Back-to-school lunches don’t always have to be complicated. This is one of my go-to lazy lunches for Mila when I want something quick, easy and fun. Turning a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich into little characters and fun shapes makes lunchtime a little more exciting for kids, without adding extra work to your morning.

You can use any fresh fruit you have available to make your own homemade jam. For Mila’s lunch, I made a simple raspberry jam, but strawberries, blueberries or other berries would work beautifully too.

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread

• Peanut butter of your choice

• Jam or jelly of your choice

• Fresh fruit, for serving

• Snack of your choice

Shanice Gore layers raspberry jam over the peanut butter. (Photo: Alan Smith)

Method

1. Spread peanut butter evenly on one slice of bread.

2. Spread your favourite jam or jelly on the other slice.

3. Place the slices together to form a sandwich.

4. Using your favourite sandwich cutters, cut the sandwich into fun shapes. For this lunch, I used star and dinosaur cutters.

5. Add little details to turn the shapes into fun lunchbox characters, if desired.

6. Place the shaped sandwiches in a sandwich bag or reusable lunch container.

7. Add fresh fruit and a favourite snack to complete the lunchbox.

Once assembled, use sandwich cutters to press the sandwich into fun shapes.(Photo: Alan Smith)

Homemade Raspberry Jam

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh raspberries

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Homemade raspberry jam (Photo: Alan Smith)

Method

1. Add the raspberries, sugar and lemon juice to a small saucepan.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the raspberries break down and the mixture begins to thicken.

3. Continue cooking until it reaches a jam-like consistency.

4. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool completely. The jam will continue to thicken as it cools.

5. Store in a clean, airtight container in the refrigerator.

Shanice Gore uses a dinosaur-shaped cutter to transform the sandwich for the lunchbox. (Photo: Alan Smith)

Kitchen Tip: You can make this simple jam using whatever fresh fruit you have available. Adjust the sugar to suit the sweetness of the fruit and cook until you reach the consistency you like.

Serving Suggestion

In my household, I love pairing homemade raspberry jam with our favourite peanut butter. For Mila’s lunch today, I’m serving the little PB&J characters with fresh apples and her favourite banana chips.

Shanice Gore admires her star and dinosaur-shaped sandwich creations.(Photo: Alan Smith)

Back-to-School Tip

Keep a few different sandwich cutters on hand and let your child choose the shape or character they want. It’s such a simple way to turn an everyday sandwich into something special.

I also like to put Mila’s little sandwiches in a sandwich bag and add a handwritten note for her. It can be something as simple as “Love, Mommy,” or a little message just for her. It’s a small touch, but I love knowing she gets a little reminder from Mommy when she opens her lunchbox.

Photos: Alan Smith