Lunchbox Dad

How to Make an Oklahoma State University Lunch For Your Kids (or College Students)!

2025-11-06T21:22:00.000-06:00

So you have a kid graduating high school and heading off to college, eh? That was the situation I found myself in. I mean, how did I get here though? Wasn’t my daughter just in first grade? I guess it was time to let her go, even though it was difficult. I’m also assuming that’s why it’s taken me so long to actually write this blog post—even though I made this lunch for her last summer. Maybe a part of me didn’t want this stage of our lives to end and a new one to begin.

But here we are, and it makes sense that since I started this blog 13 years ago sharing fun food art lunches I made for my daughter, I should finish the story with her final lunch. It’s true that I made lunches for her younger brothers as well—and I’m still making fun food art lunches for my youngest son. I mostly post on my social media channels now because that’s where everyone is, so make sure you’re following me there!

However, I just couldn’t let this final part of my daughter’s story go untold. If you want to see a short recap of our lunch journey over the years, watch the video below!

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A post shared by Beau Coffron | Food Art (@lunchboxdad)

So below is the final fun bento lunch recipe from my daughter’s high school career. I think it’s pretty fitting that it’s all about Oklahoma State University—the college she decided to attend. If you want to make a similar lunch for your kids as they head off to college, or if you’re just a fan of a particular university, hopefully you’ll find some inspiration from my directions below!

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A post shared by Beau Coffron | Food Art (@lunchboxdad)

Ingredients: Bread, meat, cheddar cheese, white cheese, flour tortilla, black food coloring marker, blackberries, black and orange crackers, mandarin orange, orange sweet peppers, college themed cookie.

Directions:

1. Cut two slices of bread and a piece tortilla into circles. Cut Pistol Pete, the Oklahoma State mascot, from another piece of tortilla. Use that piece to cut Pistol Pete out of cheddar cheese also. Draw on his facial features using the black marker.

2. Assemble the sandwich using the circle pieces and Pistol Pete. Place in the main compartment of the lunchbox. Surround the sandwich with orange and black crackers.

3. Cut the OSU logo out of white and cheddar cheese. Place on top of blackberries in one side compartment.

4. in the second side compartment, place a mandarin orange and pieces of orange sweet pepper. Top this with a cookie that says "Go Pokes" on it.

5. Give to your child/college student and try not to cry!

While this part of our story has come to a close, I’m still sharing my son’s lunches on social media. We also post family-friendly recipes, budget-friendly meals, and other fun food finds across our channels. I post there multiple times per week, and I’ll probably keep posting here from time to time whenever I have something fun to share with you all!

#lbdbento

How to Make a Ferrari F1 Lunch For Your Kids!

2025-05-19T12:00:00.003-05:00

My daughter is a huge Formula One fan and since her time in high school is coming to an end, I knew it was time to finally make her an F1 lunch with a Scuderia Ferrari theme. Ferrari is her favorite racing team and of course she loves drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles LeClerc.

Almost the entire Ferrari F1 car is edible and it tops a racetrack sandwich. The car is tortilla, nori, and sweet pepper. I just used cheese and meat on the inside of the sandwich.

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A post shared by Beau Coffron | Food Art (@lunchboxdad)

For the first side compartment, I used grape tomatoes with checkered flag toothpicks that I bought off of Amazon.

In the second side compartment, I dropped blackberries so that I could keep the red and black color theme. Then I finished it with a Scuderia Ferrari logo that I printed off. I put parchment paper on the back so that the paper wouldn't get soggy.

So if your kid loves F1 as much as mine does, you might want to make a lunch using these tips and just make it with their favorite team's colors!

How to Make a Family-Friendly Meal From ALDI for 5 People For Only $12!

2025-03-06T12:32:00.005-06:00

This budget and family-friendly meal only took 20-25 minutes, costs $12, and feeds 5 people! We found everything at ALDI, but you might be able to find it for the same price at a store near you. My kids loved it, and so did my wife and I! We will definitely be making it again.

Mini Shepherd's Pie Recipe:

Filling Ingredients: 1 pound ground chicken Italian seasoning 1 cup frozen corn 1 cup frozen peas 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce Salt and pepper to taste.

Other Ingredients: 2 premade pie crusts 1 package instant mashed potatoes 1 bag frozen corn 1 bag frozen peas butter, salt, pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°.
Top ground chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Use as much or as little as you like. Brown chicken over medium heat.
Follow directions on package to cook instant mashed potatoes on stovetop.
Top browned chicken with corn, peas, and tomato sauce. Mix together.
Grease muffin pan and lay pie crusts on top. Fill each muffin space with meat mixture. Top with a scoop of potatoes.
Cut pie dough into individual pies.
Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Steam corn and peas in microwave according to package directions.
Plate two pies per person, along with a side of steamed vegetables. Serve.

How to Make a Paddington Bear in Peru Food Art Lunch For Your Kids!

2025-02-15T14:36:00.000-06:00

In our house, Paddington Bear isn’t just a character—my kids have grown up with him. From his love of marmalade to his knack for finding adventure (and a little trouble), we’ve been hooked on his stories for years. So when Paddington in Peru hit theaters, my youngest son and I couldn’t wait to see it. And let me tell you—it was everything we hoped for! This latest installment is funny, heartfelt, and packed with all the Paddington charm we love. If you’re a fan of the little bear in the blue coat, you won’t want to miss this one.

