
07 Sep Back-to-School Lunchbox Ideas + Cabot Giveaway
This post was sponsored by American Dairy Association Northeast. All thoughts are my own
Start the school year off by sending your kids to school with simple, creative lunchboxes. When putting together my kid’s lunchboxes, I always keep in mind the flavor, nutrition, and eye appeal. I also want to make sure it’s easy to pick up with smaller fingers and not too messy. Here are three fun lunchbox ideas that my kids love made with Cabot cheese. You can then enter for your chance to win a Cabot cheese gift basket to make any of these creations!
What to Pack?
When I think about what to pack for my kid’s lunch, I always make sure to include at least three food groups coming from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein. That way I know my kiddo is getting the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
Dairy is one of the most important ingredients in building a lunchbox because it gives kids the nutrition needed to stay focused to learn. Dairy, like cheese, provides protein and calcium kids need to fuel growing bodies. Whether it is sliced or cubed in a bento box, shredded on a wrap or stacked on their favorite sandwich…any which way you slice it, cheese helps fuel their school day! Some of my favorite go-to ingredients from each of these categories include:
- Fruits: Grape halves, berries, melon chunks, and apple or pear slices (with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice to prevent browning)
- Vegetables: Baby carrots or carrot sticks, celery sticks, cucumber coins, canned low-sodium vegetables like green beans or carrot coins, jicama
- Whole Grains: Whole grain crackers, whole wheat tortilla (filled with cheese or beans), 100% whole wheat bread
- Dairy: Cabot cut slices of cheese, Greek yogurt, drinkable yogurt, low fat chocolate milk
- Protein: Hard boiled eggs, sunflower seed butter, turkey, chicken, beans, lentils, edamame, canned tuna or chicken, hummus
And don’t forget the milk money – at just 0.35 cents and kept cold at 35-degrees – this farm fresh beverage is something ALL schools have available that you don’t need to worry about packing.
3 Lunchbox Ideas
Here are three of my kid’s favorite lunches I pack for them.
The All-American
As PB&J being the quintessential lunch sandwich, I incorporate it into my kid’s lunchbox. As most schools are nut-free, I used sunflower butter instead of peanut butter. I also incorporate purple and green sliced grapes, sliced red bell peppers, pumpkin seeds, dried tart cherries, and slices of Cabot cheese
The Mediterranean
I grew up eating a Mediterranean diet, so I have always incorporated Mediterranean-style foods into my kid’s lunch boxes. This lunchbox contains my Israeli-Style Salad topped with a hard-boiled egg, canned chickpeas (rinsed and drained), whole wheat crackers with Cabot cheese slices, and diced watermelon.
The Mexican-Style
I’m a huge fan of Mexican fare and so are my children. In this lunch box I made cheese quesadillas using Cabot cheese slices, a side of low-sodium black beans, salsa, and long carrot and celery sticks (my kids love them this way), and skewered grapes and strawberries. For a variation, you can make the quesadillas with both beans and cheese.
Enter For Your Chance To Win
One randomly selected participant will win Cabot’s Cracker Cut Gift Box, Cabot tin lunchbox, Cabot water bottle, and 2 VIP coupons.
Giveaway Begins: Friday 9/7/2018 at 12:00 am ET
Giveaway Ends: Tuesday 9/11/18 at 11:59 pm ET
You can enter my giveaway for the Cabot gift basket above by doing any of the following:
- Go to my Instagram page and tag two people in the giveaway post
- Go to my Facebook page and tag two people in the giveaway post
- Follow me on Instagram
- Follow me on Facebook
- Copy and paste this tweet, “Enter for your chance to win @CabotCheese delicious gift basket on @TobyAmidor #giveaway from @AmericanDairyNE https://bit.ly/2CwglJm” (only one time per day)
- In the comments below, tell me which lunchbox you will make for your kids.
You do not need to purchase anything to win. Only open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states, D.C. or Puerto Rico, and you must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
Kellie
Posted at 23:39h, 08 SeptemberI would definitely make her the PB&J one!
Monday Announcements: 9.10.18
Posted at 07:56h, 10 September[…] Cabot’s Gift Basket from Toby Amidor Nutrition ends 9/11/18 […]
Julie L.
