Home packed lunch ideas for kids

[My2CrazyGirls]

With school starting up, I am trying to think of some new and different lunch ideas. What are some main items and snack items you send in? I'll start.

Main items

sandwiches
meat and cheese roll ups
mac and cheese in thermos
soup in thermos
crackers and cheese


Side items

yogurt
pudding
carrot sticks
piece of fruit (apples, bananas, plum etc.)
fruit snacks
graham crackers


I need more ideas! We don't do lunchables as they are full of artificial ingredients.

 

[stsomewhere]

My daughter likes to take meat and gravy.

On Sunday, I put a roast in the crockpot (either beef or pork). When it is done cooking, I shred it up with gravy.

I will heat it and fill her thermos with it M-Thurs.. She buys pizza on Friday.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Did you guys hear about the new study that showed high amounts of bacteria in school lunches brought from home. Here is the link.
http://health.usnews.com/health-new...es/2011/08/08/are-kids-brown-bagging-bacteria

It definitely was an eye opener. Most people think that an ice pack will keep the lunch at the right temp, but they are wrong. The Today show had a really good story on that topic on Monday with great suggestions on lunches that would be healthy and resistant to bacteria.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Did you guys hear about the new study that showed high amounts of bacteria in school lunches brought from home. Here is the link.
http://health.usnews.com/health-new...es/2011/08/08/are-kids-brown-bagging-bacteria

It definitely was an eye opener. Most people think that an ice pack will keep the lunch at the right temp, but they are wrong. The Today show had a really good story on that topic on Monday with great suggestions on lunches that would be healthy and resistant to bacteria.

What lunches would resist bacteria? Peanut butter and other non perishables? My daughter did not get sick once all year and i packed her lunch every day. Often cheese and ham/turkey, yogurt, etc. If your child has not had a problem i would not worry. In fact my used packed my lunch without any ice packs for years.

I think we are MUCH more likely getting sick from restaurant food.

However, I appreciate the link, it does make me more cautious and I will not forget the ice packs The thermos's are great to keep things hot or cold so they are a good option to keep at desired temperature.

 

[fakereadhed]

I've been using this for a while and can't remember where I got it. Great when you run out of ideas!
http://www.scribd.com/mobile/documents/27831174/download?commit=Download+Now&secret_password=

I have a variety of cookie and sandwich cutters to keep sandwiches interesting.

Stickers also help! I add them to generic raisin boxes or apples and oranges so they don't come home at the end of the day.

My DS doesn't like bananas, so I cut them in 1/2 and put them on plastic Popsicle sticks from the $1 store. He hates bananas, but loves bananasicles.


I'm not a morning person(major understatement!)so I pack the night before. I try to freeze juice, yogurt, and applesauce to help keep things cool along with the icepack. For warm things in the thermos, I heat and fill it right before school.

 

[Bearshouse]

My kids also love:

Salad w/ a small container of fat free dressing
Pitas (turkey, chicken or even veggie)
Any of the leftovers from the night before (use thermos)

Then of course we do some processed food:

Tyson Chicken patties cut and rolled in a tortilla with cheese and lettuce
applesauce


Ironically my DS only gets sick when he eats in the cafeteria at school.

Bearshouse

 

[Nik's Mom]

You know, I forgot what meal suugestions they gave. My kids will only eat peanut butter sandwiches or a hot meal from the cafeteria. Maybe try The Today show website.

One thing I remember as a suggestion was fruit that wasn't cut up. It's great if it isn't a prblem for you. Hopefully the link will help someone. A lot of people don't practice good kitchen hygiene. Not because they don't care, but because they don't know.

 

[mjantz]

My DD packs her own lunch. She loves a salad so we fill a container with this & that & a separate container of dressing. She packs the night before & sticks in a cold pack in the AM so I can't believe it gets too warm.

 

[prncess674]

string cheese
single serve cottage cheese cups
beef jerkey
cucumber slices with a side of hummus

 

[las3888]

My friend bought a container from Old Navy that she intends to use for her DS who is pretty picky. It lets you put cold cereal in one part of the container and milk in the other part, and then it even comes with a spoon. I thought it was a great idea for picky kids and I might try it once in a while to mix things up a little.

