Kids’ Lunchbox
Most of my readers wanted to know some recipes which could be given in lunchbox for their kids. I have a very little knowledge in this matter. I even asked few of food bloggers about this. Since many of my food blogger buddies have school going kids, all of them might have posted one or the other ‘lunchbox recipe’ at some point.
So I request my blogger buddies and also non-bloggers to leave the links to such recipes (if you have a blog) or write the recipe as a comment to this post. It would be a great help to the mothers of school-going kids. I hope you all agree with this idea and participate with full enthusiasm.
Thank you all in advance.
Note: It is not an event that has deadlines or round up at the end. It is just a request by me to all of you.
Shilpa, this is a great idea I am constantly looking for new lunchbox ideas. Here are some items that I pack for my kids.
http://manpasand.blogspot.com/2006/08/banana-blueberry-muffin.html
http://manpasand.blogspot.com/2006/06/potato-pea-parantha-aloo-matar.html
http://manpasand.blogspot.com/2006/07/spinach-adai.html
http://manpasand.blogspot.com/2006/06/vella-appam_15.html
http://manpasand.blogspot.com/2006/05/arf5-day.html
Shilpa: Thanks Krithika. If you have more ideas, please link them here. Thanks again
August 31st, 2006 at 4:28 pmShilpa this is one of the dish for the lunch box
http://mysamayal.blogspot.com/2006/06/kuli-paniyaram-with-friedgram-chutney.html
I will post more of the breakfast recipes soon..shilpa..thats a lovely topic you have created dear…
Shilpa: Thanks for the link Sudha. Looking forward for some more recipes :).
August 31st, 2006 at 8:13 pmshilpa,
I too am a novice in lunchbox packing, so am interested in following the responses. Nice idea. can’t u do it as a meme to encourage more people?
Shilpa: Shaheen, if I make it meme, the recipes would get dispersed in all the blogs and it is very difficult(after some time) for people to search them. If I organised the event, only few people would participate in the given time frame. If I make it ongoing event, people might just get bored of it. So finally I thought of creating a seperate page for it so that even the non-bloggers can actively participate. I hope this idea will be successful.
August 31st, 2006 at 8:39 pmHey! Check out Meeta’s blog:
http://dailytiffin.blogspot.com/
Her tiffins are brilliant!
Shilpa: Manisha, ‘tumne meri mu ki baath cheenli :)’. I had recommended Meeta’s blog to many of the readers who wanted lunchbox recipes. But in a hurry I forgot to mention it yesterday. So I was thinking to link it today and you did it. Thanks a lot for reminding. ‘dailytiffin’ is indeed a great blog.
August 31st, 2006 at 11:06 pmBTW..I think your pinwheel snack can also be added to this list. Its a lovely dish.
Shilpa thats such a nice idea…lunch box suggestions. I dont have a lot of them but here are a few -
http://food-forthought.blogspot.com/2006/08/light-dinners-sprouts-sandwiches.html
http://food-forthought.blogspot.com/2006/03/breakfast-for-dinner-moong-dal-chilla.html
http://food-forthought.blogspot.com/2006/02/poetic-eggcellence-masala-toast.html
http://food-forthought.blogspot.com/2005/12/ring-out-old-thai-noodles.html
Hope this helps. Cheers
Shilpa: Thanks a lot for the links Ashwini. I just had a look and all of them are great. Thanks again.
September 1st, 2006 at 8:48 amHi Shilpa,
Looks great idea.IOnce ,I find time I WILL send the links.
Vineela
Shilpa: I will be looking for your recipe links Vineela.
September 1st, 2006 at 8:55 amHi Shilpa,
Yes, this is indeed a great idea and I thank you and Manisha for the mention. It is very important to me to make healthy, but fun lunchboxes for my son. I admit though I have been a little lazy to link back to certain recipes from What’s for Lunch, Honey? But now as I know you all will be looking my way I will be motivated to do so.
Hugs to you all!
Shilpa: Meeta, as I said earlier, your site is great and if you could give the links from WFLH, it would be a great help. I read both your blogs regulary :).
September 1st, 2006 at 12:31 pmtry http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com . I am hooked to Jennifer’s lunch box recipes she features daily. She also publishes a daily verdict on how the lunchbox was rated by her son. Especially look at her archives.
Shilpa: Ash, thanks for the link. I will have a look at it now.
