Recipe: Snack and Lunch Ideas for Back to School

SNACK AND LUNCH IDEAS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

SNACKS IDEAS:
- Bagel chips or mini bagels, fresh fruit, dried fruit roll-ups, fruit juices in aseptic packages, popcorn, pretzels, dried cereals, cheese sticks, baked goods (muffins, fruit breads), celery and peanut butter, string cheese, cheese and crackers, rice cakes with peanut butter and apples slices.
- Spear cheese chunks with pretzel sticks.
- Top small crackers or graham crackers with apple butter or cheese spread.
- Cheese, cut into sticks and rolled in poppy seeds or sesame seeds are a nice treat

SNACK RECIPES:

TORTILLA ROLL-UPS:
Spread peanut butter on a 6-inch flour tortilla. Sprinkle with chopped apples, sunflower nuts or raisins. Roll and serve. Also a good lunch idea.

FRUIT ROLL-UPS:
Peel banana and break into 2-inch long chunks. Tear off a strip of fruit roll-up and wrap around banana chunk.

APPLE CRUNCH:
Cut 1 medium apple into 8 slices. Combine 3 tablespoons chunky peanut butter and 3 tablespoons Rice Krispies in a small bowl. Mix thorougly. Spread on apple slices.

SWEET TRAIL MIX:
Mix together: 1 cup walnut halves, 1 cup golden raisins, 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped dried apricots. Place in Ziploc baggies. Makes 4 cups.

MUNCHY TRAIL MIX:
Mix together: 2 cups Teddy Grahams, 2 cups Cheerios, 3 pkgs. Fun Fruit Snacks, 1/2 cup dried apricots and raisins. Place in Ziploc baggies. Makes about 5 cups.

FRUIT DIP:
Mix together well: 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup jelly and 1/4 cup applesauce. Serve with fruit slices.

---

LUNCH IDEAS:
- Swap the white bread for sub rolls, toasted English muffins, pita pockets, bagels, oatmeal bread, tortillas or whole wheat toast. Fill with chicken salad or sliced turkey and cheese.
- Freeze sandwiches using a variety of breads such as white, whole wheat, Boston brown bread and nut bread. Spread both slices generously with soft butter or margarine to protect the filling. Good fillings include roast beef, tuna, sliced cheese, cheese spreads, and peanut butter. Freezer bags are best for freezing and moisture-vapor proof wrapping should be used if sandwiches are to be stored longer than 4 days.

LUNCH RECIPES:

LUNCH KABOBS:
Thread small chunks of luncheon meat, cheese and pickles (or grapes) on a large toothpick.

BANANA DOG:
Spread peanut butter and jelly on bottom half of a hot dog bun. Arrange banana slices on top of peanut butter and sprinkle with raisins. Top with other half of hot dog bun.

SUNSHINE SPREAD:
Mix together well: 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter, 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/3 cup chopped raisins. Makes enough for 3 sandwiches.

BREAD SPREAD:
Flat breads or Norwegian crisp breads topped with peanut butter and jelly or a cheese spread - add grated carrots.

SANDWICH ROLL-UPS

2 slices of bread per sandwich
Canned sandwich spread or sandwich meat
Cheese slices
Waxed paper
Plastic wrap
Toothpicks

Place bread between 2 sheets of waxed paper and roll flat with rolling pin. Spread sandwich spread in a thin layer or bread or place one slice of sandwich meat on bread. Place a one-ounce slice of sandwich meat on bread. Place a one-ounce slice of cheese on the meat. Roll it up like a jelly roll and wrap tightly with plastic wrap until shaped (one hour to overnight) Cut rolls into half-inch slices to form pinwheels.

Source: Cheryl Miller - Fort Collins, CO