December 2021

Page 29

Make it Merry!

istockphoto.com/ Hachio Nora

story and photos by Jenny P. @lunchboxmafia

‘Tis the season for warm lunches. I love to pack family classics and comfort foods like soups, rice and beans, pasta and chicken pot pie. I always say, “Packing a hot lunch is like sending a warm hug!” Hi, I’m Jenny and my Instagram page, @Lunchboxmafia, is loaded with easy recipes you can actually make, quick meals and balanced lunches for your kiddos.

Making your lunchbox festive:

h o t p ie w it C hi ck e n p p ie cr us t. ped he a r t sh a

● Cookie cutters are the easiest way to incorporate any theme into your kids’ lunch! ● Add green and red! Grapes, cucumber, celery and kiwi for green, and for red, you can add strawberries, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, raspberries or pomegranate seeds. Get your kiddos to eat their veggies with a cucumber wreath and red bell pepper bow! ● Send festive handwritten notes or stickers that your kiddo will enjoy at lunchtime. It’s a sentiment that I love to include especially around the holidays. Pizza is a go-to for me because my daughter loved it so much, and it’s so versatile to make in so many different shapes. PIZZA CANDY CANES are easy with pepperoni strips and red bell pepper for the festive stripes.

Tips for packing a HOT LUNCH: ● Always prep your thermos with boiling hot water and the lid on. This heats your thermos and will help keep your food hot until lunchtime. ● Reheat rice and pasta with a teaspoon of water and use a lid so that it warms through evenly. ● To add f lavor, use low sodium chicken stock or pasta sauce for macaroni.

Make SNOWMAN FACES on an English muffin with pepperoni for the eyes and mouth. Add a carrot or pepper triangle for the nose! CHRISTMAS TREE PIZZA AND QUESADILLAS can be made in almost any size with cookie cutters.

QUICK CHICKEN POT PIE: Ingredients: (makes 2 servings for 8-ounce thermos) ● 2 tablespoons butter ● 3/4 cup of mixed veggies (fresh or frozen) ● 5-7 tater tots or 1 hash brown ● 1/4 cup chicken (leftover/precooked) ● 1/2 cup of cream of chicken soup or low sodium chicken gravy ● Pie crust or buttermilk biscuit (optional)

Directions: In a nonstick pan, heat butter and add tater tots. Break up your tots (or hash brown patties) as they cook through. Once they are soft, add veggies and chicken. Cook until other veggies are soft. Add half the gravy and cook on low until it’s bubbly and heated through. Pack your thermos while it’s piping hot! Top with pie crust or biscuit. TIP: You can make this the night before or set aside dinner leftovers and reheat in the morning to save time.

SNACKBOARDS are my favorite way to get everyone gathered around the table! They're great between lunch and dinner, grazing before the big holiday shindig or Christmas movie night! TIP: Serve holiday treats together with fruits and veggies or meats and cheese. Let your kids choose what goes on their plate. If they pile on the cookies and candy, add some carrots and crackers. When you make yourself a plate, include a little bit of everything. We should model that all food is good and can be celebrated. It shows our kids they can have a happy, healthy relationship with food. And that's definitely something to celebrate!

DECEMBER 2021 TampaBayParenting.com

29


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Articles inside

ASK THE DOCTOR: Your child and the

9min
pages 74-75

CLASS ACT: BayCare welcomes its first batch of pediatric residents

3min
pages 76-77

A FIRST BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER

2min
pages 72-73

FIND A SENSE OF CALM: Ways to teach

3min
page 71

NEW SCHOOL ON THE BLOCK: Dr. Kiran

7min
pages 48-53

HOLIDAY READING: Hillsborough Public

13min
pages 54-61

AN EDUCATOR TO CELEBRATE: Meet

13min
pages 62-70

MOMS TO KNOW: Meet Carolynn Smith Jones of 7 Marketing + PR/Jones Family Foundation Tampa Bay

5min
pages 36-38

UNDERCOVER UNDERAGE: Meet the

13min
pages 40-47

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH CHRISTMAS CHEER AND COCOA FOR

3min
page 35

CURTAIN TIME: A dialogue with the Patel Conservatory

3min
page 39

A KID-FRIENDLY KWANZAA CELEBRA

2min
pages 33-34

GIVE THE GIFT OF LOCAL LOVE

2min
pages 26-28

MAKE IT MERRY: Tis the season for

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page 29

NEW YEAR’S EVE EVENTS: From Noon

2min
pages 22-24

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS IN TAMPA BAY

10min
pages 17-20

COVER STORY: An INSIDE LOOK at

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pages 14-16

A CHALLENGE FOR A CHAMPION

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HOLIDAY HOSTING: Pro tips from

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CHRISTMAS AND MORE DOWN I-4: Fami

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