Feeding Tiny Bellies: School Lunches

100+ simple and creative lunch box recipes for kids, from Lily Payen, author of Feeding Tiny Bellies

One day you’re getting ready to feed your little one solids for the first time, and in the blink of an eye, it’s time to send them off to school. It’s an exciting milestone, but transitioning from planning meals and snacks at home to packing and sending daily lunch boxes can be daunting. 

In Feeding Tiny Bellies: School Lunches, Lily Payen, mom of four and creator of Feeding Tiny Bellies, is here to take the guesswork out of packing lunches. She shares her recipes for nourishing meals that use everyday pantry staples, are easy to prepare, and are realistic for a parent’s busy schedule. 

With filling “brunch box” recipes (Everything Bagel Bites), comforting warm lunches (Broccoli and Cheese Soup), creative sandwiches (Tuna Salad Sandwich Bites), and satisfying after-school snacks (Copycat Cosmic Brownies), you’ll never be in a peanut butter and jelly rut again.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs