Lunch box snack and meal ideas?

[LadyMarmalade]

Do you have to pack a lunch for your school child/ren?

Our school doesn't have a cafeteria, but it offers home cooked healthy meals (they have a weekly special - this week it's a vegetable quiche and yoghurt popsicles for dessert - it's $3.50 a serve). We can't afford to buy these every day, so my kids get a packed lunch and recess. My 5 1/2 year old is a really s l o w eater and is struggling to get through his packed lunches. He eats slowly at home, too (and is very picky - he eats a lot of the foods he likes, but refuses to eat anything which isn't a favourite). Though the school heavily discourages it, some of the kids take 'packets' (ie little packets of cookies, little packets of chips etc). It's not against the school rules to take them (they're going to implement it soon, for environmental and health reasons) so some parents are still doing it. These are easy - I know most kids would gobble them up, but I'm coming to the end of my repetoire - cheap, healthy snacks which are quick to eat (and aren't too messy).

Dairy in the lunch box is out - even though he's got an insulated pack yoghurt would still be a bit yucky after a few hours in the summer heat.

Here's what he had today:

carrot sticks with peanut butter for dipping
a home made wholemeal apricot muffin (it came home)
an apple (it came home)
a sandwich (half of it came home)
a home made cookie
a drink (it came home - he prefers to drink water from the bubblers)

I try to put lots of food in his lunch box so he can choose, but he doesn't seem to be interested in much. Have you got any suggestions for me please?

I've tried making bread scrolls (came home untouched) and I've even tried buying granola bars (came home with one bite taken out of it - the school doesn't like these either because they're individually wrapped and they're big on reducing rubbish). I know he won't let himself starve, but I'm so used to his older brother (who eats anything in his path with gusto).

Thanks

[mamajama]

It's a challenge coming up with interesting luches *that they'll eat* isn't it.
I hope this turns out to be a helpful thread for us all.
hmmm, I'll add some of my ideas.
You can get a little ice packet to put in his lunchbox next to dairy items that taste best cool.

I have little tupperware-type containers that I use frequently. I usually put a variety of finger foods in one container. I find that they eat more that way because they seem to think "well I liked *that* so maybe I'll give *this* a little nibble". In the containers I'll put:
Cheese cubes
rice crackers
mini bagels
cut up veggie dogs, hot dogs or luncheon meats
cut-up fruit
other crackers
raisins
dried fruit
nuts
-------any combination of the above
-mini pizzas that I cook up the night before.
-veggie-dog, or hotdog in a bun with a little packet of ketchup.
-Sometimes in the container I make a little fruit salad topped with yummy yoghurt. Frozen blueberries seem to make that a hit.
-You can freeze smoothies so that by lunchtime they're slushies and filled with good stuff and added bonus, they keep the lunch cool.
-I also buy bigger jars of applesauce etc. and put those in smaller, reuseable containers for the lunch-kit.

That's all I can think of right now.

ooo I just thought of one more:
you can buy really little reusable containers for dips. I put salad dresing in them and give stick-veggies.

[kewb]

Right now, all my ds wants is a sandwhich so that's what we pack-every day-with a bottle of water & a fruit.

In the past, however, I have packed a thermos with soup, veggies and dip, sushi, leftover pasta, bagel & cream cheese & yogurt, granola bar, and sometimes a small thing of chocolate covered raisins.

I forgot, sometimes chicken nuggets.

[LadyMarmalade]

Oh wow, there are some EXCELLENT ideas, mamas! Thanks!!!

[bubsmom]

Sorry I don't have a lot of ideas but I can tell you what my system is. I do like some of the ideas already posted. I was sending my 5 year old in with a plastic drink box that was filled with about 6 ounces of juice each day. It kept coming back almost every day. I asked him about it and he said it was too much. I started filling it to 3 or 4 ounces and he drinks it every day now. I have also found the same works for snacks. Kids really do not need large servings and sometimes when they see too much they don't even want to try it. I do this with other meals too. I have tried telling him that he doesn't have to finish but that never works. Limiting the qty has always worked much better. I have those small tupperware containers that seal great for dips, fruit, etc. I also found that if I buy snack size ziplocks it controls my portion size better. my older sons lunch box has a plastic tray that sits inside it to protect food from being crushed and it has a movable divider to keep the soft stuff from getting crushed. Instead of ice packs I freeze the juice the day before and make sure I take it out and pout it in the lunch box the night before so it thaws in time. I did stop that for a while since it is pretty cool here it was staying staying frozen some days. I have also sat down with my 5 and 8 year olds to discuss lunches and snacks. I asked them what they do and do not like and for suggestions from them. I got a lot of great ideas, I never even thought about bagging up the unused popcorn from movie night until they mentioned it. I have to ask them every few weeks since they get bored sometimes. This is what I do for snacks. For lunches (only the 8 year old has lunch at school) I have a set schedule of what he is having (oddly enough my 5 year old insists on following it). I always know that it is soup on monday, sandwiches on tue, raviolli (yuck) on Wed, sandwich on thur and he buys pizza on fri. That saves me a lot of stress. I found a great thermos that is about 4 inches high and has a wide mouth to it that works great for the hot stuff. I have a laminated paper on my fridge with the days of the week printed on it. I write in the meals with a dry erase marker so the kids (and DH when he wants to help out) can see it. I have all meals listed there (helps with shopping too). Alright this was way more than I planned on writing. I hope someof this helps and thank to the other posters for your ideas.

[mamajama]

Thanks bubsmom, that's really helpful! Pretty inspiring that you're so organised! I aspire to that, it must make things easier.

I like the thermos idea.

