Best Lunch Box Ever: Ideas and Recipes for School Lunches Kids Will Love

by Katie Sullivan Morford, Jennifer Martiné (Photographer)

Overview

“Does a truly sweet job of helping parents pack more inspired lunches . . . recipes for everything from wraps and sandwiches to pizzas and salads.” —Publishers Weekly

Best Lunch Box Ever is full of recipes, ideas, and strategies for packing creative and healthful lunches for kids, solving what is for many parents the most taxing of daily chores. Kids will love the scrumptiousness, while busy moms and dads will appreciate the quick and simple solutions for wholesome, balanced meals developed by Katie Sullivan Morford, a registered dietician and mother of three. The sixty-five recipes are easy, delicious, and—best of all—packed with nutrients for well-rounded lunches and snacks, including Deconstructed Caprese Skewers, Easy Cheesy Thermos Beans, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cinnamon Wonton Crisps, Parmesan Kale Chips, Crispy Applewiches, and more.

“Katie Morford has dozens of interesting and sometimes surprising suggestions for easy, delicious, and nutritious lunch items that kids will enjoy—if parents don’t get to them first.” —Marion Nestle, James Beard Award–winning author of Unsavory Truth

“This wonderful book is sure to get you out of a lunch-box rut, with inspiring, easy, healthful ideas for lunches that will put a smile on any kid’s face!” —Ellie Krieger, host of Food Network’s Healthy Appetite

“Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households.” —Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452139036
Publisher:	Chronicle Books
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	156
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Katie Sullivan Morford is a registered dietician, a freelance food and nutrition writer, and founder of the Mom's Kitchen Handbook blog. She lives in San Francisco, California.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Why a Lunch-Box Book? 6

