School Lunches the Frugal Way!


 * It seems that school starts earlier every year.
 * So it's time to start thinking about what to put in those school lunches every morning.
 * My children always wanted to bring their own lunches because they didn't really like what was offered in the school lunchroom.
 * But it was sometimes a little difficult to make their lunches nutritious and tasty and also to put a little variety in their lunchboxes without spending a small fortune.
 * If we let ourselves, we can spend a "lot" on individual servings, lunchables, and treats for lunches.
 * Here are a few ideas to help you meet the "Frugal Lunchbox Challenge".
 * Go to the Dollar Store and buy a few of those individual serving-size storage containers.
 * These are very inexpensive and they are worth every penny.
 * You can use them for any number of things--like making your own fruit cups and pudding cups.
 * And they can also be used to hold dip for carrot or celery sticks or fill with peanut butter and pack a zipper bag of pretzels for dipping.
 * Also at the Dollar Store or discount store, you can pick up one or two of the small "blue ice" cold packs.
 * They will help keep lunchbox items cold and safe.
 * Sandwiches such as egg salad or tuna salad need to have a cold pack.
 * Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, on the other hand, can be packed without one.
 * Those zipper bags we all love come into their own when packing lunches!
 * They can hold vegetable sticks, popcorn, crackers, homemade cookies, etc.
 * Muffins hold up well in a zipper-top bag, as do slices of banana nut bread, or most any other quick bread.
 * When the weather turns cool, a small thermos will come in handy for homemade soup or chili.
 * I see lots of these for sale at garage and yard sales, sometimes for as little as 25 cents.
 * A thermos is also handy to hold whatever drink your child likes to take.
 * Try to put some fun in the lunchbox: keep a stash of small, inexpensive toys, cut sandwich bread into cool shapes with cookie cutters, write little notes to your child, cut out funny cartoons.
 * Children love surprises.
 * A good routine to get into is while you are cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, put leftovers in the storage containers, or make sandwiches and place in the fridge in a designated area for lunch items.
 * Get your kids to help--the more they are involved, the better!
 * Put napkins, etc. in lunch boxes or bags and place them where all anyone has to do in the morning is fill with the prepared items.
 * Now you can all be out the door in minutes!
 * Here are a few recipes that will help get you started this school year:

Apple Surprise


 * 1 apple
 * Raisins
 * Peanut butter


 * 1) Cut apple in half.
 * 2) Carefully, cut out the core of the apple.
 * 3) Spread peanut butter where the core used to be and over surface of apple.
 * 4) Sprinkle raisins over the peanut butter.

Trail Mix


 * 2 cups granola cereal
 * 1 cup peanuts
 * 1 cup dried apple bits
 * 1 1/2 cups yogurt-covered raisins
 * 2/3 cup chopped dates
 * 1 cup dried banana bits


 * 1) Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.
 * 2) A small serving of this goes a long way!

Peanut Butter Balls


 * 1/2 c. peanut butter
 * 2 1/2 tbsp. nonfat dry milk
 * 2 tbsp. raisins
 * 2 tbsp. honey
 * 1/4 c. coconut
 * Sesame seeds


 * 1) Mix all ingredients and form into balls.
 * 2) Roll in sesame seeds.
 * 3) This is a good recipe for the kids to help with-- they love to roll the dough into balls.
 * 4) NOTE: sesame seeds are cheaper in bulk at a health food store.
 * 5) You can get unsweetened coconut there, also.

Cyndi Roberts may be contacted at http://www.cynroberts.com editor@cynroberts.com . Click here to view more of their articles. Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".