1) Veggie Smiles
Arrange carrots, cucumbers, hummus, crackers and fruit wedges on a plate to create a healthy meal with a literal wink. Keep kids occupied for just a while longer by letting them assemble and reassemble funny faces on their own.
2) DIY Smoothie Bar
Create a buffet of delicious and nutritious smoothie ingredients such as sliced bananas, frozen fruit, coconut, blanched cauliflower, cocoa powder, peanut butter, yogurt and dates. Bigger kids can fill their blender jars—single-serving jars are perfect for this—and blend on their own, while littler ones will need some help.
3) Grilled Sammies
Literally every type of sandwich is tastier when you throw it on a panini press, and it’s a good way to liven up a lunchtime staple. Don’t have a panini press? Use a waffle maker and create new family favorites like Waffled Grilled Cheese and Waffled PB&J.
4) Whatever Wraps
Anything is a proper meal if you wrap it in a tortilla, so get creative. Top a tortilla with turkey, cheese and spinach, peanut butter and dried cranberries, or last night’s leftover curry. Roll it up and serve for a near-instant lunch that barely even requires a plate.
5) Indoor Picnic
Transform an ordinary lunch into an adventure. Spread a picnic blanket (or old sheet) on the living room floor and serve sandwiches and other low-mess snacks. If you have the time, patience and inclination, pack some of the lunch components—bagged snacks, juice boxes, napkins, a bag of baby carrots, yogurt tubes—into a basket for your kids to carry around as they explore the forest, beach or meadow (the living room) before settling down to a leisurely—let’s hope—feast.
