Back to School Lunch Inspiration

Part 1: PROTEIN!

Lunchbox inspiration is always a tough one, especially when you’re just trying to get back into the routine! Fruit is the easy part, but a good protein can often be a struggle, so this week we’ve rounded up the best Peas Perspective ReciPEAs to help you beat the back-to-school burnout!

Keep checking back as we’ll be posting Lunchbox Inspiration posts all season to answer all your questions, like hot v. cold, what to pack when they’re wearing white ;), and alternatives to fruit and dairy burnout!

1.     Healthy Hotcakes

These heart-healthy hotcakes are great for lunches, and folding in some leftover cooked quinoa give them a heartier texture AND ups the protein content! They’re even great smeared with a little nut butter for an added boost of protein!

2.     Homeade Granola Bars

By making them at home, you can control the sugar content and eliminate additives to make these tasty bars totally customizable for lunchboxes. Nuts like almonds, pistachios, and sunflowers have the highest protein to lowest saturated fat ratios, so they’re perfect to add in to these healthy bars.

3.     Kamut Krispies

We all know sometimes our littlest eaters skip the good-for-you parts of their lovingly packed lunch and dive straight into the sweets. Nothing feels worse than seeing their sandwich sitting untouched in their lunchbox when they get home. A batch of these Kamut Krispies will ensure that even if they only eat dessert, they are still getting some iron and protein!

4.     Curried Tuna and Pesto Egg Salads

This blog post has some of our favorite ideas for getting extra protein into little lunches. The Curried Tuna Salad uses yogurt instead of mayo for a double dose of protein, and the Waldorf Chicken Salad is perfect for kids with a sweet tooth by adding in diced apple!

5.     Whole Grain Quinoa Bowl

Using quinoa instead of rice for this recipe means an easy family dinner can instantly double as lunch tomorrow!

6.     Sandwich Sushi with Chickpeas of the Sea

Chickpeas replace tuna for a perfect Meatless Monday lunch hack! Plus, the lettuce keeps everything from getting soggy in a lunchbox and the “sushi” pieces make toddler mealtime a breeze.

Get our perspective!

Here at Peas of Mind we love figuring out ways to make parent's lives easier and more fulfilling. We make all natural frozen food that's loaded with veggies and quick to prepare so that Moms and Dads don't have to worry about their picky eaters not getting enough veggies. We love providing recipes that take classic "kid food" and reinvent it so it's loaded with veggies; we're always trying to practice stealth health.  This month we decided we wanted to hear from you and provide our perspective on your questions.  So write in and we'll give you our Peas Perspective on how to make your kids healthier and happier at the kitchen table!

Our VERY first question is from Suzanne from San Jose, CA.  She asks: How do I get my daughter to eat more protein? She has a major sweet tooth and I'm always trying to find creative ways to add protein from real foods to her favorite foods.

This is a great question Suzanne and the truth is we could ALL benefit from adding more protein into our diet!

Our favorite protein rich foods that lend themselves to sweeter dishes are: nuts, nut butters, chickpeas (tahini sesame seed butter) and quinoa.  A great way to start your daughter's day is by making her a sweet quinoa porridge. Any grain porridge is healthy and delicious but quinoa is a complete protein that contains about 7g per serving; it's is simple and easy to make and you can make it to her liking by adding her favorite flavors like berries, maple syrup or chocolate.  A sprinkle of almond meal will take it to the next level protein wise and she'll never be the wiser.

Now that it's stone fruit season try making a fruit crumble and changing up your favorite crumble recipe by replacing the oil or butter with tahini and ground up nuts.  It will have the same crunchy, buttery flavor that we all expect from a sweet crumble but with good fats and lots of protein.

Chickpeas are a great protein rich snack and an easy way to make these beans "sweet tooth" approved is by roasting them so that they're crunchy.  Simply mix drained chick peas with honey, cinnamon and any of your favorite sweeteners or spices and roast on parchment paper for 45 minutes on 375 degrees. Then end result is a sweet and crunch snack that your daughter will devour like popcorn.

We'd love to feature your question next month! Simply email feedback@peasofmind.com with your question, name and the city you're from and we'll give you our Peas Perspective!