[erika h]

My daughter (6) like pretty much the same school lunch day in day out:

1 banana
1 apple juice box
1 bag of Cinnamon Crunch Cereal
2 cheese sticks

The dry cereal sometimes gets replaced with pretzels or cheese crackers. Most of the time, she polishes it of.

If you can't seem to find a winning formula, stick with the items your son eats, and keep swapping the others until you find something he likes. Ask for his input too.

[kennedy444]

Have you asked your son if he is not eating because he is not hungry at that certain time of day? Sometimes what is going on around him maybe more interesting than eating. He can always eat a big, healthy snack once he gets home.

Like another poster here I too buy large bags or jars of stuff and place individual servings in the lunch box. Drives me nuts to pay so much extra for chips, cheese crackers, fig newtons, cookies, etc. in small packets.

[bubsmom]

Thanks mamajama. I have only been like this for about a year. It came out of nessecity since I work second shift and DH works 2 jobs. We have to co-ordinate everything for the aunt and grandparents that babysit. I actually started off with flylady and just adapted it to fit me better. For x-mas I got a label maker and laminated so it is now kind of fun. Anyway, I have a question. How much time are your kids given for snack? Mine gets 15 min total, including unpacking. I am going to start a new thread on this since I have other questions so you can answer there.
Thanks.

[mamajama]

I'll visit your other thread.

Today I am putting chicken pies in their lunch.
Just thought I'd add that 'cause it's not on my list.

[StellasMommy]

This site has interesting ideas:Vegan Lunch Box There are links there to some of her recipes.
Also some links here: Laptop lunches

[LadyMarmalade]

These suggestions are awesome! Thanks so much

[oceanbaby]

Originally Posted by StellasMommy

This site has interesting ideas:Vegan Lunch Box There are links there to some of her recipes.
Also some links here: Laptop lunches

Aaaah! I love that veganlunchbox site but it always makes me feel like the world's biggest loser mom!

Some things I pack for ds in his lunch:

Hard boiled egg
Beans and rice
Quesadilla
Nuts - almonds, walnuts, etc.
Raisins
Steamed green beans
Apple slices
Orange slices
Strawberries
The typical pb&j or turkey sandwich
Yogurt
Pasta
Bagel and cream cheese
Grapes

[mamajama]

ooo quesadilla...that's a good idea.

(I shouldn't read this thread while I'm so hungry. I want one of you Mamas to pack *me* a lunch )

[LadyMarmalade]

Yum yum.

Someone on another thread mentioned spinach nuggets - I just made a recipe request on the nutrition board and will copy it over if someone replies. My son would love spinach nuggets, and I'll definitely try making some for his school lunch box.

I had a REALLY exciting conversation this morning - I was working at our local organic shop (similar to Whole Foods in the US) and my son's deputy principal came in. She came straight up to me and asked why I wasn't promoting the organic shop more at the school - she offered us space in the newsletter to advertise and took a whole bunch of pamphlets to put in the staff room. She said she wants parents of kids sensitive to preservatives (ADHD / behavioural problem triggers) to be encouraged buy their bread from us because it's all hearth fired without chemicals, and she said the shop could tie a lot of its philosophies (ie cutting back on packaging, eating whole foods etc) in with the stuff they're teaching at the school. She's a bit proponent of caring for our environment and our health, so I was THRILLED! Then she told me how wonderful she thinks my 8 year old is, so I glowed for ages afterwards

I'm so excited that my kids are getting the same message from school and home. The school (at the pushing of our government) is going to implement a policy where junk is only allowed at the tuckshop for two days a term (that's once every 5 weeks). Also, the food the kids can order for their daily lunch has to undergo a strict checklist (ie can't have a fat content over a certain percentage, has to be home made from fresh whole ingredients etc). I'm just so happy my kids are hearing such an important message from everyone they look up to (ie us and the teachers). It really is a brilliant school.

[kewb]

Your school certainly sounds proactive on the nutrtion front.

My school talks about good nutrition and has made changes to the school lunch menu to be more nutritious and initiated a healthy kids fitness program during recess. I would have an easier time buying into it if that Giant Coca-Cola machine wasn't in the lobby for the kids to pass a minimum of 2x a day. The students are not allowed to use it but coca-cola still gets free advertising to 6-10 year olds. It makes me so angry.

[mamaduck]

We have lunchbox size ice packs that keep dairy items cold all day.
DS likes to take

- a yogurt and things for dipping. Apple slices, animal crackers, etc. Or a little container of granola and a spoon, with space to pour the yogurt in.
- bean and rice buritto (tastes fine cold)
- a little salad with cheese and sunflower seeds
- mixed nuts and yogurt covered raisins
- humus in a container, with things for dipping. Apple slices and pieces of pita bread.
- cold pasta
- hard boiled egg
- crackers and cheese

It is hard to come up with ideas though!

[2kids4now]

What an awesome thread. You have inspired me to sit down with my 7 year old again and figure out what to do with lunches.

I've sadly let him do the school lunches, because I'd pack a lunch and everything but a bite or two of his sandwich would come home. He'd be starving when I pick him up and eat nearly everything in his lunch pail before we get home (it's less than 10 minutes home).

I really think it's a "I don't have time to eat because I want to play" thinking, but it can't be good for him while trying to learn after lunch time.

I'll be checking out the other links provided in this thread!
May

[MOM2ANSLEY]

If you arent opposed to plastic dishes, buy a few of the small plates with 3 compartments with lids(I get them a dollar stores) and put 3 different treats in the 1 plate...maybe ds has trouble deciding which item to open/eat first. This way he has a variety all at once. As for yougert...if he likes it, you could freeze it , and it should be thawed by lunchtime.
And I agree with the post above, maybe ds is not hungry at lunchtime