Kids lunch times at school are short and they spend half of the time talking and fooling around, so what do parents do to make sure they eat? The answer is make it fun and interesting!! First of all, kids like packaging...so, the better (and cooler) you make something look, the more apt the are to eat it. You don't need to make it extra special every day, but maybe you can use some of these ideas once or twice a week.

*Write a note, or make a heart on your child's sandwich with food coloring *Wrap sandwiches in colored cellophane wrap Cut sandwiches into fun shapes or letters *Wrap ribbon around carrot sticks or celery sticks and place in a plastic baggie *Put a note in that says "I love you" or "I am thinking about you" *Put a little prize in once in a while like a sticker or a pin or a plastic ring *Use banana bread to make a PB&J sandwich *Always put a napkin in, and sometimes draw a little smiley face or write a note on it *Include a fun straw *Put in a new fun pencil *Put a lipstick kiss on their napkin *Put a in Hershey's Kiss with a note attached "Here's a Kiss for you" *Put a in Hershey's Hug with a note attached "Here's a Hug for you" *Put soup in a thermos and be sure to include a colored plastic spoon *Give them chocolate milk in their thermos instead of regular *Put a flower in *Make a fruit kabob *Remove crust and cut sandwiches into triangles *Include homemade cookies *Give a special piece of candy once in a while *Put in fresh fruit or vegetables cut up *Tie ribbon around utensils *Cut sandwiches into strips *Roll up lunch meat and cheese and secure with a fun toothpick

Now - Here are some other ideas and recipes that will be sure to make your child's lunches memorable and fun. Go to www.TheIdeaBox.com for a complete list!

Butterfly Sandwich

Need:
bread
peanut butter
raisins
favorite jelly or jam

Make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Cut into four triangles and arrange in butterfly shape. Use raisins to create an antennae. Easy and fun!

Daisy Apple

Need:
2 Tbs. raisins
2 Tbs. crunchy or creamy peanut butter
1 Mcintosh apple
Peanuts for garnish (omit if making for small child)

Set aside a few raisins for face. Stir remaining raisins into peanut butter. With apple corer or paring knife, remove core and seeds from apple. Using a small knife or spoon, push peanut butter mixture into center of apple. Make a happy face on top of peanut butter using reserved raisins. Optional: Arrange peanut halves around edge of peanut butter forming a circle. Chill before serving.

Surprise Banana

Need: Banana

Every once in a while I write with the tip of a knife(adults only) a note to my girls on the banana that is in their lunch. It doesn't show up right away but by the time they eat it at recess or lunch my "I love you" or "knock knock" joke is very dark. They love it!