KIDS LUNCHES MADE FUN

Hi! I ’m Anna from Lunchbox Mini and my goal is to help busy mums save time, feel more organised and actually enjoy packing lunches. It can happen! I sell the best quality lunch and mealtime products that will inspire you to try new ideas, offer a wide variety of healthy foods and reduce your grocery bill.

One of my loves is helping mums get out the lunchbox rut – packing the same things for their kids day in, day out. It’s uninspiring for you, it’s predictable for them and there’s a whole wide world of foods you (and your kids!) could be trying!

If you’re looking for ‘big’ lunch alternatives to the typical, crusts-off, square cut sandwich, take a look at these, some of my most popular lunchbox ideas. There are how-to videos on each of these on my website if you’re wanting to see for yourself just how easy it can be!

1. Cheese and bacon rolls If you love a good quick and easy, home-made, freezer-friendly option for a ‘grab & go’ lunch – cheese and bacon rolls are your answer. Once made (they’re easier than you think!) there’s no cutting, no spreading required – I always pack my kid’s lunches the night before and these go straight into the lunchbox from the freezer. This is my go-to recipe (which is a Thermomix recipe but you could very easily make without – you would just need to knead the dough by hand) that I swear is better than any store-bought we’ve tried!

Cheese and Bacon Rolls (from the Thermomix Recipe Community) INGREDIENTS • 1 1/2 teaspoons Yeast • 2 teaspoons caster sugar • 280 grams warm water • 1 teaspoon salt • 480 grams bakers flour • 1 teaspoon bread improver • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 egg, Lightly Beaten • Grated Cheese • Diced bacon or ham pieces

METHOD Place yeast, sugar and warm water in the bowl 20 sec / speed 4 Add salt, flour, bread improver and oil 5 sec / speed 7 then 3 min / kneed Transfer into lightly oiled bowl and cover with cling wrap Leave to prove for approx 1 hr or until mixture has almost tripled in size. Work the dough into 6- 12 rolls and place on a lined tray, almost touching Pre Heat Oven to 180 degrees Fan Forced Leave rolls to prove for a further 30 minutes or until doubled in size Score top of roll with a sharp knife Brush with egg wash. Top with cheese and then bacon. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until golden 2. Sandwich Sushi It’s a sandwich, but sushi-style. Way more exciting than your normal square-cut sandwich, and super easy for your kids to pick off the sticks to eat. I love using our Lunch Punch Stix (available in a range of colours on our website), but toothpicks can work just as well.

To make, cut the crusts off a piece of bread, roll your bread out flat with a rolling pin, top with their favourite topping and roll up into a log. Cut into 4 even pieces and thread onto your Lunch Punch Stix or toothpick. Much more fun than a sandwich!

3. Sushi Sandwich It’s sushi, but sandwich-style. If your kids love sushi but making your own just seems way too hard, you have to try this. The exact same ingredients, no rolling, no bamboo mat, no falling apart. To mould into shape, I use one of our reusable beeswax wraps but alfoil works just as well. Take a look at the how-to video on my website – you’ll be so tempted to try it!

5. Sushi An easy, sandwich-free alternative that you can make as simple or as fancy as you like. My daughter’s favourite fillings are avocado and ham, but I love them filled with vermicelli

noodles, chicken, cucumber and mint. I make these the night before, pack into our rectangle silicone cup moulds inside the lunchbox, and sprinkle with a few drops of water to keep them from drying out. Easy, light, tasty, healthy! If you’ve never attempted to make it before, or you have but it just doesn’t seem to turn out right, I have a couple of versions you watch on the website or on our facebook page. My tips are to always use warm sushi rice (not hot and not cold – I always heat mine in the microwave first if using from the fridge), don’t go overboard with the amount of rice you use, and use a small amount of water to make

4. Rice Paper Rolls sure the end sticks to the roll.

If you like the sound of any or all of these and would love to receive a new lunchbox-friendly recipe delivered to your inbox each week, head to our website and make sure you sign up to our newsletter. And if you need a hand choosing the right quality, leakproof, airtight lunchbox that will help inspire you to easier, better lunches feel free to get in touch, I’d love to help!