4 Easy Ways to Upgrade the Typical Brown Bag Lunch

Any parent knows that packing school lunch requires some TLC. You put a lot of thought into crafting a meal your child will enjoy, all while taking time out of your busy morning to do so. That's why it can be disheartening to open up their lunch box at the end of the day and find a half-eaten sandwich and fruit that has gone untouched.

There are simple ways to take your kid's lunch up a notch — from using a thermos to transforming their food into fun shapes — all while streamlining your AM routine. With these hacks, a few Dietz & Watson products, and the sandwich recipe below at your disposal, you can pack a lunch box that's guaranteed to come home empty.

One way to get your kid excited about eating nutritious foods is through presentation. It can be as simple as sticking elements of their lunch on a wooden skewer — easy for parents to assemble and entertaining for kids to eat. Try deconstructing a sandwich and alternate between layers of cheese, meat, and fruit on a skewer. If you go this route, don't forget to substitute the carbs from the missing sandwich bread with sides like crackers or pretzels. You can also make snack skewers like veggie and fruit kabobs ahead of time and stock them in the fridge for easy meal prep.

You don't have to follow the usual sandwich + chips + fruit combo for lunch. If you're beginning to feel stuck in a cycle of packing the same lunch day after day, look to different cuisines. This recipe, for example, draws inspiration from a traditional Japanese ham sandwich. The core of the sandwich calls for Dietz & Watson pre-sliced meats and cheeses, which are elevated by popular Japanese ingredients like mayonnaise made with egg yolks, tonkatsu sauce (a savory, tangy condiment that's reminiscent of barbecue sauce), and milk bread (a soft, richer version of white sandwich bread).

The cherry on top? This recipe is nutritionally balanced and will keep your little one full; there's fiber from the cucumber and lettuce, healthy fat from the avocado, and protein from the Black Forest Ham and Yellow American Cheese. Plus, Japanese sandwiches are traditionally served crustless, making it naturally a kid-friendly option.

Ingredients

Yield: 1 sandwich

Directions

If your child tends to make a fuss about food getting soggy and cold by the time lunch rolls around, try using a thermos. Start by boiling a cup or two of water, pouring it in a thermos, and letting it sit while you prepare lunch. When you're ready to pack their bag, empty out the water and place the meal inside. The thermos will retain the heat from the boiling water and keep your kid's food warm until they're ready to eat. That means chicken nuggets are more likely to stay crisp, ham sliders to remain gooey, and soups to be served hot.

Get your kid excited about their lunch by transforming any ordinary sandwich into a new shape — and take the opportunity to finally use that box of cookie cutters in the back of your pantry. It can be as easy as turning a basic PB&J into an uncrusted sandwich with a round cookie cutter, or go a step further and cut slices of bread, meat, and cheese into different shapes — think flowers, butterflies, and hearts. This trick can even make healthy snacks like fresh fruit and veggies extra appealing to your little one.