September 3rd, 2006 at 6:23 pmHere’s what I pack for my kids: Toasted or untoasted Sandwiches:
September 6th, 2006 at 10:03 amHam and cheese : dressings like mayo, thousand Island, Ranch, or ketchup!
Turkey slices with/out cheese , cranberry sauce
Pastrami, and cheddar
Roasted chicken slices with american cheese
Peanut butter and any jelly like grape,strawberry etc
Mini pizzas,
English muffins with cream cheese of choice
Peanut butter,banana,honey ,..Elvis style
Chicken salad, mixed with grapes, mayo, lettuce etc.
Pasta salad
Mac and cheese
Tomato soup with toasted bread to dip
One of these always with a bottled drink , apple juice, orange etc.,
a mini snack bag chips like nacho cheese etc and
with any pudding cup , flavored yoghurt ,apple sauce, fruit cup for dessert
I will think of some more and let you know including Indian without gravy!
Some websites you can out for school Lunch ideas:
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/specialfeature/backtoschool_food_sf/
http://southernfood.about.com/cs/lunchboxideas/a/school_lunch.htm
http://www.danasview.net/lunch.htm
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/parents/school-lunch.asp
http://www.budget101.com/Bag%20Lunches.htm
Shilpa: Thanks a lot for those lunchbox ideas and the links Asha. Feel free to leave a comment here anytime if something else pops up your mind. Thanks again.
September 6th, 2006 at 11:49 amWhile googling, I found the following link at ammas.com. Looks like a great treasure of lunchbox recipes.
http://www.ammas.com/topics/Recipes/a120066.html
September 6th, 2006 at 1:03 pmHi Shilpa,
How about a ‘thalipeeth’? it is filling and non-messy….. take a peek
http://acookatheart.blogspot.com/2006/08/thalipeeth.html
OR a Subway ?
http://acookatheart.blogspot.com/2006/08/subway-myway.html
Shilpa: Thanks a lot for the links Manasi.
September 6th, 2006 at 1:38 pmShilpa,
I never knew about this request because I was away until yesterday morning. Anyway, this is what I have got to offer on my blog.
http://happyburp.blogspot.com/2006/08/narayan-kataar-my-mils-version-of-nan.html
http://happyburp.blogspot.com/2006/06/berry-easy-yoghurt-cake.html
http://happyburp.blogspot.com/2006/07/tikhat-mithaacha-sanja-maharashtrian.html
Thanks for making a separate page for this. It is easy to refer to it that way.
Shilpa: Thanks Vaishali for those links. Hope all of you would add more and more to this list. I am also browsing internet to find more, let me see how it goes.
September 6th, 2006 at 2:09 pmHi Shilpa,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I haven’t been posting any lunch box recipes recently and most of mine will be lunch box ideas for adults from now on.
The link below should take one too all my lunch box posts.
http://gastronomicaladventures.com/culinaryblog/category/lunch-box/
Shilpa: Thanks Rajeshwari for that link. I have gone thr’ your blog and found many good lunchbox ideas. Thats the reason I requested you to leave a comment here :).
September 6th, 2006 at 6:01 pmHey Shilpa to start with I am posting the following link from my blog:
http://foodcourt.wordpress.com/2006/08/04/quick-n-easy-methi-fenugreekparathas/
more will follow.
September 8th, 2006 at 1:02 amand one more
September 8th, 2006 at 1:04 amhttp://foodcourt.wordpress.com/2006/08/22/spiced-walnut-ring/
Shilpa: Thanks Madhuli. If you think of anything else, please leave a link here :).
http://outofthegarden.wordpress.com/2006/09/10/toll-house-cookies/
September 11th, 2006 at 8:44 amWhich blogspot is your site on????? or is it an independant site?
Shilpa: Rooma, my site is hosted on wordpress.
September 11th, 2006 at 7:37 pmHere are few items that I pack for my pre-schooler. Basically I need to make simple ones that take less time and can be prepared by my husband too.
We always pack ‘drinkable yougurt’ or any other flavoured yogurt with his lunch.