So here are directions on how to make a Paddington bear food art lunch for your kids, complete with an orange marmalade sandwich! If your kids love Paddington as much as mine, they will love this lunch as well.

Ingredients: Whole wheat bread slices, white bread slice, marmalade, provolone cheese slice, black olives, red apple, blueberries, flour or whole wheat tortillas, cooking oil, guacamole, black food coloring marker.

Directions:
1. Cut two slices of wheat bread in a circle shape. Use a cookie cutter to make it easier! Slice the top off the circle so it is flat. Spread marmalade on one slice of bread and then top with the second slice.

2. Cut a smaller circle from white bread. Place on top of sandwich. Cut two small football shaped pieces of cheese for Paddington's eyes. Place on sandwich. Cut small olive in half and put on top of cheese to complete eyes. Cut another olive in half and poke two small holes in it. Next, cut a thin slice out of the other half of the olive. Place these on top of the white bread to make the nose and the mouth.

3. Place sandwich in main compartment of lunchbox and surround with blueberries. Cut the red apple in half and then cut two thiner slices off the apple. Arrange as shown in the photo to create Paddington's hat.

4. Preheat over to 350°. Cut the note shape out of a tortilla. It is a rectangle with the corners cut off of one side. Repeat with several more tortilla notes. Place all tortilla pieces on baking sheet. Brush a very small amount of your favorite cooking oil on top and place in oven. Bake for 10 minutes.

5. Once homemade tortilla chips have cooled, use a food coloring marker (or toothpick and liquid food coloring) to write the words shown above on one of the chips. Place in side compartment of lunchbox.

6. Put guacamole in second side compartment. Cut a circle of cheese and place it on top of the guacamole. Top with a chip that either says Peru or has the main bear logo from the bracelet in the movie and your Paddington in Peru lunch is ready to serve!

How to Make Crispy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars!

2025-02-07T01:30:00.004-06:00

This post is sponsored by Karo® syrup and Argo® corn starch, but all opinions are my own.

#AD For families on the go, finding a quick and delicious treat that everyone will love can be a challenge. These Crispy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are the perfect solution. Easy to prepare and requiring no oven time, they’re a lifesaver for busy parents and a hit with kids. Whether it’s an after-school snack or a dessert for your next party, these bars deliver big flavor with minimal effort. The secret to their success? The combination of Karo® syrup and Argo® Corn Starch, two pantry staples that ensure a tasty result every time.

Our family devours these every time that I make them, but I don't mind, because they are so simple to put together. Why do I always use Karo® syrup and Argo® Corn Starch? Known for its ability to deliver a smooth texture and balanced sweetness, Karo® syrup lets the other ingredients truly shine. And with Argo® Corn Starch in your pantry, you'll always have a versatile, dependable thickener for a variety of recipes, from sauces to desserts. It even has twice the thickening power of flour!

Why These Crispy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Are a Must-Try

Quick and Easy: These bars require no baking, making them perfect for busy schedules.
Family-Friendly: A guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike.
Versatile: Customize them for any occasion with seasonal toppings or mix-ins and it can be made gluten-free.
Trusted Ingredients: Chefs rely on Karo® syrup for its quality and consistent performance, while Argo® Corn Starch guarantees a reliable, lump-free texture.

Plus, you can tweak it for different seasons of the year by adding festive sprinkles, swapping the milk chocolate topping for white chocolate, or even mixing in dried fruit or nuts for a holiday twist. Remember to follow the visit KaroFoodservice.com and ArgoFoodservice.com for more inspiring recipes! Here’s how to make these bars:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Karo® syrup
1/4 cup Argo® corn starch
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups crispy rice cereal (gluten-free cereal if needed)
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, mix corn syrup, sugar, and corn starch. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and begins to bubble.

2. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until smooth.
3. Add crispy rice cereal and mix until evenly coated.
4. Press the mixture into a greased or lined 9x9-inch pan.
5. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave and spread over the top of the bars.

6. Refrigerate for 1–2 hours until firm. Slice into squares and serve.

These Crispy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are rich, decadent, and wonderfully simple to make. Whether you're sharing them with friends or savoring them yourself, these bars are sure to become a go-to family favorite for years to come!

How to Make Peach Meringue Pie with Canned California Cling Peaches!

2025-02-06T15:30:00.003-06:00

This is a sponsored post with California Cling Peaches. All opinions are my own.

I made what kind of dessert with these canned California Cling Peaches? Yep, that's right, for National Canned Food month I said forget the other fruit, we are making a peach meringue pie! This peach variation of this dessert might be my new favorite.

We love using canned California Cling Peaches in our recipes because they check all the boxes. They're convenient, eco-friendly, California grown on small family farms, a great comfort food, nutritious, and provide incredible value for our money. This National Canned Food Month, stock up your pantry with California Cling Peaches to get all of the benefits year-round!

Peach Meringue Pie
Ingredients:
Pie crust and filling: 1 ready-made pie crust (or make your own from scratch), 1 can California Cling Peaches and peach juice, 5 egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup corn starch, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 TBSP. butter, water.
Meringue: 5 egg whites, 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/8 tsp. salt.

