Stretch dinner dollars, use leftovers in the lunchbox

Packing a lunch can help children get the nutrients they need to stay energized and ready to learn. Using leftovers from dinner or other items commonly found in the refrigerator is an economical way to keep packed lunches from becoming repetitive or burdensome to prepare.

Mix leftover meat with steamed rice, assorted vegetables and teriyaki sauce, and then stuff into a pita for a tasty sandwich. Pour re-heated soup into an insulted container, send along whole-wheat crackers and shredded cheese to sprinkle on top. Parents can earn extra credit by being a healthy role model, reducing food waste and brown-bagging their lunch too.

This week's featured family meal of Chicken Wraps with California Dried Plums and Apples, Cheese and Fruit Kabobs and Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies works great for dinner and any leftovers make great brown-bag lunches. Beat the brown-bag blues with other double-duty recipes to try this week, including Vegetable Cheese Quesadillas, Lickety-Split Lasagna Soup, Meatball Sandwich Slices and Chicken and Broccoli Teriyaki. Register at MealsMatter.org to add these or other recipes to your shopping list and browse other brown-bag lunch ideas.

"Family Meals Matter" features recipes selected by registered dietitians from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at our free online nutrition and meal-planning website, Meals Matter (www.MealsMatter.org), sponsored by Dairy Council of California.

FEATURED FAMILY MEAL

Chicken Wraps with California Dried Plums and Apples

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/70867

• 2 ounces low-fat cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese
• 2 (10-inch diameter) whole wheat, spinach or tomato wraps
• 1/2 cup chopped California dried plums
• 1/4 cup chopped apple
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 6 ounces shredded or diced grilled chicken breast

Preparation

Spread 1 ounce cream cheese on bottom half of each wrap. Scatter dried plums, apple and celery over cream cheese; arrange chicken on top. Fold in sides, then roll up from the bottom, burrito-fashion, to completely enclose filling. Cut each wrap in half, if desired, for 4 smaller servings.

Cheese and Fruit Kabobs

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/16533

• 3 oz cheese, cubed (any variety)
• 1 cup strawberries, quartered
• 1 cup grapes
• 1 apple, sliced into bite-sized pieces
• 1 kiwi, sliced
• 1/2 cup nonfat fruit yogurt (any flavor) or nonfat pudding

Preparation

Wash fruits; cut and dice them. Dice cheese. Place all ingredients on skewers, according to preference. Arrange on a small plate with yogurt or pudding in center for dipping.

Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/45709

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups oats
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup raisins