"paper bag" news and stories

There's still a little time left before kids have to head off to school, which means that you might still be packing a lunch. Without debating whether or not kids should be packing their own lunch - which depends entirely on whether they realize the value of having a meal that is more than Pringles and chocolate chip cookies - MSN has a list of foods that you might want to tuck into that brown paper bag on a school day. Most are convenience foods, but they are convenience foods that are healthy choices. Their suggestions include:

• Propel Calcium, for a healthy dose of calcium that doesn't need to be refrigerated
• Yves Veggie Deli Slices, which are soy-based (meatless) and low in fat and come in many varieties for sandwiches
• Sara Lee's Soft & Smooth Whole Grain White Bread
• 100 calorie packs of pretzels, crackers, chips and cookies

Don't forget to include a piece of fruit or some raw veggies and dip (hummus or black bean, which doesn't need to be refrigerated) so the kids get something fresh in their lunch, too. In fact, why not include some in your own lunch box?

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We all know that a certain fast food restaurant carries a line of salads in shakers. The premise is that you fill the container with all your salad ingredients, pour in a separate container of dressing, close the lid and shake. After a minute, you salad is completely dressed and ready to eat out of the same container.

The Salad Blaster is a reusable, dishwasher safe way to take advantage of this technique in your own home - or better yet, in your lunch at school or at the office. The Blaster has a reservoir in the lid that holds the dressing, while the base contains all your salad fixings. Simply press the top bottom to dispense the dressing into the salad, shake and your lunch is ready to eat, though you will have to provide your own fork.

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Plastic bags are not going to be the most exciting part of your child's school lunch, no matter how you look at it. The bags from Mobi are a little more interesting, however. They all feature fun designs, from cupcakes to stars, that will brighten up a bag lunch and probably make whatever food is packed inside seem more fun. After all, who could resist a bag with a cupcake on it, even if it is filled with baby carrots instead of actual cupcakes? Sandwich and gallon-sized bags are available, all with a traditional zip top to keep the food secure.

Of course, if you want to get these are use them for your own lunch, we fully support that decision - just don't let your coworkers see them, or they may get jealous. They're available at Mobi and at Target.

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