Easy Lunchbox Idea: Homemade Lunchables

I threw together this lunch plate for my daughter and I to share the other day.  She declared it,  “The best lunch I’ve ever had!” and asked me to send it in her school lunchbox.  It’s basically a homemade lunchable.

Nice… I frequently send her homecooked lunches like beans and rice or homemade tomato soup, yet a few slices of lunch meat is what makes her think I’m a culinary genius.  Go figure.

I put the plate together for us to share as we chilled on the couch on a lazy Saturday. It’s simple:

• Grapes
• Sliced strawberries
• Ritz crackers (we actually strongly prefer the taste and texture of the reduced fat variety to the regular version)
• Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Boar’s Head Maple Glazed Turkey

This combo rocked my child’s world.

Even more than the time I wrapped a slice of bologna around a chunk of cantaloupe, secured it with a wooden skewer and handed it to her on her way to day camp one summer morning.  (“Look Dad!  Mom, invented bologna salad on a stick!”)

She used to beg for lunchables in the store.  She realizes now they aren’t very filling.   Homemade lunchables have all the fun of the dinky little meals, but with a higher quality of taste and satisfaction. Oh, and a MUCH lower price sticker!

It makes sense it would be appealing for her lunchbox.

And throwing it together in the morning is so fast and easy!  It’s versatile and simple enough for even young school children to pack themselves.  Healthy eating, independence and fun in the lunchbox?  Yes, please!

You can certainly use baggies, but a plastic lunch container with sections makes it much easier.  We have several picked up for just a couple dollars each at various stores.  I saw some cute ones at TJ Maxx just yesterday.

Here are two of our recent DIY lunchables:

• Sliced chicken breast
• Pepper jack cheese
• Apple slices
• Olives
• Crackers

• Salami
• Chunks of string cheese
• Apple slices
• Grapes
• Crackers
• Squeezable yogurt tube

The one with olives is actually waiting in the fridge for MY lunch right now!  Yup, homemade lunchables are great for adults, too!

What’s your favorite easy food that kids thing is amazing?