 

[Hellothemouse]

I've been using this for a while and can't remember where I got it. Great when you run out of ideas!
http://www.scribd.com/mobile/documents/27831174/download?commit=Download+Now&secret_password=

I have a variety of cookie and sandwich cutters to keep sandwiches interesting.

Stickers also help! I add them to generic raisin boxes or apples and oranges so they don't come home at the end of the day.

My DS doesn't like bananas, so I cut them in 1/2 and put them on plastic Popsicle sticks from the $1 store. He hates bananas, but loves bananasicles.


I'm not a morning person(major understatement!)so I pack the night before. I try to freeze juice, yogurt, and applesauce to help keep things cool along with the icepack. For warm things in the thermos, I heat and fill it right before school.

How do you keep the 1/2 banana from turning brown in his lunch box?

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

Here are some of my dd's fav's

Hot in a thermos
Teryaki chichen and rice
Hot Dog
Shells and Cheese ( she likes trade joes white cheddar shells)
Soup

Cold
Bagel w/ cream cheese and strawberries
Salad
Apple w/ peanut butter
Hawiian sweet rolls filled with lunch meat
Cold roasted chicken drumsticks
Cold chicken fingers
Chicken salad sandwich
BLT or Turkey BLT

 

[fakereadhed]

How do you keep the 1/2 banana from turning brown in his lunch box?

I cut it in half with the peel on, and the exposed part gets placed flat against the Popsicle base and doesn't turn brown. I usually cut a bit off the top to make it easier to peel, but not enough to expose the banana.

 

[budafam]

Great ideas... subbing since DS is starting full day school this year and we'll be needing to pack his lunch

 

[wishesuponastar]

I just read this idea today that we are going to use....pepperoni slices, cheese cubes and olives

We pretty much have the kids buy lunch every day. It's affordable in our schools and they get to pick a cold or hot lunch. Maybe once a week, DD-10 will take p.butter and banana and I know she'll like the above "pizza lunch"

 

[Hellothemouse]

I cut it in half with the peel on, and the exposed part gets placed flat against the Popsicle base and doesn't turn brown. I usually cut a bit off the top to make it easier to peel, but not enough to expose the banana.

Oh! Thanks I don't know why I was thinking you were using just the plain wooden sticks. Thanks for the tip!!!

 

[fakereadhed]

Oh! Thanks I don't know why I was thinking you were using just the plain wooden sticks. Thanks for the tip!!!

HTH!

 

[AntePrincess]

Our kids aren't school age, but we picnic all the time, so here are some ideas from there:

Hot soup in a thermos (everything from borscht to chicken rice) with cold, steamed green beans and tomatoes on the side plus a hunk of bread.

Fruits, cheese, and a hunk of bread.

Baked potato with fillings on the side, or leftover twice baked potato, fruit and a bean salsa.

Grilled thin sliced meat on a stick, carrot and celery sticks, and apples slices with peanut dipping sauce. (Usually made from leftovers.)

Chickpeas, rice and sausage with a little salsa all cooked together with a bit of cheese on top.

Homemade pastie (hand sized pot pies), usually made with leftover shortcrust dough and leftover stew, meat or sausage. I DO NOT put jam or other sweet filling in one half. I'm not that brave.

Pickles a-go-go: pickled beets, pickled hard boiled eggs, a pickle on a stick, pickled mushrooms... Usually with three color (caprese) salad: mozz, tomato slices and basil.

BLT sandwiches, no mayo, with pickles and chips.

I know I can come up with more later.

 

[scootch]

We do the cereal(and send money in for carton of milk alot as my dd is not much into sandwhiches. If you are allowed peanuts, they are good protein source as well as string cheese.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

How about some Phinneas & Ferb lunches?

http://susanyuen.wordpress.com/page/2/

and the rest of the gang.

http://susanyuen.wordpress.com/