Home packed lunch ideas for kids

[Hellothemouse]

I took it out of the freezer around 9:30 and put in a cheese stick and a tomato (it just happened to be on the counter) and set the Pack-It. We had been out all day so I didn't get to check on it every few hours like I had hoped. I checked on it at 5pm and the cheese stick was warm. No way would it be edible. The tomato felt slightly cool, however. But that was only 6.5 hours and it says it will go for 10 hours. I will be adding an ice pack to it when I pack lunches for school.

Thanks for letting me know!

 

[discnewbie]

My dd likes "banana roll-ups". Tortilla, spread with cream cheese and jam, with a banana wrapped up in it. I put it inside plastic wrap so the banana ends won't brown. It sounds a little weird but she eats it! And with her that is an accomplishment!

 

[fakereadhed]

My dd likes "banana roll-ups". Tortilla, spread with cream cheese and jam, with a banana wrapped up in it. I put it inside plastic wrap so the banana ends won't brown. It sounds a little weird but she eats it! And with her that is an accomplishment!

I will try it! I usually try stuff at home first and see if it works.

 

[bookworm0312]

There's a company called Laptop Lunches that sells bento boxes, BUT, they also have some links on their web page (just google it, I wasn't sure about posting the link) they have links for menus, recipes and pictures of bento box ideas. Although the separate containers are nice, you wouldn't HAVE to have a bento box to use these ideas!

 

[hoffmann2828]

Don't forget Cherry or Grape Tomatoes. No Worries about them getting bacteria and great for them.

 

[2disneyboys]

last school year, my oldest... well he took those (in my opinion) nasty frozen bean and cheese burritos almost EVERY day for the entire school year... aside from the fact that I think they are nasty I would get totally bored eating the same thing for lunch for 4 days a week (friday is always a "buy @ school day as they do taco's or pizza..) I would put them frozen into his lunch box in the morning w/ a frozen bottle of water and by lunch time, the burrito was thawed enough that it didn't take forever for him to microwave and the water was thawed but still cold. He would also have some chips or fruit or veggies.
my youngest, well, he'd prefer just having cut up fruit and veggies (no dip!) does not care what fruit or what veggie.. he'll eat any of it. he would also take homemade pasta salad (wheat pasta, cut up veggies, cheese crumbles, and some sort of cold meat (turkey, chicken, ham, etc) with an italian type dressing.. he loved this. I bought one of those bowels where you put the whole thing in the freezer and it has that "gel" that freezes.. I'd put the pasta salad or fruit in the bowel and it would stay cold until lunch time.

my youngest must have a cast iron stomach though.. once he "snuck" in a small container or milk and then drank if AFTER school with no bother... you know it was totally hot... gags me to think about it... if I even drink "moo juice" it has to be icy cold... ugh...

 

[cassandrap83]

If you search on flickr.com or pinterest.com you will find tons of ideas!

Here's my 'board' on pinterest of ideas I would like to try:
(I don't get points or money -- or any incentive at all for clicks)
http://pinterest.com/cassandrapeindl/kids-lunch/

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

My DD has this
http://www.shopfitandfresh.com/detail/TCL+355KFF

But I got our's at Homegoods I love that place!!

Well really it's this:
http://www.shopfitandfresh.com/detail/TCL+373FF10KIT

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

If you search on flickr.com or pinterest.com you will find tons of ideas!

Here's my 'board' on pinterest of ideas I would like to try:
(I don't get points or money -- or any incentive at all for clicks)
http://pinterest.com/cassandrapeindl/kids-lunch/

The PBJ sushi looks so cute!

 

[Hellothemouse]

Has anyone used these? I might get them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

 

[fakereadhed]

Has anyone used these? I might get them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

I have the cheapo Ziplock version(Target) that is practically the same thing. Yes, the lids warp in the dishwasher. But they snap back on- so who cares? I have used mine for over a year and they're still going strong. DH likes to take dinner leftovers in them too.

