school lunch

[monamcmona]

There has got to be a thread out there with school lunch ideas.. but I couldn't find it.

My lovely 2nd grader goes back to school next week!!  and I'm in need of some healthy.. kid friendly lunch ideas.  I let her eat in the cafeteria way too much last year, and this year I need to be on top of my game.

Complicated part: She does not have access to mircrowave or a fridge. .

Non Complicated part: She has No allergies or diet restrictions

Her usual lunch (when I pack it) includes a meat sandwich.. but I would really like to cut down on the processed deli meat. So let your ideas flow......... 

[OkiMom]

Google "bento box ideas" There are some awesome ideas there that might work for you. When I don't have an 18 mo using me as a jungle gym Ill think of some of the things that work for us when we picnic.My kids don't like deli meat so staying away from that will be a breeze

[nyssaneala]

ETA: This is a great source for ideas. http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/04/19/school-lunch-roundup/

I have a worksheet I made divided into 3 categories for school lunches: Main, Fruit & Veg, Dairy &/or Grains

For each meal, I generally pick one thing out of each category to come up with a weekly meal plan. I then generally base my own lunch off of what I choose for DD. If the main includes a grain (rice, tortilla, etc), I usually choose a dairy product (cheese, yogurt) from the 3rd category, and vice versa. I always plan my lunch after I have hers figured out for the week.

It may sound like a lot of food, but I give it to her in small amounts. For example, the deli flat sandwich I usually cut out a shape with a cookie cutter. If I would give her the whole sandwich, she would usually be too full to eat the fruits and veggie sides.

DD is also a very slow eater, so I try to pack foods that are not as time-consuming for her to eat. She loves soups, but I hardly ever pack a soup for lunch, because it takes her such a long time to eat it.

For example, this week is:

Monday

DD: Diced, roasted sweet potato and black beans, strawberries, and zucchini bread

Me: Roasted sweet potato and black bean salad with greek yogurt dressing and tortilla strips

Tuesday

DD: Deli flat ham & cheese with lettuce sandwich, cucumber, fruit kebabs, sesame sticks

Me: Same sandwich with carrots and fruit

Wednesday

DD: Ak Mak crackers with hummus, carrots and green beans, "princess" yogurt (greek yogurt with pureed berries in it)

Me: Smoothie, Ak Mak crackers and hummus

Thursday

DD: hardboiled eggs, zucchini bread, yogurt with frozen blueberries, bell peppers

Me: Egg salad sandwich and salad

Friday

DD: Chicken quesadilla (planning on using leftover chicken from dinner the night before), kiwi, cukes or bell pepper

Me: Quesadilla and green bean salad

[ollyoxenfree]

My kids like wraps. For slow eaters, they are a fairly quick and easy way to eat what is essentially a well-rounded main meal nicely and neatly  presented in a tortilla. You can fill the wrap with rice or quinoa or rice noodles, some chunked up veggies, some cut up cheese or chicken or tuna, and a condiment or dressing. DD likes chicken Caesar salad wraps. You can use wax paper or parchment paper to help keep the rolled up shape. 

They also used the thermos a lot, usually filled with hot pasta but there are lots of options for thermos lunches. 

[Anca]

My daughter loves spreads so I make her healthy ones like lentils spread with cucumbers and sweet pepper, chickpea spread with tomatoes, Almette cheese (it is European, not sure if it's US too) with whatever veggie she wants, soy and mushroom spread. I always add a fruit or chopped fruits plus I give her to choose between an yogurt and a cereal bar. 

[colemom]

School lunch is tough. Beside the food not being high quality at most schools, the lunch period is so short and I don't want my kids losing some of their play time because they were standing in line. I think kids need more recess! So I pack most of the time (I let ds buy twice a month) and aim for foods that are filling, nutritious and can be eaten quickly. 

My lunches aren't very exciting, but they always have these parts:

1. Entree: sandwich (pb&j, lunchmeat and cheese, grilled cheese), triscuits, cheese and salami, 1/2 sprouted wheat bagel with cream cheese and sometimes turkey, quesadilla, pita and hummus, something warm in the thermos once a week (raviolis and sauce, mac&cheese, special leftovers)

2. Fruit: halved and cored apples, quartered oranges, grapes, trimmed strawberries

3. Frozen natural yogurt tube or cheese stick

4. Snack: wheat pretzels, pirates booty, popcorn, granola bar, homemade muffin or cookie

5. Water bottle

My ds has a funtainer water bottle (no leak with a straw), a funtainer thermos, a wrap-n-mat for sandwiches, and a set of reusable bags with a sandwich size bag (I use for snack) and a snack size bag (I use for fruit). This all fits perfectly in a standard size LLBean lunchbox.

[nyssaneala]

Originally Posted by colemom 

 1/2 sprouted wheat bagel with cream cheese and sometimes turkey, 

Where do you get your sprouted wheat bagels? We buy sprouted whole wheat english muffins and sprouted corn tortillas, but I have never seen bagels!

[colemom]

Originally Posted by nyssaneala 

Where do you get your sprouted wheat bagels? We buy sprouted whole wheat english muffins and sprouted corn tortillas, but I have never seen bagels!

Trader Joes! I love that place :)

[monamcmona]

thanks everyone!  great ideas. 

[nyssaneala]

Originally Posted by colemom 

Trader Joes! I love that place :)

THANK YOU!

Somehow I have missed that product there. We usually buy bagels at a local bagel shop, but I would give these a try. I  TJ's, and I was actually planning on stopping by there tomorrow!

[CA Country Girl]

Colemom-

Sounds about exactly like our lunch menu.