1. Alu paratha. You have mentioned this in your blog itself. I put just potato instead of all vegetables. http://www.aayisrecipes.com/2006/08/31/vegetable-paratha-easy-way/
2. Plain chapatis with pudding or mango jam.When I put mango jam, I make it like a roll & he loves it.Your chapati recipe is here
http://www.aayisrecipes.com/2006/07/30/chapathi-and-phulkas/
3. Maggi. My husband just boils it with the maggi spice powder that comes with it without putting any vegetables.
4. Pasta. Pretty simple & fast.We use store bought pasta/spaghetti sauce.Boil pasta & add the sauce.
5. Any type of dosa along with honey & ghee in another container
6. Idlis with sugar
Shilpa: Thanks a lot Ushakka for the list. It is really helpful.
September 12th, 2006 at 6:58 amHere is another one.
http://manpasand.blogspot.com/2006/09/carrot-loaf.html
Shilpa: Thanks Krithika for the link. Don’t forget to leave a link here if you post some more of kid’s lunchbox recipes.
September 13th, 2006 at 7:03 amHi,
I recently started a blog about the lunches I make for my kids. I was inspired by Jennifer schmoo at veganlunchbox.com. Anyway, take a look at my blog at http://www.yummybentolunch.blogspot.com. Sometimes, I pack indian lunches for the kids. I am new to the blog community and haven’t figured out how to post recipes. Let me know what you think.
Shilpa: Angel, you have some amazing collection of lunchboxes. Loved your creations…Simply superb. Thanks for the link.
September 14th, 2006 at 2:23 pmHi Shilpa,
September 14th, 2006 at 8:42 pmI changed my blog address. Please note the new address - http://laptoplunches.blogspot.com/ .
Angel
Hi Shilpa,
Thanks for visiting my space. I love your idea of creating a seperate page for kids’ lunchbox recipes. Since my daughter is still a baby, I have never packed up lunch for kids. I guess this will be my most visited page in the future when my kid starts going to school. Apart from the idli recipe I guess nothing else from my posts would be appropriate for this series. I will try to work up some recipes and post the link here as and when i do. Till then keep making these idlis:)
September 15th, 2006 at 6:29 amhttp://vegconcoctions.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/idlis-the-easy-way-out/
HI Shilpa,
our kids are now on their own… happily. At work /college but here are some tips on what they enjoyed in lunch bags. Incidentally our children were young here before “India is cool” age so v rarely did they take anything indian - except a kaju barfi or sesame laddoo. they v rarely ate at the school cafeteria … even when we were travelling our nanny packed them lunch
So they LOVED:
String cheese
Jello Bloc with fruit in it
Yogurt - Yoplait was a favorite
Sandwich with cucumber/cream cheese
Roti (tortilla) folded with cheese/turkey/
Tortilla rollups with any filling, tight tight with plastic wrap (big fav)
Tuna salad sandwich - tuna, a little mayo, walnuts and Dijon mustard and if your kids don’t like mayo then bind wiht grated cucumber
Carrot sticks
Celery Sticks with Peanut butter and raisins
Corn Bread baked in muffin pans like cupcakes
Cheese squares/grapes/apples/dry cranberries
Cashews
pasta salad
Juice was pure juice no sugared drinks ever. ONce in a bluemoon they got Capri sun etc.
As they grew older 7 onwards we made quite a ceremony of packing lunch so they got a choice. Then of course it was quite the cache to have other kids “want’ your lunch so they had a nice competition going at school cafeteria.
Keep up the great lineup of recipes
Thanks
September 15th, 2006 at 5:04 pmchitra
hi shilpa
September 17th, 2006 at 7:02 aminspired by ur blog i have tried my bit too.so try it once.
http://www.rainbow-sanu.blogspot.com/
hi shilpa
September 18th, 2006 at 12:25 ammy son is just an year old so i pack it for my husband with more spice .my mom wud amke it for us when we were in school.thankx a lot for replying in my blog ,i felt very happy
shilpa
you have done a good job . For mothers like me who are
always on a look out for good tiffin recipes its a
boon and i am grateful to you for thinking up of such
a theme.
this has also given me inspiration to search for some
nice tiffin recipes from other sites and try them out
and let you know.
i will definetly be trying them out and posting them
to you.
here are my links for the recipes.
http://love4cooking.blogspot.com/2006/09/start-of-bright-new-day.html
http://love4cooking.blogspot.com/2006/07/bread-upma.html
http://love4cooking.blogspot.com/2006/07/sabudana-khichdi.html
http://love4cooking.blogspot.com/2006/07/mix-flour-carrot-paratha.html
http://love4cooking.blogspot.com/2006/07/bread-roll.html
http://love4cooking.blogspot.com/2006/06/grilledtoasted-potato-sandwich.html
http://love4cooking.blogspot.com/2006/06/mushrooms-too-good.html
September 20th, 2006 at 9:27 pmShilpa: Thanks for the links Mehek. Will wait for more and more links from you :).
