As the kiddies return back to school, I'll bet that many Bitesters are grappling with the age-old issue of how to make school lunches interesting and healthy. While there's nothing wrong with the occasional bologna sandwich, studies prove that children who have a more varied diet when they're young become healthier eaters and make better nutritional choices as they grow up.
Luckily, help is on the way in the form of a new cookbook written by Birmingham, Ala., recipe developer, food educator and nutritionist Alison Lewis. Her book is titled 400 Best Sandwich Recipes and runs the gamut of foods that you can pack in a lunchbox and eat with your hands. Her definition of a "sandwich" includes wraps, burgers, panini and even desserts. She also offers readers the recipes for 50 different condiments to help dress up your sandwich, such aiolis, chimichurri, pestos, chutneys and several varieties of mayonnaise and relishes.
The recipes emphasize healthy ingredients and are written very simply and clearly. Each dish also includes a personal tip from Alison that explains where she came up with the idea or a helpful hint to assist in the preparation. Most of the ingredients are either already in your larder or easily sourced at your local supermarket, although some of the more obscure Indian, Middle Eastern or Thai sandwiches might require a trip to a specialty market.
But don't think that all the recipes are tricked-out or exotic. In fact, there are 90 grilled cheese recipes in this book. (Sounds like a good idea for a food truck, eh?) This really is the go-to book on portable food, and you'll be able to pack years' worth of school lunches for your family without ever repeating yourself.
Alison was gracious enough to share one of her favorite lunch box specials with Bites readers. Her version of Lunch Box Sushi arose from her family's frequent requests for sushi that could survive a trip on a school bus. It looks delicious and fairly simple to assemble, and I'm sure some kids would like to join in on the assembly process.