Posted at 14:06h, 10 SeptemberI followed on IG and tagged 2 friends (Muffintoss)
I liked you on FB and tagged 2 friends (buttmuffin – Jules McNubbin)
I followed you on twitter @snarkbiscuit and tweeted https://twitter.com/snarkbiscuit/status/1039212286026702849
I would make the 3rd lunchbox because we LOVE Mexican food!
Tim
Posted at 16:29h, 10 SeptemberWe live in Texas, so the quesadilla lunchbox would be a top choice of our kids, if they had a place to warm it up. If I have learned anything, there are some foods where they want the cheese melted, and other where they don’t!! I think I would play it safe and throw some crackers and cheese in place of the chips we usually include.
Darla
Posted at 07:32h, 11 SeptemberLove the Mediterranean one you suggested.
Leah Shumack
Posted at 07:39h, 11 SeptemberMy daughter would love to have the PB&J lunch!
jenny
Posted at 08:30h, 11 SeptemberMy kids would love the all American lunch!
kathy Persons
Posted at 08:37h, 11 SeptemberMIne will go for the All american
Patricia Wojnar Crowley
Posted at 08:51h, 11 SeptemberI would make the All American lunchbox!
Tim
Posted at 09:24h, 11 SeptemberThey have a snack break at our kids school, so they are allowed to bring a snack. I would give them some crackers with the cheese slices to eat.
Courtney
Posted at 09:39h, 11 SeptemberThe Mexican inspired one. Yum!
amy guillaume linderman
Posted at 10:01h, 11 Septemberi know my boys would go for the all american lunchbox!
Amanda Kaltenbaugh
Posted at 10:09h, 11 SeptemberThe all-american! My daughter is in MS cross country and this is similar to the items I currently pack for her lunch and after school snack before practice! Yours just looks so much nicer than mine!
Helen
Posted at 10:11h, 11 SeptemberI followed on Instagram and tagged 2 friends
I liked you on Facebook and tagged 2 friends
I tweeted here https://twitter.com/helldog3/status/1039516111895547906
My kids would love the Mexican inspired lunch box the best.
Amy Tebow
Posted at 10:44h, 11 SeptemberI would make the all American lunch box!
carol n
Posted at 11:23h, 11 SeptemberI would make my kids the mexican lunch box.
vickie
Posted at 11:44h, 11 SeptemberI tweeted
I liked your fb page
I tagged two people
and I love the mexican inspired one!
meghan
Posted at 11:56h, 11 SeptemberI think my daughter would love the All American!
Lynne
Posted at 12:20h, 11 SeptemberI would make the Mexican Style one. We love Mexican food and eat it often.
Natalie
Posted at 12:29h, 11 SeptemberThe American one looks good ,instagrams follower s and tagged
Trish Carlson
Posted at 12:53h, 11 SeptemberFollowed liked and tagged
wen budro
Posted at 13:32h, 11 SeptemberI tagged on Instagram.
wen budro
Posted at 13:33h, 11 SeptemberI follow on Instagram as @wendybudrow
wen budro
Posted at 13:34h, 11 SeptemberI follow on Facebook.
wen budro
Posted at 13:39h, 11 SeptemberI tagged 2 friends on Facebook.
wen budro
Posted at 13:41h, 11 SeptemberThe Mexican Style lunchbox would be the hit with my kids. I love the steel trays too.
wen budro
Posted at 13:42h, 11 Septemberhttps://twitter.com/wendybudrow/status/1039569810252804096
Janel
Posted at 14:59h, 11 SeptemberStainless steel is my go to! Eco friendly with no toxic chemicals leaching into your food. We love snacking!
monique s
Posted at 15:08h, 11 SeptemberI will make the All American for my kids
Jennifer Mays
Posted at 16:42h, 11 SeptemberAll American style lunch box
Audrey Stewart
Posted at 18:24h, 11 SeptemberWe are all about the Mexican. We just love Mexican food.
Audrey Stewart
Posted at 18:25h, 11 SeptemberI shared on Twitter / https://twitter.com/AudreyS05725985/status/1039640521466159104
Elizabeth Miller
Posted at 18:26h, 11 SeptemberI would make my kids the mexican lunch box. My daughter loves quesadillas. We, but especially her are huge cheese fans.
followed on facebook and tagged, liked, shared
followed on instagram and tagged people and liked
followed on twitter and tweeted https://twitter.com/lyzjus2/status/1039640297838395393
Mary Jacobowitz
Posted at 18:51h, 11 SeptemberI would a Mexican type of lunch. I am a huge fan of Cabot cheese and yogurt.
