Team Up with California Prunes

Expert Advice

Add California Prunes to Packed Lunches

By Cara Rosenbloom, RD

Sweet and chewy, California Prunes are nutritious and have a taste that’s loved by kids – and their parents

California Prunes are a versatile and nutritious ingredient that make a great addition to family meals and snacks. I use California Prunes because they are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre, which help support bone and gut health.

As back-to-school rapidly approaches, my mindset turns to packing school lunches, having ample after-school snacks and finding a few new recipes for our family meals. I’ve chosen some of my favourite California Prunes recipes and have adapted them to be fun for you and your kids to share. California Prunes make a great addition to both sweet and savoury dishes. They are moist and chewy with a sweet taste that kids love.

Here are two recipe ideas that work well in the lunchbox, as after-school snacks, or as part of a dinner charcuterie platter.

No-bake California Prunes Power Balls

Kids love bite-sized foods in their lunch box, so this recipe is a perfect fit. I love this original recipe for power balls, but I adapted it to make it safe for schools that have a nut-free policy. Read more…

Apple, California Prune and Cheddar Skewers

Here’s a lunchbox secret: kids love to eat food on sticks! Food on skewers adds some whimsy to lunch, plus skewers are easy for little hands to pick up. Read more…

Hopefully these recipes have highlighted how versatile California Prunes can be in both sweet and savory recipes and how California Prunes can be enjoyed by people of all ages – especially kids! Look for prunes that say “Product of USA” or “Product of California” to find premium-quality prunes.

Cara Rosenbloom, RD
Cara Rosenbloom is a Toronto-based dietitian and health journalist specializing in pediatrics. She is the co-author of the award-winning best seller Food to Grow On: The Ultimate Guide to Childhood Nutrition from Pregnancy to Packed Lunches. By her latest count, she has packed over 4000 school and camp lunches for her two children, and somehow, she still enjoys it!