Out of the Lunch Box

Let them eat healthy food! Start the New Year off right by whipping up a few colorful recipes that the kids will actually eat. From items they can be served in bed to decorative entrees that will have tots nibbling up every last bite, we've got nutritious foods for the entire family will enjoy. So head into the kitchen and get cooking!

5 Crumb-Less Breakfast in Bed Entrees	5 Hands-Off Crockpot Meals	Out of the Lunch Box: 6 Sandwich Recipes
Reinventing PB&J 5 Ways	5 Alternatives to PB&J	Edible Works of Art! 9 Mural Meals

Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden, Marcus Samuelsson has become a celebrated chef in America where he owns restaurants including the the soon-to-open Red Rooster in Harlem. Known for his work helping children in his neighborhood and beyond, the philanthropist sent us his recipe for a kid-friendly dish that parents can pack in their kiddo's lunch. The vegetarian pita incorporates hearty lentils, fresh produce, and flavorful seasonings to create a sandwich that will make your tot the talk of his cafeteria table.
To check out Samuelsson's delicious recipe, read more

Anita Lo has traveled the globe, and today she's bringing her worldly influence to your child's school lunch. The acclaimed chef and owner of Annisa Restaurant in Greenwich Village sent us a curried chicken sandwich recipe that packs a flavorful (and nutritious) punch with homemade cashew butter, sliced cucumber, and raisins. The recipe makes enough that mom and dad can brown-bag it to work as well!
To check out Lo's mouthwatering recipe, read more

There was stiff competition on Fox's show, MasterChef, where Gordon Ramsay sought out America's best home cooks. Now delicious recipes from the series are offered up in the MasterChef Cookbook ($17). Author JoAnn Cianciulli offers up a tasty Vietnamese chicken and cabbage slaw sandwich for your kiddo's lunch. "Vietnamese bánh mì sandwich shops and food carts have taken the country by storm! The contrasting flavors and textures of the sandwich — as well as its relatively low cost — make it a popular lunchtime grab-and-go. In the United States, bánh mì is sometimes referred to as a 'Saigon sub,'" she said. "If you are pressed for time, skip the first step of poaching the chicken. Instead, buy a whole rotisserie chicken from your market deli."
For the recipe read more

Herb Mesa went from a pudgy kid to a rock-hard personal chef and trainer. Known as "the energy chef," The Next Food Network Star finalist won viewers with his sentimental childhood stories and nutritious take on fat-laden favorites. We asked the father of two for a school lunch recipe that would keep kids on a good track and he offered up his Healthy Cuban Sandwich. This alternative to the traditional version, cuts calories while saving the favored Caribbean flavors. Pack this up in your youngster's lunch pail.
For the recipe, read more

Chris Cosentino's son eats everything from tripe to beef tartare, but a child's palate can be tough to please. Since the executive chef at San Francisco's Incanto restaurant is known for making anything taste good, we asked him to whip up a sandwich that would satisfy the lunch box crowd. The Chef vs. City star offered up a straightforward, five-ingredient recipe that is surprisingly (he owns the salumeria Boccalone) meat-free. Pack this delicious option up in your child's brown bag. It's bound to be the best thing he ever ate!
For the recipe, read more

Cat Cora may be an Iron Chef, but as the mother of four, she also knows how to make a mean (and kid-friendly) sandwich. We asked the woman best known for her Greek-influenced cuisine to share one of her favorites with us. She offered up a mom shortcut for a recipe from her latest cookbook, Cat Cora's Classics With a Twist ($20). Chef Cora said, "Here’s a tuna melt with a difference: a different cheese (swiss), different add-ins (juicy Fuji apples, and buttery avocado), and a different presentation. If the weather is warm or you’re having one of those kids-underfoot days, don’t bother with the oven. Toast the bread in your toaster instead. Just have the swiss cheese ready when the toast pops up, sandwich the cheese between the warm slices of toast, and let the heat of the toast melt the cheese. Then gently pull the toast slices apart and add the tomato slices and tuna salad." This alternative to the traditional tuna melt is sure to be a hit at your kid's cafeteria table!
For the recipe, read more