Quick, Easy and Creative Lunch Recipes
Make a lunch that's entertaining and healthy in a flash

If you're making your child a lunch every day, it doesn't mean you've got to pack the traditional "sandwich and chips" meal every day. Spice up their lunch with homemade snacks and dipping sauces in small, colorful containers. Kids love to play, so food should appeal to their sense of fun.

Here are some more ideas for packing fun into their lunchboxes and putting good food in their bellies:

Dip it.
Kids love to dip things, so pack little containers of hummus or bean dip and pita bread. The Mediterranean-inspired dips are packed with protein and a good source of fiber. Celery sticks with a cottage-cheese salsa dip, baby carrots and yummy salad dressing dip, or apple slices and peanut butter can contribute to the fruits-and-veggies quota.

Spread and Dip Recipes White Bean Dip Hummus Ranch Dip and Baby Carrots Peaches and Cream

Skewer it.
Reinvent lunch by repackaging favorites. You can put all the essentials of a sandwich on wood skewers. Thread alternating small chunks of turkey, ham, cheese and bread (add nutrient-rich cherry tomatoes for fun) on skewers for a new dimension. This trick also works well with fruit.

Skewer Recipes Rainbow Veggie Skewers Pineapple Skewers with Coconut and Mint Mozzarella, Cherry Tomato and Basil Skewers Chicken and Pineapple Skewers Cheddar Apple Skewers Grab and Go Skewers

Toss it.
Most kids go nuts for noodles, so pack pasta salads. It’s a good way to sneak in vegetables and introduce new flavors.

Pasta Recipes Pasta Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad Sesame Noodles with Chicken Greek Pasta Salad with Feta and Chicken

Wrap it.
Add zip with colored tortillas. Smear red and green ones with a ranch dip or cream cheese and layer in cold cuts. They're tasty, colorful and easy.

Wrap Sandwich Recipes Turkey Avocado Wrap Fresh Fruit Roll Ups California Wrap Sandwich Ham and Cheese Pinwheels Barbecued Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps Caesar Chicken Wrap

Bake it.
If all else fails, you know kids will eat dessert. Make healthy dessert bars that give them a treat packed with good nutrition.

Baked Dessert Recipes Jill Cordes Oatmeal Bars Peanut Butter Granola Bars Myrna's Toasted Coconut-Chocolate Bars Apple and Oatmeal Crisp

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