Ask A Baltimore Expert: 5 School Lunches Kids Can Make Themselves

Nutrition plays a vital role in the health of children. And summer is almost over. A new school year is upon us. The ability for children to prepare healthy food is a plus for working parents and care givers. A local Baltimore chef is offering up five cool tips for school lunch recipes kids can make themselves.

Nicole Knight
Urban Cheftress
10 E. North Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21202
www.afriendofthepeople.comAs a self-taught personal cook and chef, Nicole is also a food blogger on AFriendOfThePeople.com, a start-up news and lifestyle blog. From the age of five, after watching her North Carolinian mom whip up Southern dishes, Nicole knew cooking was her niche. A native Baltimorean and graduate of University of Baltimore, she is a food enthusiast like none other.

Turkey, Crackers And FruitTime to prepare 15 minutes

Ingredients:

100% whole wheat or whole grain crackers
Low-sodium oven pre-cut baked deli turkey slices
1 peach or pear

Place crackers in a plastic Ziploc bag, place a couple slices of pre-cut baked Deli turkey slices in a Ziploc bag, gather one peach or pear and add all ingredients to a kid friendly lunch container or brown paper bag.

Pre-Cooked Quinoa And FruitsTime to prepare 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 bowl of pre-cooked quinoa
1 small package of cherries

Add pre-cooked quinoa to a small disposable bowl with a lid and add a serving of cherries to a Ziploc bag. Add bowl and Ziploc bag to a kid friendly lunch container or brown paper bag.

Chicken Wrap, Veggie And Fruit

Time to prepare 15 minutesIngredients:

100% whole wheat or whole grain wraps
Low-sodium oven baked deli chicken
1 package of shredded lettuce
1 pack of pre-cut celery sticks
10 strawberries

Take a pre-selected sandwich wrap and place fresh deli chicken and shredded lettuce and wrap as you like. Add some pre-cut celery sticks to a Ziploc bag and cut up some strawberries with a plastic knife and place in a Ziploc bag. Next, add all ingredients to a kid friendly lunch container or brown bag.

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus And FruitTime to prepare 15 minutes
Ingredients:

6 slices of pre-cooked prosciutto
6 fresh asparagus spears
Fresh grapes

Preparation is very easy and simple; wrap one slice of prosciutto around each asparagus spear, beginning at the bottom, and spiraling up to the top tip. Next, add a serving of Prosciutto wrapped asparagus to a Ziploc bag. Then, add a serving of grapes to a Ziploc bag. Finally, add all ingredients to a kid friendly lunch container or brown paper bag.

Almond Butter, Fruit Preserve And Veggies

Time to prepare 15 minutesIngredients:

1 jar of almond butter
1 jar of fruit preserve
2 slices of whole grain or whole wheat bread
1 Whole banana or pre-sliced mango slices

Spread your favorite almond butter and fruit preserve across two slices of your favorite pre-selected bread to make a sandwich and place in a Ziploc bag. Next, add some pre-sliced mango bits to a Ziploc bag. Finally, add all the prepared items to kid friendly lunch container or brown bag.

Tradina DeMary is a photo journalist. She is better known as Baltimore Budget Events Examiner, one of the best social event enthusiasts in Baltimore City. She is very zealous about city living and urban exploration in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. She has a background in applied information technology with a master's degree from Towson University. When she is not busy attending social events and taking photos for the Examiner.com. She manages a website about personal growth through poetry, cooking, music, DIY projects and consumer advocacy. Such a local lifestyle guru her other professional news column can be found at Examiner.com here. www.examiner.com/budget-events-in-baltimore/tradina-demary