PACK UP THE FUN WITH Healthy KIDS' LUNCHES

Liven up your midday meal with these delicious, healthy, and kid-friendly recipes.

- KIMBERLY LORD STEWART

It’s not always easy to come up with creative lunch ideas for kids. Too often, we fall back on the time-honored PB&J or mystery-meat nuggets. So if you’re looking to spice up your children’s noontime nosh, check out this selection of good—and good-for-you—recipes. Whether they’re headed back to school or just into the next room, your kids will thank you!

Macaroni Pizza

Makes 16 mini pizzas

Muffin tins make the ideal container for a pizza-flavored mac and cheese. Pasta is packed with protein already, but when you add in cottage cheese, mozzarella, and eggs, you’ve got a protein-rich lunch that will get your kids through the afternoon.

1½ cups small macaroni (any kind will do, wheat, lentil, rice, or bean)

1 cup marinara sauce

2 cups grated mozzarella, divided

1½ cups cottage cheese

4 eggs

4 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese Hefty pinch of salt and pepper 16 pepperoni or salami rounds

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, place in a bowl, and stir in marinara sauce. Let cool 10 minutes.

2. Stir in 1½ cup grated mozzarella. Blend cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in blender or food processor until smooth

3. Line cups of two 8-cup muffin pans with two paper liners each. Place pepperoni or salami in the bottom of each liner. Fill cups half full of macaroni mixture. Carefully pour cottage cheese and eggs over macaroni to fill in gaps. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.