Spicing Up Boring Back-to-School Lunches

It can be difficult to stay creative when packing a school lunch for your kids. Your culinary ingenuity might last through September, but by the time October rolls around, most school lunches are full of those boring sandwiches. They’re quick and easy, but kids can get tired of them fast. Here are a few tips to spice up some of those boring sandwiches without adding too much extra time to your morning routine.

Peanut Butter and Jelly: This sandwich is the main offender in boring school lunches, and with good reason. It’s easy to make, healthy enough and it doesn’t spoil. But week after week of PB&J can turn lunch-hour into more of a task than a meal. Instead of jam, try pairing the peanut butter with fresh fruit. Slices of strawberries, apples or bananas can add a whole new dimension to this lunch-time standard. It’s tasty, easy to switch up and healthier than the typical jelly variety.

Tuna Sandwich: This is another easy one. Open the can, mix it up with some mayonnaise and throw it on some bread. There is nothing wrong with the classic tuna sandwich, but each tuna sandwich can have its own unique taste with no extra hassle. When you’re mixing the tuna, try adding some diced pickles to give it a little extra crunch. Or you can try adding some lemon or orange zest to give it a fresh citrus taste. If your kids aren’t afraid of a little heat, add a few drops of hot sauce into the mix. Keep experimenting with different flavours, and you’ll never be making the same sandwich twice.

Throw it in a wrap: The limits of what you can accomplish with a sandwich are often defined by what ingredients the bread can realistically hold. A wrap has no such restrictions. With wraps you can spice up the classic lunchmeat-and-cheese combo by adding just about anything you want—even last night’s leftovers. While things like rice, salads and beans don’t belong anywhere near a sandwich, they’ll be right at home in a wrap. Try ditching the bread in favour of tortillas every once in a while. You’ll be surprised at what kinds of new lunches you can accomplish.