Lunchbox Recipes

My kids head back to school in the next week. We've been busy purchasing school supplies, shoes, bookbags, lunchboxes, thermoses, etc. I really feel guilty as the year progresses and my kids take a sandwich and chips to school everyday. I have tried a couple of recipes from Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious. My kids love the Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins with cauliflower puree. Recently, my sister (a personal trainer and wellness coach) did a segment for a local television station on healthy living. The focus of her broadcast was packing a healthy lunch for kids. I have been guilty of purchasing Lunchables like many American families, but would like to provide my kids with a variety of healthy alternatives. On a recent visit to my parents house, my mother shared a new chicken salad recipe with me. I love mayonnaise as much as the next person and have been skeptical of replacing my yummy fatty mayo with non-fat plain yogurt. Well, I've tried it and I love this recipe w/the substitute. My husband and children even requested I make this recipe again. Enjoy the posted recipe for the chicken salad. I can't post the muffin recipe due to copyright issues. The cookbook is about $20-$25 dollars. Ask around a friend might have the book.

Guiltless Chicken Salad

2 (13 oz) canned chicken-drained

1/4 cup fat free plain yogurt

1 stalk celery finely chopped

1/2 small onion finely chopped

6 TBSP Cape Cod Balsamic Vinegarette Dressing (found at Kroger)

1/4 tsp garlic powder

2 TSP Parsley (dried)

1/3 cup dried cranberries

26 almonds

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate overnight. You could replace the cranberries with chopped apple. My mom has also tried this as a tuna salad recipe.