Yummy! 10 Delicious Back-to-School Lunch Ideas Kids Will Love

Please even the pickiest eaters with easy, healthy treats from Catherine McCord of Weelicious
By People Staff
August 21, 2012 06:00 AM

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BANANA DOG BITES

Have you ever thought about how many peanut butter-and-something sandwiches you've made for your kids? A more interesting twist: If you've got bananas, tortillas and peanut butter, you've got Banana Dog Bites – a fruit, protein and carbohydrate all rolled into one unique lunch idea! Kids will love spreading the nut butter on the tortilla, peeling the banana and laying it in its "tortilla bed." Get the recipe.

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WHOLE-WHEAT CHEDDAR WAFERS

Goldfish crackers are a staple in many kids’ school lunches, but why not make them with real cheddar cheese and whole-wheat flour for a wholesome, nutty flavor. The best part? Kids can use cookie cutters to cut them into their favorite shapes and sizes! Get the recipe.

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CHICKEN NUGGETS

There might not be a more universally loved recipe for kids than chicken nuggets. But don't just reach for the box from your freezer – make them yourself so you know exactly what's in them. This healthier version is super easy (and freezable!) and great with a squeeze of ketchup on the side. Get the recipe.

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CHEWY CHOCOLATE GRANOLA BAR

Before you put that packaged granola bar in your kid's lunch bag, give this recipe a try. Most granola bars cost around $1 each. This homemade recipe makes 30 bars and costs roughly $4 per batch (if you’re not into chocolate, try dried fruit like cranberries, cherries or raisins). That's a $26 savings and a real treat for your kids to unwrap during lunch. Get the recipe.

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THE WORLD’S BEST PB&J

How do you make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich the world's best? It’s simple: Slather the inside with gooey peanut butter and fresh strawberry preserves, then toss it into a waffle iron. When it comes out, it not only looks different from the ho-hum sandwich you put in your kid's lunch box everyday, but it also tastes ten times as scrumptious, too! Get the recipe.

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EGG PESTO MELT

This is a hands-down favorite sandwich for lunch. It contains four things everyone has on hand: eggs, cheese and bread, plus a delicious pesto you can whip up in no time flat! Get the recipe.

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CHOCOLATE GRAHAM CRACKERS

Graham crackers are a simple sweet treat to add to a school lunch, but toss in a handful of these crunchy chocolate graham crackers in fun shapes, and just wait. All it takes is 20 minutes – you'll be hearing rave reviews from your kids at pickup time, hoping you have more crackers waiting at home! Get the recipe.

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RANCH DIP

Sandwich? Check. Fruit? Check. Dessert? Check. Wait! What about a vegetable? It may seem like the most challenging item to inspire your kids to eat, but when you add a creamy dip for them to dunk carrots and sugar snap peas into, everything changes. Made from herbs and Greek yogurt, it's a nutritious must-have for lunch! Get the recipe.

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VERY BERRY MUFFINS

Why buy boxed muffins when you can make a batch of fresh, sweet berry muffins in minutes? Packed with juicy berries and nutritious whole-wheat flour, they're the perfect treat to add to your child's school lunch (and of course save one for Mommy!). Get the recipe.

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CHICKEN FAJITA QUESADILLA

Don't toss those leftovers – turn them into a fun lunch the next day. Whenever you've got roasted or grilled veggies or chicken, just add cheese and you've got a delectable quesadilla in minutes (cut it into wedges for little hands, and kids will go crazy for it). Get the recipe.

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GET COOKING

Courtesy Weelicios

Catherine McCord, mom to Kenya (age 5) and Chloe (age 3), created Weelicious.com as a platform to show parents around the world how easy and beneficial it is to expose children to wholesome and delicious homemade food. On Sept. 18, Catherine takes her inner "mom-ologue" from the web to the page with her new cookbook, Weelicious: One Family. One Meal.

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