The Best Fun & Healthy School Day Lunch
Once school starts back, our busy days become even more packed with activity. As a homeschooling family, we often get immersed in our studies, and then when hunger calls, we have no idea what to have for lunch. We often find ourselves out of the house for field trips and other activities and need something to bring along (to avoid the dreaded drive-through). It can be a challenge to find time to put together a healthy lunch, so I love ideas for meals that we can make ahead for our busiest days.
Ever since I was a kid, my go-to lunch has involved peanut butter and jelly, and my enthusiasm for these essentials has passed on to my son. With the help of Smucker’s and Jif, my junior chef and I created an easy and fun school day lunch that makes all the difference on days when it’s hard to take a break and we need to grab and go.
One of the keys to making healthy choices at lunch is planning ahead. Before school gets underway for the semester, my son and I sit down and plan a list of lunch ideas so we’ll be prepared. And guess what? Once we started meal planning, I discovered that I save more money by not shopping as often. By knowing what we’re having in advance, we also avoid that last minute scramble for fast food.
PBJ Bento Lunch
I love Target as my go to store, and with the Cartwheel App on my phone, I save even more on groceries each week. For our PBJ Bento lunch, I bought a jar of Smucker’s Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread, but other flavors of fruit spread would work just as well–grab your favorite flavor! I also bought Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, which I especially love for its easy to spread texture, but crunchy would work too. My junior chef had fun arranging this lunch in a Bento container, and since it refrigerates well, we make a few to have throughout the week.
{With the Target Cartwheel App, you can save 5% when purchasing their Smucker’s and Jif products through January 21st.}
PBJ Bento Lunch
An easy lunch for busy school days!
Ingredients
- Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
- Smucker's Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread
- 1 Tortilla
- 1 Celery Stalk
- 2 Strawberries
- 8 Crackers
- 1 Tblsp Goat Cheese
Instructions
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'Sushi' Rolls--Spread 1 tortilla with a thin layer of Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, then add a thin layer of Smucker's Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread over it. Roll tortilla into log shape, and then cut into thick slices.
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Place tortilla 'sushi' rolls in main section of Bento container. Add a paper muffin cup filled with strawberries or other fruit as desired.
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Celery Sticks--Cut celery into 3-inch pieces and spread crevice with Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter. Add celery to a muffin cup and place in empty section of Bento container.
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Cracker Stackers--Spread one cracker with Smucker's Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread, and add a small dollop of goat cheese. Place another cracker on top and squish together to create a 'sandwich,' then repeat with remaining crackers. Place Cracker Stackers in remaining section of Bento container.
This post is sponsored by Smucker’s, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
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So much fun and deliciousness!
Thanks so much, Michele! 🙂
PBJ is my kids fav. I like how you changed it up some.
Thanks so much, Charlotte!
Some wonderful school day lunches to pack or for the ones left at home.
Thank you, Candy. We had fun making them, and they are yummy!
This looks delicious! I still haven’t tried peanut butter on celery yet but I need to!
It’s so good, Courtney. One of my favorite snacks! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Wow, you really elevated the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My daughter would be so happy to have this lunch!
Thank you, Shelah! My son begs for the ‘sushi’ rolls all the time now.
What a fun way to use peanut butter and jelly for a school lunch. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Rachel!
Bento boxes are so fun! Way better than a plain old sandwich!
Yes, totally, Michelle! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
This is a great idea! now i am craving peanut butter celery sticks!
Rachel | The Confused Millennial
This is a really neat lunch idea! I definitely would’ve eaten more of my lunches if I would’ve had this.
Thanks, Kimberly. I like to make lunch fun so my boys won’t ask for fast food 🙂
That looks delicious! Even I’d like that for lunch 🙂
Thank you, Salma!
I am glad they now have natural options! This makes me happy! I love Bento boxes. Sandwiches can get so boring
Me, too, L. E. I love the natural fruit spreads so much!
I wonder why I didn’t come across this post before. The recipes are looks so much of fun to try out. Maybe could take these at work. 😀
These would be fun to pack for work, Manavi. You’re never too old for a fun (and pretty) lunch! 🙂
Such a fun lunch to pack! My parents and I had so much fun making lunches when I was in grade school.
Thanks, Ari. It is a lot of fun to make, and my son loves making them whenever he’s hungry–super easy!