Every morning I get up, open my fridge and contemplate what to put in my children’s lunch. I have my stand-by’s – grilled cheese sandwich, yogurt, etc – but I always feel like I could do better. I have been known to walk up and down aisles in the store looking for something that I know my kids will eat, is convenient, and that I can throw in with little effort.
Fruit cups are a fantastic choice for me. But, to be honest, the kids have gotten tired of the plain old fruit. Sarah has even started telling me that she does not like the juice in the cups. So, frustrated that my easy choice had been sidelined, I headed to Walmart to find fun, delicious alternatives.
I strolled up and down the aisle, three picky lunch time choosers in tow, asking them what they thought of this and that and everything in between. They were not much help. Until I got to the fruit cup aisle. And what stopped them in their tracks? Mommy telling them that LOOK, these are Diced Apples & Pears with Caramel Flavor and Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice!
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Well, they were all over that one! Even Sarah grabbed a container and happily tossed them in the cart! I also noticed while there that sitting on the shelves, next to the cups, was a Del Monte Build Your Bag Lunches Your Kids Won’t Want to Trade Checklist magnet! On it are suggestions for creating the perfect lunch for kids with proteins, fruits, desserts and veggies. I L O V E this!!! On it, I noticed that the regular fruit cups from Del Monte are considered fruit and these new cups are considered snacks/ dessert! Let me tell you, I could not wait to get home and try these to see why they are considered dessert!!!
But the list also got me thinking. I could do 2 fruit items in their lunches. That made me happy as anything I can do to get fruits and veggies in my kids is a bonus. Even if one fruit is considered dessert!
To give you an indication of how excited Sarah was about these new snacks, she ripped all of the containers out of the packaging before I could even get them in the pantry! So I KNEW that if I put these in her lunch she would open them up and enjoy!
The next day I added Diced Apples & Pears with Caramel Flavor to Katie’s lunch and Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice to Sarah’s lunch. I then put in a grilled cheese sandwich, yogurt and some chips and juice. I tossed in a spoon and sent them off to school.
And then I did my own taste test!! Please don’t make me choose my favorite. Please? These are SO GOOD!! Oh my goodness. The crunchy fresh fruit mixed with the sweet flavor of caramel and vanilla & spice is just perfect. Sweet, but not too sweet… satisfying to the sweet tooth, but not overly saturated with sweetness, and perfectly good for you too!
When the girls got home from school I asked them if they ate their fruit at lunch! Sarah said that she LOVED them and can she have them next time too. SCORE!
I really love them and they are permanently on my shopping list now!
Pick up your Diced Apples & Pears with Caramel Flavor and Diced Pears with Vanilla & Spice using this coupon next time you are at Walmart and dress up your kids healthy lunches, too!
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“Look, these have caramel like candy and these have vanilla & spice like cupcakes!”
Love it!! Spoken like a true mom:)!