I just learned of a great new product called a Thermos!

What?
You’ve heard of this gadget before? Are you using it for lunch?

The only thermos I remember is my dad taking one in his lunch or fishing and filling it with coffee. Thanks to my great friend (and nutrition tip expert), Vonda, I now have a better way to pack lunch for my daughter.

To say the least I am neither Betty Crocker, (stop laughing or saying a big “You got that right!” nor I am creative with meals.

For the past many years my daughter has pretty much had the same thing over and over. Turkey or ham sandwich, string cheese, fruit, chips and juice box. Throw in some left over pizza once in a while to mix it up.

The upside of this, she can pack it on her own and does so daily. The downside, I know it’s not the best lunch, I would assume she has to get bored with this and being in the fitness industry I am the mom who should be sending the Gold Star lunches to school!

Vonda told me about packing her kid’s lunch in a thermos. What a brilliant idea! Warm, healthy meals they can take to school. Meals just as good as any they can eat at home.

I told my daughter about this and she was VERY excited! She loves her new gadget and it even has a pop-out spoon to use, which is of course BEYOND!

Here are a few ideas to start with and I am sure you can come up with a few more on your own. If not, use the internet for everything or ask a creative fried like I do:)

Rice Dishes:

Protein Packed Rice: Rice, chopped chicken breast, shelled Edamame.

**I made this for Tay this morning, here are some quick tips.

Boil in a bag or microwave rice, pre-cooked chicken breast from the meat section, steam-able bag of shelled Edamame. It was ready and packed in minutes with leftovers for later.

Fried rice: whole grain rice, salad shrimp (tiny size), scrambled egg, scallions (if they like it) and soy sauce.

**Place cooked rice in a pan, mix in egg and tiny shrimp. The egg will cook as you scramble the rice around. Cook long enough to warm shrimp and cook egg. Add in soy sauce or put in a container on the side so they can add at lunch.

Meatballs and Sauce:

**Cook meatballs from the freezer section or meat counter according to directions. Warm sauce on stove or in microwave. Place meatballs in thermos, top with sauce. If you’d like to add some cooked pasta to this, rotini or bow ties would work great.

Soup: Pick your favorite.

I guess you could put anything left over that needs to stay warm and will fit?? I’m new at this so try it out and see if you can make the Gold Star lunch for your child this week.

Best part….You can do this for yourself and take a great lunch on the go too! Enjoy your lunch!