Since I was a child I loved holidays and celebrations. Making cute, themed food is a fun way to celebrate and mark the event. This year I enlisted my niece, nephews, and husband to eat these Independence Day / Patriotic themed meals early so I could share them with you. Only 3 of these meals were previously published on this blog.

This meal was a last minute idea that came about because I had leftovers from my Garden Tea and some Fourth of July themed meals. I enjoyed this meal for lunch.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Radish, pretzels, United States shaped almond butter sandwich on wheat bread

Top Right: Blueberries and raspberries

Bottom Right: Cherry tomato, fresh mozzeralla, and blueberry skewers

My 17 year old nephew ate this patriotic meal at my house.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Watermelon cut with this cutter

Bottom Left: Pistachio nuts (I drew on them with food safe marker)

Right Side: Cheese quesadilla, drew stars with food safe marker

Not Pictured: Salsa

I made this attractive meal for Flag Day in 2013. It actually won Featured Bento of the Week at the Bento Blog Network for their Patriotic category. It was previously published here.

My husband ate this as part of his lunch. He is a huge fan of raspberries so I try to include them when planning a meal for him.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich on wheat bread (bell crack drawn with food safe marker), blueberries

Top Right: Raspberries

Bottom Right: Pretzels

One of my nephews made this lunch a few years ago. He cut out the sandwich pieces by himself. It was previously published here.

My 9 year old nephew ate this meal at my house. I tried giving him red pepper hummus for the first time. I hoped that he would like it better than regular hummus. He did not like it.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: USA shaped bread made with homemade French bread dough (the “U” and “A” have cinnamon sprinkled on top, mozzarella cheese stick

Bottom Left: Red grapes

Bottom Right: Cucumber

Red Pepper Hummus: In Mini Dippers

I made this Independence Day themed muffin tin meal in 2013 for my nephew who was 12 at the time. It was previously published here. Muffin tin meals are popular with my niece and nephews. I think it is because they get at least 6 different things to eat.

My 12 year old nephew ate this meal. I put a reject flag under the “1776”. Usually when I make shaped bread, I make at least two versions. One of his brothers ate the accepted flag bread that is featured in this post.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: 1776 and U.S. Flag shaped bread (made with homemade French bread dough)

Bottom Left: Strawberries dipped in melted candy melts and sprinkled with blue sanding sugar

Bottom Right: Toasted pecans

My 15 year old niece helped me to made this basic meal for my husband on a night that he was not feeling well.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top Left: Blueberries

Bottom Left: Raspberries

Right Side: Patriotic Star Pasta with a little butter and Parmesan cheese, parsley star garnish

My 17 year old nephew ate this for dinner at my house. I think that the black beans (hidden under the other ingredients), greek yogurt, and chips made this a filling meal. I was inspired by this taco salad flag.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: Shredded lettuce, star shaped radish, salsa, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, black beans with sauteed onion, some hot sauce, and some plain tomato sauce (not visible, under other ingredients)

Bottom Left: Greek yogurt with cinnamon star (I used a star cookie cutter as a stencil for the star)

Bottom Right: Blueberries

In a bag: Tostitos Bite Size chips

My husband ate this cheese quesadilla meal. He loved the special pretzels I made for him and said that I could make them anytime.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Star shaped cheese quesadillas with EasyLunchBoxes shaped quesadilla as the background

Top Right: Strawberries with American flag pick

Bottom Right: Plain and white candy melt covered pretzels with red and white sprinkles

My 17 year old nephew ate this Flag bread among other things at my house one evening.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: American Flag bread with sanding sugar

Top Right: Toasted pecans

Bottom Right: Blueberries and watermelon

My 15 year old niece came up with this fantastic idea to make fireworks out of two types of potatoes.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: Night sky (purple potatoes – mashed), fireworks (white potatoes – mashed)

Bottom Left: Patriotic fruit salad (strawberries, banana, and blueberries)

Bottom Right: Radish

I was inspired by this to make a cream cheese and jelly open faced sandwich for myself. It was delicious!

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Top: Cream cheese, strawberry jam, and dried blueberries on Naan bread

Bottom Left: Cherry tomatoes

Bottom Right: Dried cranberries, slivered almonds

I hope that you enjoyed seeing these ideas and now have some inspiration to make your own patriotic themed lunch, dinner, or snack.