Chapter 1 Brown Bag Basics 8

Know Good Nutrition 10

Keep Food Cool 16

Give Lunch a Makeover 17

About Ingredients 18

About Recipes and Portions 19

Chapter 2 Getting the Job Done 20

Fill Your Arsenal 22

Plan Ahead 23

Troubleshooting 25

Six Steps to a Superb School Lunch 26

Mains 27

Chapter 3 Stellar Sandwiches 28

Hippie-Dippie Bagel Sandwich 31

Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwich 32

Anything Goes Salad Sandwich 33

Italian Picnic Sandwich 34

Turkey and Veggie Dagwood 36

Turkey and Hummus Cuties 37

Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese 38

Chickpea Panini 40

Deconstructed Caprese 42

Chapter 4 Salads Kids Will Love 46

Jar of Everyday Vinaigrette 49

Kiddie Cobb Salad 50

Takeaway Taco Salad 52

Fattoush Salad 53

Kid-Pleaser Chicken Caesar 54

Where's Waldorf? 55

Asian Lunch-Box Slaw 56

Chapter 5 Pinwheels, Pizzas, Wraps, and Roll-Ups 58

The Perfect Date 60

Peanut Butter Pinwheels 62

BLT Roll-Ups 64

Pesto Pita Pizza 65

Prosciutto and Arugula Lavash Pizza 66

Sweetie Pie Quesadilla, 68

Chapter 6 Leftovers Made Over 70

Teriyaki Fried Rice 72

"Take Two" Tabbouleh 74

Curried Quinoa with Tangerines and Dried Cranberries 75

Love Salad 76

"Me So" Happy Noodle Soup 77

Shortcut Chicken Noodle Soup 78

Creamy Black Bean Soup 79

Easy Cheesy Thermos Beans 80

Oodles of Sesame Noodles 82

Tuna Pasta Classic 84

Chinese Tacos 85

BBQ on a Bun 86

Sides 89

Chapter 7 Fruit and Veggie Sides 90

I Heart Watermelon 92

Honey-Lime Melon 93

Very Berry Skewers 94

Teensy Tropical Salad 95

Winter Jewel Box Salad 96

Juice Box Applesauce 98

Really Ranch Dip with Veggies in the Raw 100

My Thai Peanut Dip with Garden-Fresh Faves 102

Guacamole and Crunchy Crudités 103

Hummus with a Twist and Veggies to Dip 104

Chapter 8 Crunchy Extras 108

Coconut Granola Bark 110

Pumped-Up Party Mix 112

Skinny Mini Cheese Straws 113

Cinnamon Wonton Crisps 114

"Betcha Can't Eat Just One" Parmesan Kale Chips 116

DIY Microwave Popcorn 118

Chapter 9 Goodies 120

Cocoa-Dusted Almonds 122

Rosie's Energy Balls 123

Sour Cherry Oatmeal Bars 124

Chocolate Chip-Pretzel Cookies 126

Petite Pumpkin Gingerbread Cupcakes 127

Tender Cranberry Streusel Muffins 130

Everybody Loves Chocolate Pudding 132

After School 135

Chapter 10 Tide-Me-Overs 136

"Perfect Every Time" Hard-Boiled Eggs 138

The Comfort of Cottage Cheese and Crackers 140

Italian Quesadilla 141

Crispy Applewiches 142

Out-of-the-Box Peanut Butter Granola Bars 144

Dreamy Mango-Orange Pops 146

Creamy Banana Shake 147

Raspberry Sneak 148

Mom-Approved Lunch-Box Supplies 150

Resources 151

Acknowledgments 152

Index 153

Table of Equivalents 156

Editorial Reviews

Dietitian, food and nutrition writer, and blogger Morford does an truly sweet job of helping parents pack more inspired lunches in her new cookbook, which features 75 recipes for everything from wraps and sandwiches to pizzas and salads. Packing healthy lunches that kids will actually eat is no easy feat, but Morford is up for the challenge. “This book is a toolbox full of fresh ideas to help you break from the lunch-box rut that plagues the best of us,” Morford explains in her intro. Chapter one, Brown Bag Basics, gives nutrition advice and offers healthier versions for lunchtime favorites such as turkey sandwiches with hummus and romaine, while the second chapter includes tips on getting organized and how to plan ahead. Healthy, fresh sandwich recipes include chickpea panini and deconstructed Caprese cherry tomatoes and mozzarella on skewers. Salads Kids Will Love offers up a variety of greens made with kid-friendly ingredients like Where’s Waldorf, made with apple and raisins, and Lunch Box Slaw, crunchy veggies with a slightly sweet dressing of rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce. There are recipes for all-time favorites—pizza, wraps, and roll-ups—as well as a section on how to put a fresh new spin on leftovers. This is an extremely useful guide that’s both fun and accessible. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households." - Library Journal

"Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households." — Library Journal, July 2013

"Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households." — Library Journal, July 2013

"Dietitian, food and nutrition writer, and blogger Morford does an truly sweet job of helping parents pack more inspired lunches in her new cookbook, which features 75 recipes for everything from wraps and sandwiches to pizzas and salads. Packing healthy lunches that kids will actually eat is no easy feat, but Morford is up for the challenge. "This book is a toolbox full of fresh ideas to help you break from the lunch-box rut that plagues the best of us," Morford explains in her intro. Chapter one, Brown Bag Basics, gives nutrition advice and offers healthier versions for lunchtime favorites such as turkey sandwiches with hummus and romaine, while the second chapter includes tips on getting organized and how to plan ahead. Healthy, fresh sandwich recipes include chickpea panini and deconstructed Caprese cherry tomatoes and mozzarella on skewers. Salads Kids Will Love offers up a variety of greens made with kid-friendly ingredients like Where's Waldorf, made with apple and raisins, and Lunch Box Slaw, crunchy veggies with a slightly sweet dressing of rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce. There are recipes for all-time favorites-pizza, wraps, and roll-ups-as well as a section on how to put a fresh new spin on leftovers. This is an extremely useful guide that's both fun and accessible." - Publishers Weekly

"Dietitian, food and nutrition writer, and blogger Morford does an truly sweet job of helping parents pack more inspired lunches in her new cookbook, which features 75 recipes for everything from wraps and sandwiches to pizzas and salads. Packing healthy lunches that kids will actually eat is no easy feat, but Morford is up for the challenge. "This book is a toolbox full of fresh ideas to help you break from the lunch-box rut that plagues the best of us," Morford explains in her intro. Chapter one, Brown Bag Basics, gives nutrition advice and offers healthier versions for lunchtime favorites such as turkey sandwiches with hummus and romaine, while the second chapter includes tips on getting organized and how to plan ahead. Healthy, fresh sandwich recipes include chickpea panini and deconstructed Caprese cherry tomatoes and mozzarella on skewers. Salads Kids Will Love offers up a variety of greens made with kid-friendly ingredients like Where's Waldorf, made with apple and raisins, and Lunch Box Slaw, crunchy veggies with a slightly sweet dressing of rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce. There are recipes for all-time favorites-pizza, wraps, and roll-ups-as well as a section on how to put a fresh new spin on leftovers. This is an extremely useful guide that's both fun and accessible." - Publishers Weekly

