By Sherrie Le Masurier

When it comes to picky kids who don’t ‘do’ sandwiches, it’s time to turn our thoughts to a healthy lunch school idea that involves a little creativity.

One of the best ways to get a healthy lunch into our children’s bellies is to make their lunch experience fun.

A healthy lunch school idea is always more successful when children get to play with their food whether it’s dunking pita triangles into flavorful hummus, veggies into a nutritious dip, or fruit into a favorite dip or yogurt.

Home-Style Hummus with Roasted Red Peppers

1can chickpeas, drained (and rinsed)
½ cup roasted red peppers, drained (from a jar)
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. plain yogurt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

Using a food processor or blender, process all ingredients until smooth. To ensure that everything is evenly blended frequently scrape down sides. Serve with pita wedges, veggies, crackers or nacho chips.

Chunky Cheese and Apple Dip

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup mayo (or whipped salad dressing)
1/2 cup finely chopped apples

Combine cream cheese and mayo. Blend well. Stir in cheddar cheese and apples until just mixed. Serve with crackers, celery, breadsticks or pretzels.

Peanut Butter and Cheese Spread/Dip

1/4 cup cream cheese
1/4 cup peanut butter

Whip cream cheese and peanut butter together. Serve on crackers or bagels or use as a dip for celery or breadsticks.

Spinach Dip
 
1 pkg. chopped spinach
1 cup sour cream
1 cup of mayonnaise
1 pkg. Knorr vegetable mix

Mix sour cream, mayonnaise and vegetable mix together. Drain and add spinach.
Serve with chunks of pumpernickel bread.

Now for some healthy lunch school snack and dessert dips.

Peanut Butter Apple Dip

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup milk
4 apples cut into wedges

In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, peanut butter, brown sugar and milk. Mix well. Serve chilled with apples. 

Pumpkin Dip

4 cups powdered sugar
2 pkgs. 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
1 30 ounce can pumpkin pie filling mix
1 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Blend together sugar and cream cheese. Add pie filling, ginger and cinnamon. Use as a dip for gingersnaps or cinnamon cookies.

Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup unsweetened orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Beat together all ingredients until fluffy. Cover and chill. Serve with assorted fresh fruit.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the above healthy lunch school dip recipes. Please check out the other articles on this site for more nutritious recipes.