Getting my kids to eat something…ANYTHING at school can be quite a challenge. They’re not fond of sandwiches, so I’m always trying to find lunches that are both easy to make and yummy to eat. As usual – Pinterest has been a HUGE source of great ideas. Here are 2 lunch ideas that have been big hits so far:
1) Wicked Good Pizza Muffins – original recipe here. My modifications – I used whatever cheese I had lying around the house instead of their specific recommendations. I used chopped up pepperoni instead of red/green pepper:
2) Chicken Pot Pie Cupcakes – original recipe here. My modifications: I used ground chicken sauteed with garlic & salt rather than the herbs & spices in the recipe. I used a mix of Broccoli & Cheddar plus Cream of Mushroom instead of Cream of Chicken soup.
The nice thing about preparing these pies is that half of the ground chicken/soup mixture can be used to make Chicken Spaghetti for dinner. Inspired by this recipe. (EDIT: I’m posting my full recipe for Parveen – fry 1 lb minced chicken with garlic, soya sauce & black pepper. Mix in a can each of Broccoli & Cheddar soup and Cream of Mushroom soup. Stir in a 10 oz can of tomato paste and a can of Old El Paso Green Chiles, Mix with cooked spaghetti, place in an oven-proof dish and top with grated cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20-30 minutes in a 350 F oven). Not the healthiest but it was great comfort food!
Both the muffin and the pie can be frozen in tupperwares and defrosted overnight or microwaved in the morning before school.
My packed lunch formula is:
–MAIN COURSE: French Toast, Chicken Pot Pie, Pizza Muffin, Mini-Pizzas or Pasta
–DAIRY: Cheese stick or Yogurt
–FRUIT or VEG: Apples, Grapes, Orange Slices or Baby Carrots
–SNACK: Chips or Cookies
–DRINK: Water bottle & Milk or Fruit Juice
I definitely send more than they need – but as long as they’ve had most of their “main course”, I’m happy.
What was your favorite school lunch? If you have kids – what do they like eating?
Ella the last dish looks so damn yummy! Pls do a how to? I love that it contains chicken as opposed to beef! (have you heard the fiasco going on in the UK at the mo, re horse meat being used in ready meals in place of beef – bad times!) xx
Parveen – I edited my post to include how I made it – hope you like it too! I had the leftovers for lunch and it just gets yummier 🙂 And yes – following the UK news and all the horse meat substitution is SOOOO wrong!
Thank you!!! Saturday lunch sorted! 🙂 xx
Funny how the cupcake shape can make any meal more fun! 🙂 Great recipes! I was definitely a basic PB&J sandwich kid. http://theworldfrommystilettos.blogspot.ca/
Yup – cupcake shapes win them over every time LOL! I SO wish my kids liked sandwiches – am going to keep trying – would be so much simpler for me.
The pot pie cupcakes look amazing, my husband would love these, I should pack him off to work with these instead of boring sarnies!
Thanks for visiting Tabitha 🙂 These pies would be good for a work lunch – especially if there's a place to warm them before eating.
I have an adult kid (my husband) – does that count? He even has a choice of Spiderman or Transformers lunch box. Hehe.I pack him a lunch everyday. I prefer more complicated leftovers but for him I keep it simple and with variety. Here's what he gets:-MAIN COURSE: Pasta with shrimp or meatballs and crumbled bacon, sandwiches with PB&J, Tuna, or Egg. Sandwiches with cucumber, cheddar, mustard & roast beef. Sandwiches with havarti & ham. I also have Stouffers frozen pockets/sandwiches or Steamers on hand for when I'm too lazy or running late.-DAIRY: Cheese stick and/or Yogurt-FRUIT or VEG: Apple…although he usually leaves it uneaten for me. UGH! Sometimes I pack him sliced cucumbers to go with the cheese.-SNACK: Granola bar and/or 3-4 cookies-DRINK: Diet pop of some sortSee…sometimes they never grow up! Hehe.
Ha ha – yes, adult kids count – they can be the pickiest ever! You're so sweet making sure he has such a wide variety of food. My kids leave the apple too – then they have it at home while watching TV 🙂
great blog,looks so yummy :)follow back,if you like 🙂
Thanks for following Andy – I'll definitely check your blog out 🙂