Ideas for fun lunchbox and snack surprises

When my son was going off to kindergarten for the first time, I could tell he was curious about whether he would make new friends. So to comfort him, I slipped into his lunchbox a photograph of our family vacation in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Canada, where we hiked, canoed and tried to catch fish. The teacher later told me that when he opened his lunchbox, he broke into a huge smile and started telling everyone about his adventures. Presto! New friends!

My kids are getting older now, but I occasionally think up some surprise that can pick up their day. These special attention-getters for different ages are sure to make lunchtime a highlight of the day:

For younger kids, tape a photo from a summertime activity to the inside of your child’s lunchbox lid. A photo of family, pets and friends can remind them they aren’t alone and provide a conversation starter at lunchtime.

For older kids, cut out a favorite comic strip or cartoon from the Sunday newspaper, write a joke or riddle on a small piece of paper, or write short, thoughtful notes such as “Good luck on your spelling test,” “I’m looking forward to your birthday party this weekend” or “I love you.” Tuck it in the lunchbox between an orange and a peanut butter sandwich.

For cool teens, leave notes that no one but them will ever know about! Write “Good Luck!” on a banana or orange with a non-toxic marker, and once they get the message, they can just peel it away — quickly!

After school, serve your hungry young kids a healthy “apple puzzle” snack. They’ll love this simple game. First, with a sharp, pointed knife, cut an apple around its circumference in zigzag fashion. The point of the knife should reach all the way to the core.

When you have cut all the way around the apple, take it apart. Give the two pieces to your child and challenge him to put it back together again.

Donna Erickson’s award-winning series “Donna’s Day” is airing on public television nationwide. To find more of her creative family recipes and activities, visit donnasday.com and link to the new Donna’s Day Facebook fan page. Her latest book is “Donna Erickson’s Fabulous Funstuff for Families.” © 2014 Donna Erickson Distributed by King Features Synd.