Have you got that, “What? The summer can’t be over yet!” Sunday night kinda feeling as September and back-to-school looms?
What with all its school runs, uniforms, homework, schoolbags, head-lice letters and, worst of all, school lunches that back-to-school brings.
Making school lunches is the bane of every parent’s life – what to put in them, how to make sure that they eat it and how to vary the contents so that they (and you) don’t die of sandwich boredom.
My top tip to avoid all the stress and heartache of school lunches? Get your kids to make their own.
Council to run the rule over Portobello house revival as Hugh Wallace deviates from the plan
Patrick Honohan: Ireland surfed the wave of globalisation as long as we could. Here’s what we should do next
Cathy Gannon: ‘I used to ride my pony to school, tie him up and ride him back’
The Guildford Four’s Paddy Armstrong: ‘People thought I was going to be bitter and twisted when I came out of prison’
My 11-year-old has been making his own since he was six, and guess what? He generally eats it all. And I haven’t had to make it – it’s a win-win all around.
I work with children from age three, teaching them simple, healthy cooking skills and I can tell you now, every single child in primary school can make their own school lunch.
Yes, the younger ones will probably need some help but remember that you’ll be banking all that time that you spend now by preparing for the future you – that’s the you who can actually have a shower while they make their lunch all on their owniyo (from about 1st class, in my experience)!
Here are my top three recipes for school lunch boxes that your kids can try.
Tuna Rolls
(serves 2/3 children approx)
- 1 tin tuna, drained
- 1- 2 tblsp sweetcorn, cooked
- 1- 2 tblsp mayonnaise
- Lettuce leaves*
- wholemeal rolls
Combine the first 3 ingredients and mix well. Spread on your roll, adding the lettuce leaves* and cut in half. Pop in the lunch boxes along with some fruit, popcorn and cherry tomatoes.
Okay – hardly a recipe, I know. But this little gem has got my kids through many a busy school day. And they make it themselves every time.
Other things you can mix with tuna:
- Grated carrot
- Red onion
- Diced celery
- Chopped gherkin
- Grated cheese
- Chopped cucumber
* If your children balk at the idea of lettuce coming within five feet of them, then start with very tiny amounts. Literally ¼ leaf of lettuce chopped fine and mixed in with the tuna if preferred (see also the next recipe)
Totally Tasty Chicken Wrap
Serves 3 children approx
- 2 free-range chicken breasts
- Handful of red grapes
- Handful of rocket leaves
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Curry powder
- 3 wholemeal wraps
Boil the chicken breasts by covering with cold water and cooking for 10-12 minutes approximately. This might be a job for you to do (sorrryyyyy….!). When cooked and cooled, the kids can chop it up.
Chop the grapes in half and finely chop the rocket.
Add the chicken, grapes and rocket to a largish bowl and add the mayonnaise and curry powder. Mix well – the kids will love doing this.
Plonk in the middle of wraps, roll and cut in half or whatever way it will fit in their lunch boxes. Add fruit, a yoghurt and Bob’s your uncle (he actually is… hi Bob!).
If your kids are not keen on sandwiches, here’s a nice one they can make of a Sunday for the week’s lunch boxes ahead:
Spinach and Cheese Egg Muffin Thingies
Makes 12
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- 8 eggs
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup grated cheese
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Chop the spinach really small. Chop the tomatoes in half.
Whisk the eggs together, add a pinch of salt and pepper if desired.
Grease a muffin tray very well (the voice of experience shouting here!). Divide the spinach between the 12 muffin cups. Top with grated cheese and then divide the egg between each muffin cup.
Plop half a cherry tomato on top of each muffin thingy, cut side up.
Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the egg is fully cooked.
Allow cool completely before popping into your lunch box.
Add some power balls and fruit for a super-charged lunch box.
- Deirdre Doyle is author of the children’s cookbook Chop, Cook, Yum.
