In the Lunch Box – Ham & Cheese with Friends

My first grade daughter isn’t a fan of sandwiches.  Or most of the things you’d expect a six year old to like.  She really hates macaroni and cheese, can’t stand mashed potatoes, and won’t touch marinara sauce with a ten foot pole.

But over the last year or so I’ve discovered through lots of trial and error that she actually does like the stuff that’s inside the sandwich.  Just don’t put it between two pieces of bread.  Ever.  Because that’s somehow gross.

She particularly loves ham.  So this lunch, which is one of her weekly standards, is really just a ham and cheese sandwich without the bread.  But just look at how cute it is!

It’s darling, right?  The sweet little animal friends are reusable plastic picks I found here on Amazon.  They’re intended to be used for bento boxes.  I use them to hold her ham slices in perfect bite size portions.  Because the other thing I’ve learned through trial and error is that the cuter I can make something look, the more likely it will be eaten.  I mean really, could you resist eating every bite?

This is such a simple lunch – nothing here requires cooking or even much prep.  I buy all natural, nitrate/nitrite free sliced ham and cut it into strips.  I fold it up so it looks more appetizing and the little animal picks keep it in place.  The rest of this lunch is made up of cheddar cheese cut into squares, red grapes, and a small handful of all natural chocolate chips for a special treat.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Read more about our lunch container and see even more lunch ideas I’m using this year here:  Making Lunch Easier – my Favorite Containers.

What are some of your favorite lunches to pack this year?

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You may also like:

1. Giveaway – Lunch tote and water bottle
2. Ham and Cheese Sliders
3. Pumpkin Cream Cheese
4. Pasta with Balsamic Vinegar, Mushrooms, and Goat Cheese
5. Sausage Cheese Biscuits