Disclosure: This blog post was commissioned by Capri-Sun. I was compensated for the cost of ingredients and for my time spent creating and photographing this lunch.
This fun back to school lunch idea was created for the Capri-Sun Fruit Crush #PackedLunchLove campaign. You can read all about the campaign and find my list of 10 simple lunchbox life 'hacks' by clicking here.
This back to school lunch box idea is quick and simple, taking just 10 minutes to create. Follow the step by step instructions below and you'll see that making a healthy lunch which your kids will love doesn't have to be complicated or nearly so time consuming as you might expect!
10 Minute Back to School Lunch
Ingredients
- 2 slices wholemeal bread
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- cucumber
- ½ carrot
- handful green grapes
- small handful blueberries
- portion mixed dried fruit
- tbs mixed seeds
- 1 Capri-Sun Fruit Crush pouch
Equipment
- sharp knife
- mini alphabet cutters
- crayon cupcake picks
Method
Start by making the pencil sandwiches. I used a slice of cheddar cheese to fill these, but you could use any filling of your choice. Make up your sandwich, then cut off the crusts to make to straight sides as shown in the photo below. Cut the sandwich vertically to make two long equal sized pieces.
Cut the top of each sandwich to a point, trimming the top crusts off as you do so. Take one your sandwiches and rest the pointy end on top of the remaining slice of cheese. Using the sandwich as a guide, cut a triangle from the cheese. This will become the point of the 'pencil'.
Using a mini circle cutter (or the 'O' from your alphabet set), cut semicircles from the bottom of the cheese triangle as shown in the photo below. Place the cheese triangle on top the sandwich and repeat with the second sandwich to make two pencils.
Finish each sandwich off with a small triangle of cucumber skin to make the pencil leads. You can stick the cheese and cucumber skin to the sandwich with a dab of cream cheese or mayo if you wish, which will help to hold them in place whilst the lunch is transported.
Carefully pack the pencil sandwiches in a sandwich box. I used this sandwich box from Sistema.
Next create the alphabet cucumber slices. I made the first few letters of the alphabet, but you also could pick out the letters of your child's name, initials or class name instead if preferred.
To make, first cut your cucumber into fairly thick slices. Take your carrot, and cut slices to roughly the same thickness as the cucumber.
Using your mini alphabet cutters, cut a letter from the centre of each cucumber slice and remove the letter shaped cucumber flesh. Cut corresponding letters from each carrot slice, then slot them into the letter shaped holes in the cucumber as shown in the photos below.
Pack your cucumber slices in a mini snack container. I love these sturdy little snack pots from Sistema that I used for this lunch. They're great because they can hold liquids like yoghurt as well as other foods.
Pack the grapes and blueberries in another container, and mix the dried fruit and seeds together in another to make a simple trail mix. Top with crayon cupcake picks to decorate and finish off the school themed lunch.
Pack the sandwich box and snack containers in your lunch bag with the Capri-Sun Fruit Crush.
If you'd like to see the other four fun and easy lunches that I created for the Capri-Sun Fruit Crush #PackedLunchLove project, click here. You can also find out more about the project and my list of 10 lunchbox life 'hacks' by clicking here. For more information about Capri-Sun Fruit Crush, visit the Capri-Sun website.
Grace
Safety note: Knives should only be used by parents/guardians, or by supervised older children when safe. Take care to show children equipment and decorations pictured are non-edible.
Disclosure: This post contains some Amazon affiliate links; I may receive commission on items purchased through the links.
10 Minute Back to School Lunch
Ingredients
- 2 slices wholemeal bread
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- cucumber
- ½ carrot
- handful green grapes
- small handful blueberries
- portion mixed dried fruit
- tbs mixed seeds
- 1 Capri-Sun Fruit Crush pouch
Instructions
- Start by making the pencil sandwiches. I used a slice of cheddar cheese to fill these, but you could use any filling of your choice. Make up your sandwich, then cut off the crusts to make to straight sides as shown in the photo below. Cut the sandwich vertically to make two long equal sized pieces.
- Cut the top of each sandwich to a point, trimming the top crusts off as you do so. Take one your sandwiches and rest the pointy end on top of the remaining slice of cheese. Using the sandwich as a guide, cut a triangle from the cheese. This will become the point of the 'pencil'.
- Using a mini circle cutter (or the 'O' from your alphabet set), cut semicircles from the bottom of the cheese triangle as shown in the photo below. Place the cheese triangle on top the sandwich and repeat with the second sandwich to make two pencils.
- Finish each sandwich off with a small triangle of cucumber skin to make the pencil leads. You can stick the cheese and cucumber skin to the sandwich with a dab of cream cheese or mayo if you wish, which will help to hold them in place whilst the lunch is transported.
- Carefully pack the pencil sandwiches in a sandwich box. I used this sandwich box from Sistema.
- Next create the alphabet cucumber slices. I made the first few letters of the alphabet, but you also could pick out the letters of your child's name, initials or class name instead if preferred.
- To make, first cut your cucumber into fairly thick slices. Take your carrot, and cut slices to roughly the same thickness as the cucumber.
- Using your mini alphabet cutters, cut a letter from the centre of each cucumber slice and remove the letter shaped cucumber flesh. Cut corresponding letters from each carrot slice, then slot them into the letter shaped holes in the cucumber as shown in the photos below.
- Pack your cucumber slices in a mini snack container. I love these sturdy little snack pots from Sistema that I used for this lunch. They're great because they can hold liquids like yoghurt as well as other foods.
- Pack the grapes and blueberries in another container, and mix the dried fruit and seeds together in another to make a simple trail mix. Top with crayon cupcake picks to decorate and finish off the school themed lunch.
- Pack the sandwich box and snack containers in your lunch bag
Notes
If you enjoyed this post and would like some more packed lunch inspiration, head over to the creative bento lunches section here on the Eats Amazing blog where you’ll find over 450 fun packed lunch ideas, enough to keep you going all the year around!
If you’re a Pinterest user, I’d love you to pin this post! You could also pop over and follow my lunch themed Pinterest boards for lots more fun and healthy lunch box ideas for kids; Kids Lunch Box Ideas & Packed Lunch Ideas.
Leave a Reply