Directions:

Partially bake pie crust according to package directions.
Peach Pie Filling:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Separate egg yolks and whites. Whisk egg yolks in bowl. Separate peaches and juice. Blend peaches until they are a chunky, pudding like consistency.
3. Over medium heat, combine entire can of peach juice with water so you have a total of 1 1/3 cups liquid. Pour into saucepan. Mix together with sugar, cornstarch, salt, and peaches. Stir until thickened, about 5 minutes.
4. Slowly temper the egg yolks by adding a few warm spoonfuls of peach mixture into egg yolks and stirring. You don't want the yolks to cook. Slowly add yolk mixture into saucepan. Stir for a few minutes until the peach mixture is thick and bubbling. Stir in butter until melted. Pour into warm crust.

Meringue:

1. Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed for one minute, then increase speed to high until soft peaks form. Then add sugar and salt. Beat on high until stiff peaks form.
2. Immediately spread meringue on top of warm peach pie filling. Make sure to spread meringue all the way to the crust, completely covering the filling. You can make decorative peaks with a spoon if you like.
3. Bake pie in oven for 20-25 minutes until meringue has browned on top. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour and then chill in refrigerator for 4 hours to set.
4. Slice and serve immediately or within the next 2 days.

Make a Wicked Food Art Lunch For Your Kids!

2024-12-03T22:18:00.001-06:00

The Wicked Movie starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo has seemed to take the world by storm! My daughter saw it opening weekend and loved it. I still remember seeing the play with my wife, not the Broadway one in New York, but when it traveled to San Francisco we were amazed by it. Since my daughter has become such a fan, I had to make her a school lunch based on it. I wanted to give nods to both the movie and the play so the lunch is a mix of the two. Follow the directions below to make it for your kids!

Ingredients: Green spinach wrap tortillas, sliced meat, sliced cheese, nori (dried seaweed), black and red food coloring marker, black berries, pistachios, trail mix with M&Ms and pink Starburst, strawberries, strawberry yogurt, silver sprinkles.

Directions:

1. Cut spinach wrap tortilla in the shape of Elphaba's face and hat. Use the first pieces to cut out matching second pieces. Make into a sandwich with sliced meat and cheese.

2. Cut lips out of tortilla and hat out of nori. Use black food coloring marker to make hair and facial features. Fill in lips with red food coloring marker. Place on top of sandwich to make Elphaba.

3. Place blackberries and pistachios as background in main compartment. You can use other green and black themed food to substitute if you wish. Put sandwich on top.

4. In side compartment place trail mix topped with green M&Ms and pink Starburst.

5. In other side compartment place strawberries and top with pink strawberry yogurt. Drop on silver sprinkles.

Pin This Wicked School Lunch!

How to Make a Meal From Target for 5 People for Only $14!

2024-05-10T21:53:00.000-05:00

You can easily make this baked ziti meal from Target for your family or friends for only $14! It is less expensive than buying it premade in the frozen foods section so make this yourself and wow those who you serve it to. Just head to Target and get these deals while they last!

Ingredients: 1 lb. ground hot Italian sausage, 16 oz. mini farfalle pasta, 1 white onion, 8 oz. mushrooms, 24 oz. pasta sauce, 1 block mozzarella cheese, 1 medium green bell pepper, 1 bag frozen peas, 8 slices frozen Texas garlic toast.

Directions:

1. Brown sausage over medium heat.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.

3. While meat and pasta are cooking, shred cheese, cut up bell pepper and mushrooms. Drop peppers and mushrooms in pan with sausage. Place cooked pasta in pan after draining.

4. Bake bread according to package directions.

5. Pour pasta sauce over meat and pasta mixture. Top with shredded chees and cover. Reduce heat to low and cook for two minutes.

6. Cook peas in microwave according to package directions.

7. Plate food, top peas with butter and pepper, and serve.

How to Make a Star Wars Stormtrooper Food Art Lunch Recipe For Your Kids

2024-04-27T22:21:00.001-05:00

May the 4th is almost here which means it's one of my family's favorite days of the year! It's Star Wars Day! We love the movies, the TV shows, the LEGO sets, and everything else having to do with the legendary series. In fact, Star Wars land at Disneyland and Walt Disney World are some of our favorite places in the parks. Because of this, I have made special Star Wars lunches for my kids ever since I started this blog twelve years ago.

Download My Free Printable Stormtrooper Template Here

This year, I made a Stormtrooper sandwich with TIE fighter apples and lightsaber pretzel sticks. I made the Stormtrooper helmet out of cheese. This looks difficult, but I actually created a paper template to make it easier! You can download it for free here. Just print it off, cut it out, and lay it on top of bread, cheese, tortillas, or whatever else you want to turn into a Stormtrooper! Use it to help create the lunch by following the directions below.

Ingredients: White cheese, two slices of bread, blackberry jam, nut-free spread, dried blueberries, blackberries, grapes, apple, toothpicks, granola, pretzel sticks, Fruit Roll-Up.

Directions:

1. Use this template to cut a Stormtrooper helmet out of cheese. Flatten two pieces of bread with a rolling pin and then use the cheese helmet as a guide to cut out around the bread. This will give you two pieces of bread in the shape of the helmet.

2. Spread nut-free spread on one piece of bread, top it with the other piece. then spread a dark jam such as blackberry on top. Stick dried blueberries or fresh blackberries into the jam. Place it in the main compartment of the lunchbox and put the cheese helmet on top.

