This post is sponsored by Intermountain Healthcare. All opinions are 100% my own.
If I am being honest, there are few things about parenting that I have shed more tears over than food and nutrition. My 5-year-old is about as picky as they come. She fights against eating almost every form of protein and I have sat at the table after a meal, frustrated that it felt like I just went through a battle.
This year, as apart of Intermountain’s LiVe Well initiative, I have been practicing new tips and tricks to get the nutrition in my child without the battle. For my little girl, food is all about presentation. I could put some crackers and cheese on a plate and it will sit there until the end of time, but with a tiny bit of prep, we can have a very successful lunch. We have been using Rubbermaid Lunch Blox containers, they are a kind of Bento box that snap right into the ice pack, keeping the entire thing cold until lunch time. They are fantastic and I highly recommend looking into them. This isn’t a paid advertisement for them, we just enjoy them in our house.
I have been thrilled how much a little prep work gets almost twice the calories in my little girl and not just calories, healthy calories. Some of our favorite lunches are themed around her favorite princesses and super heroes. Today I am sharing Cinderella.
For a Cinderella lunch you will need:
- crackers
- Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges
- olives (just one or two for the nose and eyes on the mouse)
- a small slice of ham (just for the ears)
- slices of something green, I used bell pepper because I know my kid will eat it. You could use celery.
- carrots and celery sticks
- peanut butter
- a small orange
My absolute favorite part of this lunch is the cute little cheese mouse. To make him, simply unwrap your cheese and place in a container, Pinch off small pieces of olive and place them for his nose and eyes, Cut small circles of ham and add them for the ears. I used a medicine syringe to cut the small circles for the eyes. Add the greenery for the tail. Another reason I love using a bell pepper for the tail is the natural curl in the pepper makes it look even more like a mouse. Peel your “pumpkin” and add a small green stem, I used pepper for this as well, but you could use celery. Cut crown peaks into your carrots and celery and add your dipping peanut butter to a container.
I know some people will look at this lunch and think “Ain’t nobody got time for that.” but for a difficult eater, it is 100% worth it. Taking five minutes to prep this meal meant it got gobbled down without any fighting. That is a feat in our house.
To help facilitate some healthy lunches in your house, Intermountain Healthcare is giving away 8 sets of Lunch Blox between now and the end of September. All you have to do it head over to their for your chance to win. Check back tomorrow for another healthy princess lunch!
This is awesome! I know a mommy who decorated her girl's room in all Alice stuff. She'll love this!
This is super cute! You are inspiring me to make cuter lunches!
That is one of the cutest things ever! I love it.
This is such a cute idea, how creative! I love the mouse cheese!
That is the cutest lunch ever! I love the way you made a pumpkin out of the orange.
Michelle F.
What a cute concept. I think my daughter might actually eat her lunch if I made this. lol
I'm totally dying over this what a darling idea!
Great ideas! My kids eat their food so much easier (with less nagging from their mama) if it is fun for them. I love the mouse, it is adorable. I think they would love it too.
Awe i love that you made it fun for your little one to eat what she needs too! I would want to eat this too!
xo,
cait
http://gussied-up.blogspot.com
I am all about eating healthy, so I love the idea of packing a healthy lunch. You feel better when you eat healthier!
This is seriously one of the cutest lunch ideas of I've ever seen!
Oh my goodness, these are so adorable. My daughter would love these!
So cute! I need to surprise my son and make something like this! He would love it!
What a cute idea, my daughter would love that! I'm definitely going to have to make this for her