It is that time of the year again -- back to school!  It goes
without saying, that no matter what, you can never have
too many lunch ideas!

1) Save your yogurt containers! After eating the yogurt,
wash them thoroughly and fill with liquid Jell-O or pudding
mixture (before it sets), cap, and refrigerate. This gives
you individual snack-sized Jell-O or pudding at a fraction
of the cost.

2) Take leftover cooked chicken and make chicken strips.
Pack dippers such as salsa, ranch dressing, barbecue
sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, or pizza sauce.

3) Use a variety of breads. Try Italian varieties, sourdough,
different grains, Hawaiian bread, and different rolls.  

4) Pack string cheese or cheese cubes. Send along
bread sticks or crackers to eat with them. Or pack
a prepared cheese spread with breadsticks for dipping.

5) Cut fresh fruit into bite-sized pieces and use fruit-flavored
yogurt or pudding as a dip. Or mix the fruit with your prepared
Jell-O (see Jell-O tip).

6) Each day include a short note to your child. Anything
that shows them you love them and you are thinking of
them will show your child you care.

7) Layer creamy peanut butter on a flour tortilla with jelly
or fruit spread and roll up "wrap" or "jellyroll" style. Slice
crosswise into pieces. Select the size tortilla depending
on your child's appetite.

8) Heat frozen waffles and make a sandwich with them,
using peanut butter and jelly. Or cut them into bite-sized
pieces or sticks and send syrup for dipping.

9) Add fun to your child's lunch by using colored plastic
wraps. Or during the holiday's, use special prints that are
usually for plastic wrap, zipper-type bags, and napkins.

10) Cut open a bagel and spread each side with cream
cheese. Lay several slices of luncheon meat on top of cream
cheese and make into a sandwich.

11) Kids love to dip! Send baby carrots, celery sticks, or
broccoli trees with their favorite dip or dressing. Or send
peanut butter as a dip, and include some sliced apples.

12) Create your own "Lunchables".  Cut meat slices and
cheese into pieces that will fit on crackers. Pack the meat,
cheese, and crackers together. Have extra mustard or
mayo packets from your take-out? Pack those along for
condiments.

13) If your child loves sandwiches and won't let you try
anything new, have fun with the sandwiches -- cut the
sandwich into interesting shapes or cut with cookie
cutters.

14) It doesn't have to be jelly everyday! Some other ideas
for sandwiches using with traditional peanut butter are:
sliced bananas, honey, butter/margerine, raisins,
marshmallow fluff, and thinly sliced apples.

15) The possibilities are endless with tortillas!  Roll up
just about anything in a tortilla.  Try lunch meat, chicken
strips, vegetables, or cheese.  You can even make a
fruit wrap!

16) Invest in a thermos and you can send along chili, stew,
or soups in the chilly months.  Be sure to include some
crackers!

17) Did you know you can create "wraps" with bread?
Simply take a slice of your favorite bread (softer breads
work better), and lay a slice or two of your favorite lunch
meat and cheese on it. Roll up the bread tightly, making
sure to press the edges of the bread together to seal.

©2002 Brandie Valenzuela
About The Author:
Brandie is a freelance writing mother of three
children, who's favorite hobby is scrapbooking!  
Visit Brandie's scrapbook site at:  
http://www.bmvcreations.com/unitedwescrap
and bid her original scrapbook creations at:
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/bmvcreations