(BPT) – The start of a new school year can be incredibly exciting for children and parents alike, and it can also be a busy season. Whether you have multiple kids going back to school this fall or you’re a new parent sending your child off for the first time, it’s best to get organized before the school year starts.
Not sure where to begin? Make your life easier and give your kids something to look forward to by planning fun lunchbox meals. To give you some ideas and spark your creativity, Siri Daly — mom of four kids ages 2 – 13, self-taught cook and cookbook author — has partnered with Juicy Juice to share a calendar of easy and affordable lunchbox ideas.
Below are Siri’s four favorite lunchbox ideas that are affordable, easy to make and can help parents navigate the back-to-school season with ease. Parents can also find, download and print the full list of lunch ideas to add to their monthly rotation on JuicyJuice.com.
1. Peanut butter and jelly roll-ups
Take a lunchtime classic and put a twist on it by transforming a PB&J sandwich into a roll-up. Simply remove the crust of a slice of sandwich bread, flatten it with a rolling pin (or anything you have on hand), spread peanut butter and jelly, roll it up and slice the roll into sushi-like pieces for easy handling.
Siri pairs this fun meal with pretzels, grapes and a Juicy Juice Fruit Punch juice box. It is 100% juice, with no added sugar, no high fructose corn syrup and no artificial sweeteners, making it an easy choice for moms and a top pick for kids with its variety of flavors.
2. Pigs in a blanket with honey mustard
Pigs in a blanket aren’t just for special occasions. They can be a fun and delicious meal your kids will enjoy during the school day. Buy biscuit or crescent roll dough, cut into triangles and wrap each around a cocktail-size mini hot dog before baking. Siri’s pro tip: don’t forget to pack a small container of honey mustard for dipping!
Some fun snacks that Siri packs with pigs in a blanket are kiwi slices, popcorn and Juicy Juice 100% juice Strawberry Watermelon. This simple yet well-balanced meal will be something your kids will look forward to eating at lunchtime.
3. Cheesy egg bites
Cheesy egg bites are infinitely customizable and are sure to please adventurous and picky eaters alike. They can be as simple as beating eggs, cheese, salt and pepper together, or you can get creative and add veggies like onions, peppers or chives for a savory treat.
Take a page from Siri’s book and try packing with cherry tomatoes, tortilla chips and Juicy Juice 100% juice Grape to round out this delicious and nutritious lunch.
4. Cheese and salami kebabs
Create a kid-friendly and portable take on a charcuterie by packing cheese and salami kebabs! Cut up pieces of your child’s favorite cheese and salami into squares, then thread them on a toothpick or skewer. These kebabs are easy to prepare the night before school, but you can also quickly put them together in the morning.
Siri completes this meal by including crackers, sliced cucumber, yogurt and a box of Juicy Juice 100% juice Berry.
These easy lunch ideas and more, ranging from turkey meatball to mini pancakes, give kids plenty to be excited about at lunchtime while offering parents extra peace of mind going into the busy back-to-school season.
To help you start the school year right, Juicy Juice is hosting the SIRIously Real Back-to-School Sweepstakes, which gives parents the chance to win money for back-to-school supplies and groceries to make Siri’s lunchbox ideas. Each week for four weeks, parents will have the chance to win a $1,000 gift card, and 10 others will win a $100 gift card.
To enter for a chance to win, parents must follow @JuicyJuiceUSA on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and comment or submit a photo in response to the weekly designated sweepstakes posts, using #SiriouslyRealBTS and #Sweepstakes.
Read the full rules and find more lunchbox ideas by visiting JuicyJuice.com/BackToSchool. Enter between now and Sept. 13.