Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll-Ups are a fun take on a regular peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This version works well for packed lunches because it is less likely to get smashed than regular bread. It is also a good entry point for children as a way to work in more whole grains and fresh produce into their diets.

This is so easy, kids can make it – but more on that later.

EAT THE RAINBOW

Remember the Eat the Rainbow goal I talked about here? It seems so daunting but believe it not, this plate above actually has ALL the colors of the rainbow. Let’s go through it:

• RED: fresh strawberries, strawberry jam
• ORANGE: carrot sticks
• YELLOW: pluot
• GREEN: avocado (guacamole)
• BLUE/PURPLE: blueberries
• WHITE/TAN: cauliflower

What? There’s cauliflower here? Enter in Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocci. These make a great dupe for tater tots. I prepared these in the air fryer and they came out crispy and delicious.

See, not so bad. For a kid who has a hard time with eating a variety of fruits and veggies, this plate looks fairly familiar which will make it more likely to be accepted.

OK, back to how to make peanut butter and jelly roll-ups.

HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY ROLL-UPS

• Spread peanut butter or any other nut butter on whole wheat lavash bread or tortilla.
• Spread jelly over the nut butter
• Add your favorite berries. Cut up strawberries if using.
• Start on one end and roll it up.

That’s it!

NOW A WORD ON PLASTIC PLATES

Divided plates are fun for kids who like to have their food in different sections and can be great for portion control. I originally bought the plastic plates pictured for a school themed birthday party several years ago, but to be honest we hardly use them now because we are transitioning all our plastic to glass or stainless steel.

The reason is this. There are concerns about the use of plastic in children due to the possibility of chemical exposure and the potential for endocrine (hormone) disruption. In 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics came out with this policy statement recommending to “use alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” If it is not an option to avoid plastic, they recommend to avoid placing plastic in the dishwasher and microwaving in plastic. This statement also states to try to “avoid plastics with recycling codes 3 (phthalates), 6 (styrene), and 7 (bisphenols.) “

STAINLESS STEEL, A BETTER CHOICE

We switched the kids’ cups to the Ahimsa rainbow stainless steel cups in the photos above and they LOVE them. I love them too because not only are they beautiful, but they are a good weight, stackable and don’t tip over easily. I also love their divided plates and have purchased them as gifts. My kids are older now and normally eat off of regular plates but I would have totally gotten these stainless steel ones if they were younger.

The founder of Ahimsa is a fellow pediatrician mom Dr. Manasa Mantravadi. I reached out to her and she is offering my readers a 10% discount with the code WELLNESS10. The code will expire 9/21/20 at 11:59PST. Check out the Ahimsa website here.

I am promoting Ahimsa because I purchased from this small business myself and love their products, and I do not receive any financial compensation if you make a purchase. I truly believe in the company’s mission for the health of our children and of our planet.

Excite kids to eat healthy. Help parents simplify mealtime. Protect our planet with eco-friendly products.

Ahimsa