The Best Lunch Box Ever is a terrific gift to anyone who has to pack a lunch for a kid, and wants that lunch to be healthy-and eaten. Katie Morford has dozens of interesting and sometimes surprising suggestions for easy, delicious, and nutritious lunch items that kids will enjoy-if parents don't get to them first. I wish I'd had this book when my kids were in school. — Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University and author of What to Eat.

"This wonderful book is sure to get you out of a lunch-box rut, with inspiring, easy, healthful ideas for lunches that will put a smile on any kid's face!" — Ellie Krieger, RD, author and host of Food Network's "Healthy Appetite"

The Best Lunch Box Ever is a terrific gift to anyone who has to pack a lunch for a kid, and wants that lunch to be healthy-and eaten. Katie Morford has dozens of interesting and sometimes surprising suggestions for easy, delicious, and nutritious lunch items that kids will enjoy-if parents don't get to them first. I wish I'd had this book when my kids were in school. — Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University and author of What to Eat.

The Best Lunch Box Ever is a terrific gift to anyone who has to pack a lunch for a kid, and wants that lunch to be healthy-and eaten. Katie Morford has dozens of interesting and sometimes surprising suggestions for easy, delicious, and nutritious lunch items that kids will enjoy-if parents don't get to them first. I wish I'd had this book when my kids were in school. — Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University and author of What to Eat.

"Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households." - Library Journal

"Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households." - Library Journal

"Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households." — Library Journal, July 2013

"Dietitian, food and nutrition writer, and blogger Morford does an truly sweet job of helping parents pack more inspired lunches in her new cookbook, which features 75 recipes for everything from wraps and sandwiches to pizzas and salads. Packing healthy lunches that kids will actually eat is no easy feat, but Morford is up for the challenge. "This book is a toolbox full of fresh ideas to help you break from the lunch-box rut that plagues the best of us," Morford explains in her intro. Chapter one, Brown Bag Basics, gives nutrition advice and offers healthier versions for lunchtime favorites such as turkey sandwiches with hummus and romaine, while the second chapter includes tips on getting organized and how to plan ahead. Healthy, fresh sandwich recipes include chickpea panini and deconstructed Caprese cherry tomatoes and mozzarella on skewers. Salads Kids Will Love offers up a variety of greens made with kid-friendly ingredients like Where's Waldorf, made with apple and raisins, and Lunch Box Slaw, crunchy veggies with a slightly sweet dressing of rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce. There are recipes for all-time favorites-pizza, wraps, and roll-ups-as well as a section on how to put a fresh new spin on leftovers. This is an extremely useful guide that's both fun and accessible." - Publishers Weekly

"This wonderful book is sure to get you out of a lunch-box rut, with inspiring, easy, healthful ideas for lunches that will put a smile on any kid's face!" — Ellie Krieger, RD, author and host of Food Network's "Healthy Appetite"

"This wonderful book is sure to get you out of a lunch-box rut, with inspiring, easy, healthful ideas for lunches that will put a smile on any kid's face!" — Ellie Krieger, RD, author and host of Food Network's "Healthy Appetite"

From the Publisher

With these 75 recipes, food writer and registered dietician Morford (www.momskitchenhandbook.com) seeks to "upgrade" traditional packed lunches by making them more nutritious and less tedious to prepare. Turkey and hummus cuties (minipita sandwiches) and teriyaki fried rice, fortified with healthy ingredient additions, are easy and appealing. Parmesan kale chips and chickpea panini, however, seem like better candidates for grown-up lunch boxes. Morford recommends relying on reusable lunch box supplies and organic, seasonal produce and offers practical advice on parenting, food safety, and planning ahead. VERDICT Ideal for parents and professionals, this cookbook features winning lunch ideas for eco- and health-conscious households.

Library Journal