3. Surround Stormtrooper with blackberries. Cut two slices from an apple and put a toothpick through the middle of one slice, then a grape, then the second slice to make a TIE fighter. Repeat to make a second. Optional: Rub lemon juice on apple pieces to prevent browning.

4. Fill one side compartment with granola and the other one with pretzel sticks. Place one TIE fighter on the blackberries and the other on the granola.

5. Wrap Fruit Roll-Ups pieces around two pretzel sticks. Use blue, green, or red colors. This makes two Lightsabers. Place them on top of the pretzel sticks.

Pin This Star Wars Lunch on Pinterest!

Make a Meal From ALDI for 4 People for Only $13!

2024-04-20T21:36:00.005-05:00

How to make a meal from ALDI for 4 people for only 13! This pork chop meal will satisfy all of your family, is easy to make, and is easy on the bank account.

ALDI Ingredients: 4 pork chops, 1 box long grain and wild rice, 8oz. package of mushrooms, 1 box onion soup and dip mix, 1 box panko bread crumbs, 1 16 oz. bag fresh green beans.

Directions:

1. Heat pan on the stove over medium heat. Pour in 1 tbsp. olive oil.

2. Combine 1 packet onion soup mix and 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Rinse off pork chops and pat dry. Cover each side with breadcrumb mixture.

3. Heat pork chops on stove top until brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees. Remove and let rest.

4. While they are cooking, cook rice according to package directions.

5. Wash mushrooms and green beans.

6. Cook mushrooms in the same pan as pork chops for about two minutes. Stir and cook another 2 minutes. While they are cooking, trim green beans. Boil for 3 minutes and drain water.

7. Top pork chops with mushrooms and serve with a side of rice and green beans.

Budget Meal Recipe: Crab Pasta Bake Meal, Feed 6-8 People for Only $15!

2024-01-16T22:26:00.000-06:00

How to make a budget family-friendly meal recipe for 6-8 people for only $15! My family loved this Crab Pasta Bake and while it does feed 6-8 people, you can also feed 4 people and have great-tasting leftovers for the next day. Also, while we used imitation crab, you could easily substitute a different protein. Just be aware it could change the price. The melty cheese goodness will complement most meats such as steak, chicken, pork, and more. Below is the recipe!

Crab Pasta Bake Meal

Feeds 6-8 People

Ingredients: 1 lb. imitation crab meat, 1lb. Rotini pasta, 1.5 cups shredded cheese, 8oz. softened cream or Neufchatel cheese, 12 oz. bag of frozen broccoli, 8 slices frozen Texas Toast, 1 bag of carrots (the exact amount will depend on how many people you are feeding), 4 cloves of garlic, 1.5 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

1. Mince garlic and mix together 2 cloves with olive oil and salt and pepper. Cut carrots into 2-inch pieces and stir together with oil mixture. Bake in oven at 425 for 13 minutes, stir, and put back in for 13 minutes.

2. Boil pasta and set aside 1 cup of pasta water. Drain the rest of the pasta.

3. In an oven-safe pan, saute two more cloves of garlic over medium heat, drop in a block of softened Neufchatel cheese, 1 cup shredded cheese, and pasta water. Stir until sauce forms. Add more water for a thinner sauce or less for a thicker sauce.

4. Add cooked pasta, crab meat, and frozen broccoli to the cheese mixture. Stir well. Top with 1/2 cup more shredded cheese. Bake in pan (make sure it is oven-safe) in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

5. Bake Texas Toast according to package directions.

6. Plate carrots, pasta, and toast. Serve and enjoy!

Budget Meal Recipe: Taco Pockets

2024-01-11T12:39:00.003-06:00

Here is how to make a family-friendly meal from your local grocery store for 5 people for only $15! Plus, there will be leftovers for another meal! These Taco Pockets are a crowd-pleaser and can be tweaked with your family's favorite ingredients. You can use 1-2 Taco Pockets on each plate, depending on how hungry your family and friends are.

One of our tips to save money is to reuse ingredients from the main dish with your side dish. For this recipe, we used onions and cheese in both the main pockets and the side salad. Below is our recipe for Taco Pockets.

Taco Pockets

Makes 5 Servings

Ingredients: 2 cans of pre-made crescent roll dough, 1 bag shredded cheese, 1lb. ground chicken, 3 tomatoes, 1 white onion, 1 8oz. bag shredded lettuce, 1 16 oz. jar of salsa, 1 pouch taco seasoning.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

1. Dice and saute onions on stovetop. Save a little fresh diced onions for later. Mix in ground chicken and brown. Dump in pouch of taco seasoning and jar of salsa. Stir and let simmer for a few minutes.

2. While meat mixture is simmering, separate crescent roll dough into rectangles (not triangles). you should have 8-10. Place on greased baking sheets.

3. Spoon on desired amount of meat mixture and sprinkle on cheese. Fold edges of dough up and pinch seams. Make sure all edges are tightly sealed. Place extra meat mixture in a resealable container and save for an additional meal another day.

4. Bake in oven at 350° for about 20 minutes or until taco pockets are golden brown. While they are baking, slice tomatoes. Drop lettuce, tomato slices, onions, and cheese onto each plate for a side salad.

5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Disney Christmas Mickey Mouse Ears Food Art Lunch for the Holidays!