 

[fakereadhed]

Confession time. I have a lunch obsession that might surpass my WDW obsession. I have all the cute egg molds except Stitch and Mickey. I have a drawer+2 baskets full of Bento boxes and lunch containers. I have a drawer full of picks, dividers, snack containers, and food markers. If anybody needs a review of anything, chances are I have it.

Today I picked up one of these at Marshall's.

http://www.smartplanethome.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=EC-34L

 

[Hellothemouse]

I have the cheapo Ziplock version(Target) that is practically the same thing. Yes, the lids warp in the dishwasher. But they snap back on- so who cares? I have used mine for over a year and they're still going strong. DH likes to take dinner leftovers in them too.

Do they leak?

 

[fakereadhed]

Do they leak?

No. But I do find that any reusable container may not get closed by my child on the return trip home. That's the downfall of reusable containers.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

Confession time. I have a lunch obsession that might surpass my WDW obsession. I have all the cute egg molds except Stitch and Mickey. I have a drawer+2 baskets full of Bento boxes and lunch containers. I have a drawer full of picks, dividers, snack containers, and food markers. If anybody needs a review of anything, chances are I have it.

Today I picked up one of these at Marshall's.

http://www.smartplanethome.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=EC-34L

Does anyone have a small container that holds mini carrots on one side and ranch dressing on the other?

 

[mumto2]

DD13 is an adventurous eater. Some of her favorites:
California rolls
Noodle salad (mix in tofu, edamame, assorted veggies, use wholewheat pasta)
Black bean wraps with grilled corn, havarti, sprouts, greens and avocado
Turkey bacon blt wrap
Chicken breast and havarti wrap

DS6 is very picky. He is also in a peanut free environment. Some of his favorites:
Amy's Mac and cheese in a thermos
Sliced ham rolled up and skewered with a pretzel stick (idea stolen from the sample lady at the deli)
Chicken and rice in a thermos
Gardein chickn tenders (he doesn't realize they are veggie, and he loves them, so )

I buy larger jars of unsweetened applesauce and put it in single serving containers. Peas make a good lunch side at my house, as well as yogurt (I blend plain greek with fruit to keep sugar down, then freeze in single servings which are thawed but still cold by lunch).

I love some of these ideas too! We start back this week and I am trying to figure out if I have any containers and lids that match (even though I have a ton of each, just nothing that fits together, lol), so I'm going to check out Marshalls and HomeGoods - thanks for the tip!

 

[erinmomof2]

I love this thread. There are so many great ideas!

 

[Plantlady]

Ah, packing lunches.

Every year, I try to find that perfect lunch that makes my kids run home and thank me for the delicious meal.

 

[Liberty Belle]

My son has sensory/texture/smell issues, so he's very picky.

Thursday his lunch consisted of strawberries, turkey bacon, motz cheese stick, and a few crackers.

Friday: Apple slices, turkey pepperoni, motz cheese stick, Quakes (little rice cakes).

Some other things I pack:

orange slices
baby carrotts
chips and salsa
cheese and shells (in thermos)
chips (as a treat - not often)
sugar free jello cups
goghurt
cereal in a bowl (and he will buy milk from the school to add to it)
popcorn chicken in thermos
grapes


Can't think of what else right now, but there are a few more things.

 

[MaggieBailey]

I don't have my own kids, but I'm a nanny and in the summer spend 14 hours a day with "my" girls, and in the school year get them off the bus and tucked into bed - mom gets home in time to give them a bedtime kiss... So we spend lots of time together! Lol! They love to freeze Go Gurt to take, as well as getting creative with things to put into a tortilla as a sandwich. The like to make their own trail mix - we put oatmeal, almonds, and craisins on a cookie tray, sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon and bake for a few minutes at 350, and mix it up a few times, just til the oats get crunchy. We then mix in a little drizzle of honey on the whole tray, and one girl like a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips, and the other likes a few white chocolate chips in hers. We put it in bags and then it's ready to pack!