Margaret S Porter
Posted at 19:19h, 11 SeptemberI would make the American one. Following on FB Margaret Porter Mclachlan and on Insta @Maggiep48
Chrissy
Posted at 20:03h, 11 SeptemberI’m pretty sure we stick with the all american style here – it’s easy and my kiddos love it!
Nancy Bowers
Posted at 20:05h, 11 SeptemberThe All American is the one I’d pack.
Chrissy
Posted at 20:05h, 11 SeptemberI follow you in instagram (@krisgan07)
Chrissy
Posted at 20:06h, 11 SeptemberI tweeted! https://twitter.com/krisgan07/status/1039666381262921730
Chrissy
Posted at 20:06h, 11 SeptemberI follow you on facebook (Chrissy Megan)
Renee Rousseau
Posted at 20:28h, 11 SeptemberI would choose The All-American but only because I love grapes and especially frozen grapes! Great suggestions for a creatively healthy lunch experience!
Sandra Preti
Posted at 20:47h, 11 SeptemberI’d make the Mediterranean box.
Cindy A.
Posted at 20:50h, 11 SeptemberI follow you on Instagram as @norma_watson.
Cindy A.
Posted at 20:51h, 11 SeptemberI follow you on Facebook as Cindy Aiton.
Cindy A.
Posted at 20:53h, 11 SeptemberDaily tweet:
https://twitter.com/normawatson/status/1039677986772070400
Cindy A.
Posted at 20:55h, 11 SeptemberI would make the Mediterranean-style lunchbox.
Sharon Rooney
Posted at 21:33h, 11 SeptemberFollowing you on Instagram as @jerseygirl6312
Following you on Facebook as Sharon Rooney
Tweet – https://twitter.com/jerseygirl137/status/1039687839900987393
The The Mexican-Style would be a huge hit with my kids.
Yona Williams
Posted at 22:12h, 11 SeptemberMy nephew would love the Mexican style lunchbox.
Yona Williams
Posted at 22:13h, 11 SeptemberI follow you on Instagram (as yonawrites).
Yona Williams
Posted at 22:13h, 11 SeptemberI follow you on Facebook (as Yona Williams).
Yona Williams
Posted at 22:15h, 11 SeptemberI Tweeted: https://twitter.com/YonaWrites/status/1039698801467031552
kelly woods
Posted at 22:18h, 11 SeptemberTagged on Instagram- lkw1974, thank you would love to win
kelly Female woods
Posted at 22:19h, 11 SeptemberLiked and commented on facebook kelly woods
kelly woods
Posted at 22:21h, 11 Septemberfollow on Instagram- lkw1974
kelly woods
Posted at 22:22h, 11 Septemberfollow on facebook- kelly woods
kelly woods
Posted at 22:24h, 11 Septembertweeted on twitter Luvbeingamomof3 thank you
kelly woods
Posted at 22:27h, 11 Septemberthe All American- thank you
Jenny Ham
Posted at 23:31h, 11 SeptemberI would make The All-American
nickie
Posted at 23:48h, 11 SeptemberI follow you on instagram
nickie
Posted at 23:49h, 11 Septembertweet: https://twitter.com/NICKIEISIS3/status/1039722597766844416
Leigh Nichols
Posted at 23:50h, 11 Septemberthe All American
nickie
Posted at 23:52h, 11 SeptemberI would make the The All-American
Nikki D.
Posted at 23:53h, 11 SeptemberThe PB&J one!
Cindy A.
Posted at 18:56h, 12 SeptemberDaily tweet: https://twitter.com/normawatson/status/1040011111729377280
Brenda Haines
Posted at 12:38h, 13 SeptemberThe Mediterranean lunch box looks amazing! Thanks for the chance!
Toby Amidor
Posted at 17:27h, 14 SeptemberHi everyone!
Thanks everyone for entering my blog giveaway! The winner of the Cabot gift basket is Sharon R! Sharon, please keep your eyes open for an email from me so you can have your goodies mailed to you.
Happy, healthy eating!
Toby
Alishy Hawak
Posted at 06:28h, 17 Septemberwhen i read your post i rememberer my school days when i am going to school and that is amazing
vikram saraswat
Posted at 07:12h, 28 SeptemberHello, I find your blog very cool Thanks for sharing such information, particularly the best.