Tips for Supersmart Kid's Lunches

Tips for Supersmart Kid's Lunches

After years of making delicious, easy and fun meals to-go for his son, Parker like a Star Wars-themed egg sandwich, the Obi Wan-wich, Hirsch is sharing his wisdom in a book called Beating the Lunch Box Blues, which hits shelves September 3. Based on his blog LunchBoxBlues.com, Hirsch's book he calls it an "un-cookbook" features great ideas for superfast boxed lunches, gorgeous annotated photographs and 30 fast dinner recipes that yield strategic leftovers. Here are six of the brilliant tips from his book. 

Compartmentalize 

 Lunch boxes once were just that boxes. Today, most are modeled at least in part after Japanese bento boxes that includes easy recipes videos

 which have multiple containers and compartments. Search these out.

Keep Sandwiches Crisp 

To keep bread from getting soggy: First, toast it. Second, put a layer of fat between it and the other ingredients.

Always Cook Too Much 

Leftovers make packing lunch so much easier. This is true when making breakfast, too. Extra pancakes and waffles make great 'bread' for sandwiches.

Pack Real Utensils 

Lunch is not the time to break out the good silverware. But I'm also not a fan of disposable plastic, which breaks easily and has a lousy eco footprint. Instead, grab some inexpensive stainless-steel utensils at the bargain or secondhand shop."

Stick It 

Remember, for fun eating, food on a stick always trumps food not on a stick.

Involve the Rugrats 

 Including Parker in the cooking process eventually paid educational dividends. The chicken is easy, he told me. I know they have backbones. Because I've watched you spank-cock them.' Something may have gotten lost in the translation on that one. But it's worth it either way.