2023-11-27T22:38:00.001-06:00

Disneyland and Disney World during the holidays are nothing short of magical! The next best thing though is making some fun food art for your Disney-loving kids' lunches. This Mickey Mouse lunch is so easy to make, especially if you have a Mickey cutter.

The Mickey Mouse Ears cutter can easily be found online, such as places like Amazon. You can use it on bread, cheese, and meat like I did with this lunch. Also, note that you should be able to find the red and green Christmas tortilla chips at many different grocery stores during this time of year. Otherwise, just follow my directions below to make this Christmas-themed Disney lunch recipe to send with your kids to school.

Ingredients: Whole wheat bread, green spinach wrap tortilla, sliced cheese, sliced meat, black icing or cream cheese, M&M's minis, red and green tortilla chips. strawberries, holiday-themed candy cupcake toppers, strawberries, raisins, Babybel cheese, fruit leather, dried mango.

Directions:

1. Use the Mickey Mouse cutter on the bread, cheese, meat, and tortilla. Assemble into a sandwich with the tortilla on top. Place in main compartment of lunchbox and surround with tortilla chips.

2. Use black icing or cream cheese in a frosting bag on top of the tortilla to make Christmas light wires. Press M&M minis into the icing/cream cheese to finish the Christmas lights.

3. Place sliced strawberries into one side compartment. Put candy cupcake toppers on top.

4. Cut fruit leather into a strip and dried mango into a square. Place on top of a red Babybel cheese. Drop raisins in second side compartment and put the Babybel on top.

Pin this Disney Lunch to Pinterest!

How to Make a Food Art Disney Mickey Mouse Halloween School Lunch for Your Kids!

2023-10-29T19:39:00.001-05:00

Halloween at Disneyland and Disney World is magical, but of course, we can't just go off to Disney every spooky season. Or can we? No, no, of course not. But the next best thing is making a Halloween Disney Mickey Mouse Halloween food art school lunch for your kids! Here is how to do it.

Ingredients: Bread, sliced cheddar cheese, sliced lunch meat, nori, black and orange tortilla chips, trail mix, candy corn pumpkins, black seedless grapes, orange sprinkles.

Directions:

1. Cut bread, cheese, and meat into Mickey Mouse's head shape. I used a cutter to make it easy. Cut Mickey's face into the cheese. Cut a piece of black nori (roasted seaweed snack) and put it behind the cheese. Assemble sandwich and place in main compartment. Surround with black and orange chips. I found these at Target. You can also place raisins around the sandwich for some extra fruit.

2. Mix your kids' favorite nuts together with mini pretzels. Then top with a few candy corn pumpkins. Pour into side compartment.

3. Finish the lunch by dropping black grapes into second side compartment and put orange sprinkles on top. I also had Mickey and Minnie Mouse food picks that I stuck into the grapes for some extra decorations.

Pin Halloween Mickey Mouse Lunch to Pinterest

How to Make a Food Art Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles School Lunch!

2023-09-06T02:00:00.003-05:00

Are your kids still buzzing with excitement after watching the newest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie? I remember growing up seeing the original and playing with all of the toys. It's crazy that the Ninja Turtles are still going strong all these years later. Because my kids are fans, I decided it was time to make them another TMNT food art school lunch!

Say hello to this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle creative school lunch idea that will have your child eagerly anticipating their lunch break. Skate into the world of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael as we show you how to create a Cowabunga-inspired meal that's as delicious as it is fun. I made the ninja turtle quesadilla with Donatello's bo staff, but you can use the same idea for any of the other weapons.

Ingredients: Spinach wrap tortillas, whole wheat tortilla, pretzel stick, black food coloring marker, green apple, cheese, sliced ham, bread cut into a circle, pepperoni, trail mix, TMNT cereal.

Directions:

1. Make a ninja turtle quesadilla by following the directions in the video below. Place on top of chopped green apple in the main compartment of the lunchbox.

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A post shared by Beau Coffron | Food Art (@lunchboxdad)

2. Place bread shaped like a circle in a side compartment and top with shredded cheese and cut up pepperoni to make a mini pizza. Repeat with second pizza.

3. Use a premade trail mix, or make your own and put in the second side compartment. If you can, mix in a little bit of TMNT cereal. We found it at our local store.

Pin this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Recipe on Pinterest!

How to Make a Barbie Food Art School Lunch for Your Kids!

2023-08-30T22:26:00.001-05:00

The Barbie movie has taken the world by storm so my daughter was begging for a Barbie school lunch for the beginning of the school year. Since this is the highest-grossing movie of the year, and everyone has been talking about it, I thought it would be fun to create!

Making a Barbie lunch is really pretty easy because you just need a TON of pink food items. Just accept that this will have a bit more sugar than usual because pink is not necessarily a natural color. Except if you can find pink pineapple, which is delicious by the way.

I created this lunch with a pink salmon sandwich topped with a tortilla covered in pink cream cheese. It is topped with cheese letters spelling out, "Hi Barbie!" Barbie's iconic high heel is flour tortilla with cream cheese and sprinkles. Surrounding the sandwich is pink cereal.

In one side compartment is pink yogurt with pink fruit at the bottom. I found the fruit in plastic containers in the snack aisle. In the other side compartment are pink yogurt-covered pretzels and raisins. Of course, I had to put some pink sprinkles over the sandwich and yogurt as well.

