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Back to School with Manitoba Turkey

The back-to-school season has rolled in WAY too quickly and the kids’ activities are taking off. Are you feeling that busy schedule building up already? Feeling the need to cut into the time you spend making meals in the kitchen? There’s no need to enjoy less healthy meals or order out because of the lack of time to prepare a meal at home, especially when you have Manitoba Turkey Producers on your side. We teamed up with Chef Shahir Massoud and Amanda Bibeau this Back-to-School season and they shared with us their top tips and recipes on how to prep and make foolproof turkey lunches that are simple, healthy and the kids will love!

From roasting and storing leftover roasted turkey to picking up quick and easy turkey products, turkey is the ideal protein for your kiddo’s lunches. Leftover turkey stores for 3-4 days in a sealed container in the fridge or for up to 3 months in the freezer. Thawing your roasted turkey is simple – bring it out the night before you need it and place it in the fridge and by the next morning, it’s ready to be made into quick and easy lunches, such as sandwiches, wraps, tossed into a salad or on its own served with crackers, cheese and veggies.

Shahir Loves Butterball’s Turkey Ham

Use Butterball Extra Lean Turkey Ham
Get all the flavour of a smoked ham, without the extra fat and unnecessary ingredients that the kids don’t need! Start by cutting slices from your Butterball Turkey Ham, then punch out fun shapes with their favourite cookie cutters.

Cookie Cutters for everything!
I like to make a trip to my local bulk food store to pick up all sorts of cookie cutter shapes and sizes. Better yet, take the kids with you and let them select a few that will get them excited about eating their lunch! Cut out fun shapes from your slices of Butterball Turkey ham, but don’t stop there! Cookie cutters are a whimsical way to transform apple slices, cucumber, bell peppers, pineapple, and carrots! You’ll be amazed how much fruit and veg the kids eat when they’re transformed into fun shapes.

Pack up healthier crackers
The crackers on those pre-packed snackable lunches have no redeeming ingredients. Look for tasty crackers that pack some kind of wholesome punch: whole grain, quinoa, even sweet potato crackers are all great ideas. Try to sneak in some good stuff even with the crackers!

Always pack a little treat
A well-balanced lunch snack box must have a little treat at the end, right!? Always in moderation, but including a little sweet helps the kids get excited about digging in come lunchtime!

Use the Scraps!
Don’t waste the cut-outs leftover from the Butterball turkey ham and the vegetables. Chop them up and add them to your next batch of omelettes, fajitas, or egg bites for a breakfast on the run!

Amanda Loves Manitoba Raised Turkey Breast

Turkey, Pea & Havarti Wraps come together in less than 5 minutes and are the perfect packable back-to-school lunch option! I love making these Turkey wraps as they are packed with protein and hold up to the lunch box, ensuring they stay crisp and delicious! No soggy wraps, thank you!

Kids and adults alike will enjoy these on-the-go approved Turkey wraps. They pack well and stay crunchy and fulfilling, even as the day goes by. Not making lunches for kids? These hold up great on the trail, too!

Creamy Havarti cheese compliments the fresh and rich flavour of hummus. Wrapped up with an ample amount of Manitoba Turkey Breast and complemented by fresh crisp pea pods, these wraps are a balanced and delicious lunch option.