Best Lunch Box Ever (30 page)

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes for mini muffins, 20 to 25 minutes for standard-size muffins.

Let cool in the muffin tins for 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the pantry or up to 1 month in the freezer.

NOTHING IS HOMIER
than a little crock of chocolate pudding in a lunch box. This one, made with milk, antioxidant-rich chocolate, and an egg for added richness, manages to pack in some nutrition with every decadent-tasting bite. It's so good, you'll want to be sure to leave a little in the fridge for yourself before packing it off to school.

MAKES ABOUT 2
¹
/
₃
CUPS; 5 SERVINGS

1 egg

3 tablespoons cornstarch

¹
/
₄
cup light agave nectar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

2 cups milk, preferably 1 percent

1
¹
/
₂
ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, cornstarch, agave nectar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt.

In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. When tiny bubbles appear all around the edge of the pan, add the chocolate, whisking constantly, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

Scoop up about
¹
/
₃
cup of the heated chocolate milk and slowly drizzle it into the egg mixture, whisking constantly, until smooth, about 30 seconds. Then slowly drizzle the egg-chocolate milk mixture back into the saucepan, whisking constantly, about 30 seconds. Be careful not to combine the hot liquid with the raw egg too quickly, or it may result in scrambled chocolate eggs, not chocolate pudding!

Return the saucepan to medium-high heat and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the pudding thickens enough that a defined line remains when you run the spoon through the center.

Transfer the pudding to a medium bowl, cover, and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. If desired, lay a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming on the top.

Pack into small containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Eight Lunch-Box Loving Touches

There are loads of ways to fill a lunch box with tenderness beyond sweet things to eat. Here are a few fresh and fun ideas to add to the time-tested lunch-box love note:

1
.
   Use an indelible pen to draw a face on a tangerine.

2
.
   Include a couple of stickers.

3
.
   Write your child a note on a banana.

4
.
   Jot down a riddle or joke he or she can share with friends.

5
.
   Include a silly little poem.

6
.
   Write a couple of math problems.

7
.
   Sketch one half of a picture, leaving the second half for your child to finish.

8
.
   Include a card for birthdays, holidays, and special celebrations.

Ten Petite Treats

Here are quick and easy goodies that take little time to prepare but are sure to elicit a smile:

1
.
   Small square of good-quality chocolate

2
.
   Fortune cookie

3
.
   Graham cracker sandwiching melted chocolate chips

4
.
   Dehydrated strawberries, apples, or pineapple

5
.
   Fig bar

6
.
   Honey stick

7
.
   Small container of all-natural pudding

8
.
   Mixture of chocolate chips and dried cranberries

9
.
   Strawberries and a small container of whipped cream for dipping

10
.
All-natural animal crackers

After School

No matter how well-proportioned, balanced, and jam-packed the lunch boxes might be when I put them into my kids' hands each morning, at least one of my girls comes home ravenous at the end of the day. And while it's tempting to toss them a bag of chips and move on, that's not likely to sustain them for long. The trick is to nourish kids enough so they'll last through the afternoon, but not so heartily that they want to take a pass at dinnertime. The best afternoon snacks are the ones that hit some of the same nutritional high notes you aim for at lunch: grains, protein foods, healthful fats, fruits, and vegetables, all delivered without a lot of processed ingredients. Kids need quality snacks to fuel their brains and bodies as they tackle homework, music lessons, sports, and whatever else happens between school and supper.