Valentine's Day Lunch Box Treats

Add a little extra love to every bite with these simple, wholesome, and nourishing Valentine’s treats that will leave both hearts and bellies full of happiness. They’re perfect for lunchboxes, snack time, or sharing with someone special. 

CHOCOLATE COVERED APPLE HEARTS

Crisp, juicy, and just a tad indulgent, these sweet treats are a quick and guilt-free snack you can whip up in no time.

Ingredients

Apple

1/2 cup Chocolate or white chocolate chips

Valentine sprinkles

Directions

1. Melt chocolate in a microwave or double broiler.

2. Cut ½ inch slices of apple on each side of the core. 

3.  Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut into heart shapes and pat them dry with a cloth. Use the Prep to Pack Cutting Board to ensure diameter of each the heart will fit the corresponding lunch box compartment. 

4. Insert a fork on the bottom of each heart to hold it above the bowl of melted chocolate. Spoon chocolate over the entire heart on both sides.

5. Set each heart on a parchment lined baking sheet.

6. Decorate with sprinkles and refrigerate for 20 minutes until set. 

*Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

LOVE ENERGY BITES 

Soft, chewy, and naturally sweet, these energy bites are packed with real strawberries and nutritious ingredients for a feel-good snack.

Ingredients

2  ½ cups freeze dried strawberries

1/3 cup roasted, salted cashews

1 cup pitted dates

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup peanut butter (or nut butter of choice)

1 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Pulse the freeze dried strawberries in a food processor until finely ground into a powder. Set aside 2 tablespoons.

2. Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor and combine until it is well combined and sticks. Add more nut butter if needed.

3. Combine the entire batter into a large ball and roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Use a small heart shaped cookie cutter to cut into shapes. Re-roll the scraps and repeat.

4. Dip  the cut out hearts into the remaining ground strawberry powder.

 *Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

EMOJI SANDWICH 

Fill it with your favorite ingredients for a sandwich or snack that’s full of love and personality. 

Ingredients

2 slices of bread

Ham

Cheese

Red bell pepper

Directions

1. Use the circumference of a glass to cut each slice of bread, ham, and cheese into rounds.

2. Use a small heart cookie cutter to cut heart shapes into one of the bread rounds. Use the same cookie cutter to cut hearts out of the bell pepper.

3. On the same round as the heart cutouts, use a knife to create an open smile.

4. Layer the bottom round with ham, cheese, and top round. Insert the pepper cut out hearts into the heart shapes on the top slice.