Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

Your child may like lunch foods to

• Eat with just fingers!
• Partly prepare. (Hint: The weekend may be a good time to cook together!)
• Take to a fun place, perhaps for a backyard picnic.

“I’m hungry! What Can I Have for Lunch?”

Your child might enjoy these quick and easy foods.

• Peanut butter roll-ups: Spread a soft tortilla with peanut butter and grated carrots. Roll it!
• Muffin pizza: Top an English muffin half with tomato sauce, chopped broccoli, and shredded cheese. Heat it in a toaster oven or broiler.
• Mexican pizza: Top pita bread with salsa, refried beans, and grated cheese. Heat it.
• Funny sandwiches: Cut bread in fun shapes with cookie cutters. Top with deli meat, cheese, humus, or peanut butter.
• Lunch pockets: Stuff half a pita pocket with sliced chicken, shredded lettuce and carrot, and a little salad dressing.
• Waffle sandwich: Slice a frozen waffle in half. Make a sandwich filing with tuna or egg salad.
• Chili boat: Microwave a potato. Cut it in half, and hollow the middle. Fill it with chili.

“What else?”

• Apple slices
• Banana
• half Mango slices
• Papaya slices
• Strawberries
• Tangerine sections
• Dried fruit
• Broccoli “trees”
• Cucumber circles
• Bell pepper sticks
• Raw snap peas

“What to Drink?”

• Plain or flavored milk
• Water
• Fruit smoothie
• Vegetable soup

A weekend lunch is a great time to practice making choices.

• You decide – on lunch time. Offer two or three choices, too.
• Let your child pick – foods from what you offer and decide how much to eat.

Nibbles for Health Nutrition Newsletter for Parents of Young Children, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service