Have fun making this for your kids and I hope you enjoy the movie like our family did!

Pin this Barbie Recipe on Pinterest

How to Make a Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Rocket Raccoon Food Art Lunch for Your Kids!

2023-05-10T08:52:00.001-05:00

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 just came out, and since it is one of our favorite movie series to see as a family, my son really wanted to watch it for his birthday. So of course we had to go and I had to make a Rocket Raccoon lunch to celebrate. This is complete with a Rocket sandwich, Groot pretzel sticks, and a blackberry space scene. I chose to make Rocket more cartoon-like for this lunch instead of realistic because the movie was pretty serious in many scenes and I wanted this lunch to be lighthearted.

I definitely recommend watching this film if you have seen the others. As you watch the movie together, you'll have the chance to experience the story of Rocket unfold together. I won't give away any spoilers but it definitely reveals an important backstory. This can be a wonderful way to connect with your kids and create lasting memories that you'll all cherish for years to come. I still remember watching Return of the Jedi and E.T. with my family in the theatres. Did I just age myself?

So if you're looking for a fun family activity, why not plan a trip to the movies to see Guardians of the Galaxy 3? It's a great way to spend quality time together and create special memories that your children will always remember. Then after that, consider making this Guardians of the Galaxy lunch for them!

Ingredients: Dark wheat bread, sliced cheese, sliced meat, flour tortilla, black olive, blueberries, red fruit leather, yogurt-covered raisins, pretzel sticks, blackberries, star sprinkles, fondant (white, black, green, and brown colored).

Directions:

1. The Rocket sandwich is made with dark wheat bread, cheese, and meat. His facial features are cut from flour tortilla and black olive for the nose. you can also use black olives for the eyes or fondant if you want to get creative with them.

2. His uniform is made from blueberries and red fruit leather and I surrounded him with yogurt-covered raisins but you could use anything.

3. Groot is just pretzel sticks in a side compartment with a little green fondant for the top of his head and black for his eyes. You could also use green spinach wrap tortilla and blackberries in place of fondant.

4. The space side compartment is blackberries and star-shaped sprinkles.

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How to Make a Food Art Star Wars Stormtrooper Sandwich School Lunch Recipe!

2023-04-30T22:20:00.001-05:00

Star Wars is more than an enjoyable way to spend time in our house, it's a passion. I grew up on it and my own kids have as well. We just finished watching the latest season of The Mandalorian and we can't wait for the next Star Wars-themed show or movie to release. We also believe May the 4th should be a national holiday! That is why I always have to make Star Wars-themed food art lunches for my kids during this time of year.

This Star Wars Day I made a Stormtrooper sandwich with Grogu (Baby Yoda) on the side along with some Mandalorian-themed crackers. The sandwich has blackberry jam and blackberries to serve as a dark background for the Stormtrooper helmet. But don't worry if you think it will be too difficult to cut out the helmet, because I have you covered with a template you can print off, cut out, and lay over the tortilla to make the job easy.

Just click here to download the Stormtrooper template!

May the 4th be with you this year and have fun creating Star Wars memories with your kids!

Ingredients: Sliced bread, nut-free spread, blackberry jam, sliced blackberries, flour tortilla, hard-boiled egg, mini cucumbers, Star Wars crackers.

Directions:

1. Put nut-free spread between two slices of bread. Top with sliced blackberries and blackberry jam. Put in main compartment of lunchbox.

2. Use this template to cut the Stormtrooper helmet from a flour tortilla. Place on top of the sandwich.

3. Slice the end off of a mini cucumber for Grogu's head. Slice another piece and cut it in half to make Grogu's ears. Shape them a little if you want. Use a toothpick to stick the ears to his head. Cut a quarter of an egg off of a hard-boiled egg. Attach Grogu to the egg using a toothpick. Place on top of more slices of cucumber in a side compartment of the lunchbox.

4. Drop Star Wars-themed crackers in the second side compartment of the lunchbox.

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How to Make an Easy Minions Food Art School Lunch Recipe for Your Kids!

2023-04-23T22:18:00.002-05:00

Despicable Me Minions lunches are some of the most fun to make for my kids. You can make the Minions' lunch with anything and it makes sense because they do everything and use any prop available to man. I have made Christmas Minions, Football Minions, and more. However today I was looking for a very easy Minions lunch to make. And guess what? An easy Minions lunch works also!

If you go to your local grocery store you will find many Minions-branded snack items. The problem isn't finding them, it's deciding which one you want to use. For this lunch, I bought Minions fruit snacks and decided to make the rest out of other food. However, I also found an AMAZING printable Party Delights Blog. They used to have the template I used to download, but now it is gone. I am linking the downloadable template HERE, but it is free Minions printable cutouts that are made to go on bananas. It doesn't get any easier! All you need are bananas, the printable, scissors, and tape. Of course, I also had to include a teddy bear theme because the Minions love their teddy bear so much. But besides the printable, the rest of the ingredients are right at your local store.

Ingredients: Banana, printable, slice of bread, sliced turkey, sliced cheese, Minions fruit snacks, trail mix, banana chips, Teddy Bear graham crackers.

Directions:

1. Cut a banana in half. Print the Minions printable twice, cut out the pieces you want to use, and tape those pieces onto the banana halves. Place in the main compartment on top of the bread, cheese, and meat.

