It might feel like the summer holidays went by in a blink but the new term is beginning and that means having to start coming up with ideas for the kid’s lunchboxes. Lunchboxes can get boring very quickly and with some schools have restrictions on certain items, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are a few ideas for lunchboxes that the kids will love and are still healthy, tasty and full of amazing Dorset produce!
We all know what a traditional packed lunch looks like, so why not give these ideas a whirl and make meal times as exciting at school as they are at home.
Dips
Finger foods are always a safe bet when it comes to kid’s lunches. Why not slice up veggies such as peppers, cucumber, carrots and celery and add in a few bread sticks and slices of pitta or toasted wraps and pack those along with a dip such as hummus? You could even make your own!
Here’s a simple pea hummus to get you started –
You will need:
200g cooked peas
1 crushed garlic clove
1 tbsp tahini
1 squeeze of lemon
1 tbsp cooked cannellini beans
2 tbsp olive oil
You can find olive oil from Olives et al and the rest of your ingredients from one of the region’s farm shops, click here to see more.
Once you have all the ingredients, simply blitz together using a hand blender or a food processor, adding water to thin it out. Transfer into individually portioned pots and add to a lunchbox with the veggies. The hummus will last up to 3 days if kept in a fridge, so you can even repeat it if it is a success!
Wraps
Sandwiches can get a bit dull after a while, so why not mix it up by swapping traditional bread for a wrap? You can use whatever fillings you like such as egg with fresh eggs from Fluffetts, chicken salad, with chicken straight from one of these producers or even just a simple cheese. You can find cheese producers here.
Ditch the bread
Instead of including bread, why not make a pasta or a rice salad? Both are good to eat cold and you can mix whatever veg, meat, cheese and sauces in that you like! Another way to reduce waste and save money would be to batch cook your pasta and rice, so you have enough for the whole week and then mix it up with the flavourings to create a truly unique meal each time.
