Even the most delicious meal of steak and potatoes with mac ‘n cheese on the side isn’t appealing if it doesn’t look good. Image is everything especially when it comes to food. Kiddo food. Kids are even more visual than us. And while at times, sure I prefer to get a manicure over constructing new creative ways to serve a school lunch, it’s a duty and it’s yours moms and dads.

I’m fighting a constant battle to get my daughter to eat protein. Chicken fingers are fine, I’ll take anything I can get. I beg her to eat chicken nuggets. (I wish someone would beg me to eat chicken nuggets. TWIST MY ARM!) My friend suggested I crust the chicken with quinoa and use a little food dye to make it a cool color? WHO HAS THE TIME?

But there is something to what she said. I need to make her lunches more visually appealing. The school year is the perfect time to start. And by all means, I don’t mean making cows out of cauliflower. THE BASICS. Stick a few raisins on an apple slice and give that damn apple a face! Poke a few holes in a half-pita and connect the sides with a thin slice of cucumber. Make it into a little edible purse. Give it a little umph.

And make the lunches at night! Because you have all the time in the world right? But it does save from the morning rush. Happy back to school!