2. In one side compartment place banana chips and the pouch of Minions fruit snacks.

3. In the second side compartment place trail mix (mixed with banana chips and teddy bear crackers) in the second side compartment.

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How to Make a Super Mario Bros. Food Art School Lunch for Your Kids!

2023-04-18T21:04:00.001-05:00

Have you heard about the new Super Mario Bros. movie? It's a fun and exciting adventure that both you and your kids can enjoy together! My kids have all loved it. It's all about Mario and his brother Luigi trying to save Princess Toadstool from the villainous Bowser. The movie brings all the characters, challenging levels, and Mario themes to life on the big screen. Because it's so fun, I had to make my kids another Super Mario Bros. food art lunch to celebrate!

What's great about this new movie is that it stays true to the game's spirit while also adding new elements to keep things interesting. Chris Pratt stars as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, and Jack Black as Bowser. The movie is action-packed, funny, and full of nods to the game that fans will love. It's already been one of the most popular movies of the year.

So, if you're looking for a fun family movie night, the new Super Mario Bros movie is definitely worth checking out. It's a great way to introduce your kids to the world of Mario and all his friends in the Mushroom Kingdom. Plus, it can remind you why Super Mario Bros. 3 is the best video game ever made!

Ingredients: Bread, sweet pepper, blueberries, green apple, white chocolate chips, white cheese, cheddar cheese, granola, Super Mario Bros. fruit snacks, celery, strawberry, white icing or cream cheese, black and red food coloring.

Directions:

1. Make a Mario sandwich using bread, sliced turkey, sliced cheese, and red sweet pepper. Use circle cutters to easily create circles out of the food. The red "M" can be made with food coloring.

2. Use star-shaped cutters to make star sandwiches just like the Mario sandwich. Place in main compartment along with blueberries.

3. Cut a slice from a green apple and put a circle of cheese around it. Attach white chocolate chips using frosting or cream cheese to make a Bowser shell and place in main compartment.

4. In one side compartment put granola and Super Mario Bros. fruit snacks.

5. Cut a triangle out of the top of a strawberry. Spread cream cheese or icing around the "mouth" area and also a few spots. Put blueberries in side compartment with a celery stick and strawberry on top to make a Piranha Plant.

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How to Make a Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry Food Art School Lunch!

2023-04-06T22:05:00.001-05:00

Basketball is not just a game, it's a way to bring families together. Bonding over that shared experience can create unforgettable memories. For my family, the Golden State Warriors are our favorite team, and we have a great time cheering for Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the rest of the team.

The Warriors have been one of the most successful teams in the NBA over the past decade, winning multiple championships and developing a loyal fanbase. As a parent, introducing my kids to the joys of cheering on this team together has been a fun and exciting way to spend time together. This is why I had to make another Warriors lunch, so they could cheer on our favorite team for the playoffs at home and at school!

The key to this lunch was using pancake molds from Zavery Cakes. That's right, this sandwich is actually made with pancakes! I decided to try out the molds and they were so easy to use. They have a ton of different designs including many NBA teams.

I used sprinkles and icing to make the blue and gold coloring but Zavery also recommends coloring the pancake batter. This actually might be an easier way to go than how I did it.

Ingredients: Pancakes made in Warriors molds, sliced cheese, sliced meat, blue sprinkles, gold icing, blueberries, yellow candies, yogurt-covered raisins, mandarin orange.

Directions:

1. Make two pancakes in Warriors or Steph Curry jersey molds. Decorate one with sprinkles and icing if desired. Place meat and cheese on top of plain one. This will be an open-faced sandwich. Top with decorated one for dessert.

2. In one side dish place blueberries and yellow candies.

3. In second side dish drop in yogurt-covered raisins. Draw basketball lines on orange and place on top of raisins.

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How to Make an Easter Bunny Food Art School Lunch For Your Kids!

2023-04-03T21:43:00.002-05:00

Easter is just around the corner, and it's the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen! As a parent, you're always looking for ways to make meals more fun and exciting for your kids. Well, today we've got a recipe that's not only delicious but also looks great and is perfect for Easter. We're going to be making an Easter food art lunch that's sure to make your kids smile. And who knows, the Easter Bunny might even stop by for a bite!

This Easter food art lunch is easy to make, and it's a great way to get your kids excited about the holiday. Plus, it's a fun way to get them to eat their veggies, which is always a plus for parents! So, let's get started on this fun and festive recipe. With a few simple ingredients and a little creativity, you'll have a lunch that's not only tasty but also adorable!

Ingredients: Flour tortillas, sliced cheese, sliced meat, baby carrots, celery sticks, nut-free spread, bunny-shaped macaroni and cheese, trail mix and bunny-shaped cereal.

Directions:

1. Use bunny-shaped cookie or vegetable cutters to make rabbit shapes out of cheese, meat, and tortillas. Put together to make two sandwiches. Place in main compartment of lunchbox on top of baby carrots.

2. Dip celery in nut-free spread and place under the carrots. This makes dirt and grass for the rabbits to hide behind.

3. Put leftover mac and cheese in side compartment. Annie's makes a rabbit-shaped version that adds extra fun. Put a cheese-shaped bunny on top.