Soome cool links,
For your lunch box for kids post,
http://kiddley.com/2006/09/08/lunch-box-ideas-part-one/
http://kiddley.com/2006/09/19/lunch-box-ideas-part-two/
Cheers.
September 21st, 2006 at 6:58 amHello, i love http://www.aayisrecipes.com! Let me in, please
December 18th, 2006 at 8:57 amhttp://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com
This site is just great.
February 3rd, 2007 at 10:57 amWould you participate in my kidslunch box challenge?
I am trying to please my son’s palette
Need recipes from an Indian kitchen
Thx so much!
June 22nd, 2007 at 8:17 amI got this mail from Alka keswani today…
hi shilpa,
July 19th, 2007 at 8:36 amI believe that all mothers around the globe,consistently scratch their heads to decide what to pack in lunchboxes ….be it for office going family members or school going fussy eaters
Here are some links for easy stuff ,and i hope it works for atleast some mothers
bye and take care
http://sindhunagar.com/sindhicuisine.php?page=13
http://sindhunagar.com/sindhicuisine.php?page=9
http://sindhunagar.com/sindhicuisine.php?page=53
http://sindhunagar.com/sindhicuisine.php?page=54
http://sindhunagar.com/sindhicuisine.php?page=59
Here are few more which I liked
Sailu’s Macaroni and cheese
Sailu’s Chicken noodles with peanuts
Sailu’s Cheesy chicken pasta
Saffron hut’s Stramboli
August 30th, 2007 at 7:39 amHi Shilpa,
Thanks for putting together this page .
Its really a boon for working moms like me who are constantly looking for quick & healthy recipes ideas for kids.
I came across this website which also has some good kids’ recipes which may be useful.
http://www.hemant-trivedis-cookery-corner.com/tiffin.html
Thanks .
September 9th, 2007 at 3:59 pmLunchbox ideas from Anupama are simply amazing.
October 5th, 2007 at 3:38 pmHi shilpa,i am new in blogging…by luck i came to ur blog…really amazing with lots and lots of infos…hats off dear…keep going…
November 29th, 2007 at 1:35 pmIts a good idea of making a menu for kids lunchbox…i have some recipes from my blog..
http://kudampuli.blogspot.com/2007/11/blog-post_7633.html
http://kudampuli.blogspot.com/2007/10/poori.html
I am mother of two small children, one is going to nursery. Though I have not started worrying too much about snack, but i know my time is going to come.
Visit my site, i am slowly trying to compile a recipe section for children of all ages and also things that can be given as school snack.
http://www.archanaskitchen.com
Thanks and enjoy
December 26th, 2007 at 3:59 amArchana
Please give me some good quick healthy recipes for kids lunch boxes–something fancy yet quick to cook
January 10th, 2008 at 7:32 amHi Shilpa,
Let me start by saying that since I’ve found your site I’ve been experimenting with a lot of recipes from here. Tx so much for this … just felt that maybe I could partially return the favor by giving you some lunch box ideas for kids
.
My 4 year old son loves this in his little tiffin:
Cheese Puris:
Dough:
Whole wheat atta : 1 cup
Semolina : 1 cup
Ghee : 1 tbsp
Kasuri methi or ajwain seeds : Optional
Water : to knead
Salt : to taste.
Filling:
Grated mozzarella (or any cheeseof your choice)
Salt
Pepper (green chillies are not a good idea for kids although they taste better)
Chopped spring onions (optional)
Method:
1. Heat the ghee and make a crumb like mix with the atta, salt and methi/ajwain if using them.
2. Make a stiff dough using cold water.
3. Roll out “mini” puris (about a quarter of the usual size) and deep fry.
4. Toss together the grated cheese, salt, pepper and spring onions (if using).
5. Place a tsp full of this mix on each mini puri and cover with another small puri.
6. Roll and wrap in a piece of foil or secure with toothpick.
If the dough is made the previous night, it actually takes 10 minutes to put it together in the morning. I’ve found that most kids love puris and the cheese in these are a big plus nutritionally speaking.
Wish I had photos to send you … but hope these work!
