik’n Nugget Sandwich.

Microwave three or four chicken nuggets, per package directions. Use a sandwich round, lettuce, mayonnaise, cheese and pickles (or top with whatever you or your child likes). Put it all together, and you have a quick chik’n nugget sandwich.

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/easy-chicken-nuggets/

Eat! Talk! Enjoy!

Language Time Tips:

1. Build vocabulary: Use nouns and action words like peanut butter, banana salad, etc…

2. Colors and Size: There are a lot of different colors, shapes, and sizes in all of these hacks. You will have lots to discuss.

3. Comment and Describe: Let your child taste each ingredient of the recipe and discuss the flavors and textures. Encourage your child to describe the ingredients that are hard, soft, crunchy, sweet, tart etc.

4. Sequencing and recalling information: This recipe has a specific order to follow; some of it can be prepared ahead of time so that it can be assembled in a uniform manner. Ask your child to tell you which ingredient they remember working with first, second, etc…. See how your child follows the steps. Ask them to tell you the order of the ingredients. Ask them if it matters what order the ingredients are placed on the skewer? What happens if they do not follow the order?

5. Answering and asking “wh” questions: Sample “wh” questions include: Sample “wh” questions include, “What is a banana?” or, “What makes this taste so good?” or, “What would happen if we didn’t use a certain ingredient or if we forgot an ingredient?

Literacy! Try a fun syllable activity by counting how many syllables are in each ingredient. What ingredient has the most syllables? How about the least amount of syllables? The word “banana” has several syllables, for example…how does that sound and what other words can you think of that have that many syllables, etc…?

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This post originally appeared on our July/August 2018 Magazine

6 Lunch Box Hacks; Save Time And Effort

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