4. In second side compartment drop in trail mix mixed with Easter-themed cereal.

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How to Make a Ted Lasso Food Art Lunch

2023-03-28T21:51:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for a heartwarming and hilarious TV show to watch, look no further than Ted Lasso. This feel-good series on Apple TV+ follows an American football coach, played by Jason Sudeikis, as he takes on the job of coaching a struggling English football (soccer) team, the AFC Richmond Greyhounds. My teenage daughter, my wife, and I love this show, so I had to make a Ted Lasso lunch for my daughter to take to school! This lunch features Ted, a soccer ball, goldfish (for the famous quote), biscuits for the boss, and fruit in the colors of the Richmond Greyhounds. See how to make it below!

One of the things that set Ted Lasso apart is its emphasis on positivity and kindness. As Ted himself says, "I believe in being honest and transparent, and treating people like human beings." In a world where so much media is dark and cynical, it's refreshing to watch a show that celebrates the power of kindness and empathy.

Another reason we love this show is that Ted Lasso is also laugh-out-loud funny. From Ted's sayings ("Do you believe in ghosts? 'Cause I think we just saw one.") to the grumpiness of teammate/coach Roy Kent, there's no shortage of humor in this show. Be warned though, there is quite a bit of language so use your judgment if it is appropriate for your older kids.

Not only that but whether it's discussing the importance of teamwork or how to handle disappointment, the show's themes are relevant to people of all ages. As Ted himself says, "I think that's the best thing you can hope for: to leave something better than you found it."

Lastly, if you are thinking about whether or not you should make this lunch for your kids, remember what Ted says, "Be curious, not judgmental."

Ingredients: Flour tortillas, dark wheat bread, sliced white cheese, sliced turkey, dark wheat bread, nori, strawberries, blueberries, Babybel cheese, goldfish-shaped crackers, English shortbread cookies.

Directions:

1. Make a sandwich with tortillas, meat, and cheese. Drop in berries in the main compartment of the lunchbox and top them with the sandwich.

2. Cut a flour tortilla in the shape of Ted's head. You can print out a photo from the internet as a template if it helps. Use dark wheat bread for his hair, sideburns, and mustache. Use nori for his sunglasses. Ted's visor is white cheese. I printed out a tiny logo from the internet and placed it on the visor, but this is optional. Put Ted's head on top of the sandwich.

3. Cut the top wax off of a Babybel cheese. Cut it into the pieces shown and place on top in the design of a soccer ball. Place on top of blueberries in the side compartment.

4. In the second side compartment place goldfish-shaped crackers and a shortbread cookie.

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How to Make a Dreamworks Puss in Boots Food Art Lunch for Your Kids!

2023-03-03T22:23:00.002-06:00

Have your kids seen the Dreamworks movie Puss in Boots yet? If you're looking for a fun family movie, you should check it out. This film follows the swashbuckling cat from the Shrek movies on a new adventure to save his kingdom from an evil sorcerer. It's filled with humor, heart, and stunning animation that your kids will love.

The cat is hilarious! Puss in Boots is one of those characters from Shrek that both kids and adults love. My boys found it entertaining but my daughter went to go see it, get this, on her first date. I still don't know how I feel about that. But when I made this lunch for her it was of course what I was thinking about. How did we already get to the age where she is driving, going on dates, and has a real job?

Well anyway, if you want to make this for your kids, and think about how they are growing up too fast, the directions are below. Or instead, just grab some popcorn and enjoy a wild movie with one of the coolest cats around!

Ingredients: Whole wheat bread, sliced cheddar cheese, flour tortilla, pepperoni, green apple, black food coloring marker, yogurt, strawberry, dried mango, fruit leather.

Directions:

1. Cut cheddar cheese and flour tortilla in the shape of Puss' head. Puss' hat is made from tortilla and pepperoni. You can make his eyes out of green apple and his nose out of pepperoni. Use black food coloring marker for the hat and the facial features. Place everything on top of a meat and cheese sandwich and place in the lunchbox.

2. Cut fruit leather into the shape of boots and place on top of dried mango in the side compartment.

3. Take a toothpick in the shape of a sword, or something similar to a sword, and spear a strawberry. Place in yogurt, because cats like milk, in the second side compartment.

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How to Make a Fun Monopoly Board Game Food Art Lunch Recipe for Your Kids!

2023-02-20T22:15:00.001-06:00

Anyone enjoy playing board games with your kids? Lately, we have been loving it! One of our favorites to play as a family is Monopoly. Of course, we play the original but right now it's all about Monopoly Deal. This is a card game with all of the familiarity of Monopoly but with a new set of rules. So of course I had to make a fun food art lunch for my kids to take to school!

Playing Monopoly with your kids can be a chance to talk, laugh, and connect with each other. Plus, it's a fun way to unplug from screens and distractions and focus on each other for a few hours. And since games can last a while, it's a perfect activity for a rainy day or a lazy weekend.

So next time you're looking for a way to bond with your kids, pull out the Monopoly board and start playing. Then make take a few ideas from this lunch or make the entire thing!

Ingredients:

Monopoly Sandwich: Whole wheat bread, sliced meat, sliced cheddar cheese, nori (roasted seaweed), red and green apples, flour tortilla, black food coloring marker.

Dice Trail Mix: Your child's favorite trail mix with nuts and dried fruit, mini marshmallows, black food coloring marker.

Boardwalk Dessert: Sliced strawberries, blue and white fondant, black food coloring marker.

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