January 21st, 2008 at 6:58 amHi Shilpa,
Let me start by saying that since I’ve found your site I’ve been experimenting with a lot of recipes from here. Tx so much for this … just felt that maybe I could partially return the favor by giving you some lunch box ideas for kids
.
My 4 year old son loves this in his little tiffin:
Cheese Puris:
Dough:
Whole wheat atta : 1 cup
Semolina : 1 cup
Ghee : 1 tbsp
Kasuri methi or ajwain seeds : Optional
Water : to knead
Salt : to taste
Filling:
Grated mozzarella (or any other cheese of your choice)
Salt
Pepper (green chillies are not a good idea for kids although they taste better)
Chopped spring onions (optional)
Method:
1. Heat the ghee and make a crumb like mix with the atta, salt and methi/ajwain if using them.
2. Make a stiff dough using cold water.
3. Roll out “mini” puris (about a quarter of the usual size) and deep fry.
4. Toss together the grated cheese, salt, pepper and spring onions (if using).
5. Place a tsp full of this mix on each mini puri and cover with another small puri.
6. Roll and wrap in a piece of foil or secure with toothpick.
If the dough is made the previous night, it actually takes 10 minutes to put it together in the morning. I’ve found that most kids love puris and the cheese in these are a big plus nutritionally speaking.
Wish I had photos to send you … but hope these work!
January 21st, 2008 at 6:59 amhttp://andhrakitchen.blogspot.com/2008/01/bread-bonda.html
This is very easy to prepare and kids will like surely……..
January 30th, 2008 at 11:24 amI want the kids lunch box receipe its really wonderful
January 31st, 2008 at 12:55 amI want healthy & easy made receipes
Please send me
thanking you
Vaidehi
Cakes , Toasters, or any latest receipe
February 8th, 2008 at 5:22 amHi,
February 12th, 2008 at 12:53 amMy toddler just wouldn’t eat anything today..so i was searching for some recipe that might interest her…first I looked at the toddler food book I have and then decided to also have a look at ur “Kids’ Lunchbox” link that I had seen earlier but not looked inside..I just have a suggestion..it’s quite hard to go through all the posts and figure out from the links what it is. So you may want to organise all the links and credits in the 1 place..like a list or something..
Your site is a wonderful one..sure shows how diligent you are! Thanks,
Smita
I came across this site for lunch ideas for my 3 yr old.
Lunch Ideas: http://www.geocities.com/ficbot/lunchbox/entree.htm
Snack Ideas:
February 13th, 2008 at 4:02 pmhttp://www.geocities.com/ficbot/lunchbox/snacks.htm
good
March 14th, 2008 at 8:08 amDear Sir / Madam ,
I would like to know creative / innovative ways to make tiffin for children. I am a primary school teacher. I want to guide the parents for this issue.
Pl. suggest!
April 8th, 2008 at 10:06 amSangeeta
my child will be going to pre-primary school from june and she is very poor in eating,please suggest me easy lunch box food items.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:06 amhi sanjeevji,
first my regards to u, pls i want to know what should be the recipes for children while going to picnic and travels.
thanks,
ranjana.
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 amhi shilpa,
it was great experience going through your website,i lk cooking, you have asked something fast for children tiffin
well a quick recipe, and its from left overs, its called muttia, ingredigents required, besan, if any cooked rice ,jeera oinin.salt,and chillie just for taste,
take the beasn (i cup cup)rice(i/2 cup,)salt to taste and one chillie for flavour little corinder powder and leaves , ccut onion in small pcs, knead all together, and make small balls,and as u steam idli u can do that , after thst season with little oil and curry leaves.a pinch of hing and put this cooked muttias in to sesaon it,cover it for two mts, and remove from the flame, your muttias are ready for tiffins
try this
regardss
mamtha shetty
May 6th, 2008 at 2:52 amhi shilpa, Could you help me get sme recipes of snacks or breakfast that i can prepare and give my 1year 5mths old kid.
I though knoew upma nad sheera but the you posted on this site was really good and helped me make my upma more tasty.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:26 pmThanks! Great work Keep it up!
Namaskar,
May 14th, 2008 at 7:09 amAayi’s recipe web site is very good.The most I like is the name of this web site.
Do we have some uncommon UPAWAS / WRAT KA KHANA recipes?
If yes I’ll appreciate to get n read the same.
Thank you,
Regards
Sonali.