Home packed lunch ideas for kids

[anna08]

Just a little something different -

genoa salami rolled up with creamed cheese inside
sliced apples with almond butter to spread/dip (but not in nut-free schools)
pretzels sticks with creamed cheese to dip
olives or pickles
thawed edamame (not in shells)
cottage cheese

I like to throw one (just one!) piece of a small candy in one of the containers -
one swedish fish or a jelly belly or an M&M
it's their mini-dessert and my signature "love you" treat
they love hunting for it

 

[cdrn1]

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.

When I was a kid, I worked in the summer in mint and potato fields in the hot sun. My dad packed me a lunch, including a lunchmeat sandwich (with Miracle Whip), an apple, a Twinkie, and a frozen can of soda. It would sit on a hot bus in the hot sun from 6 am until noon, and then I would take it out and eat it. The sandwich would always be warm and squishy; if I was lucky it had a slice of cheese or Velveeta on it that would be all melty. Man, that was good food! Never, ever got sick! I sure don't condone that, but your post made me think of that!!!

 

[kayrosek]

I'm always looking for good ideas for lunches. I worry about how healthy school lunches are but also my son is always hungry after lunch at school. He's not an overweight kid by any means (almost zero body fat, practically solid muscle) but he has a big appetite. The docs and I were speculating that this might have a little to do with his constant stimming (he's on the Autistism spectrum). That kid never sits still not even when he's falling asleep. Anyway's he prefers lunch from home and usually goes through stages where he wants the same thing everyday for awhile. Last year he liked make your own sandwich packs. I simply packed everything that he would need for a sandwich individually (it did allow me to put meat closer to the ice pack) and he put his own sandwichs together. He loves jello and goghurt and any type of fruit so those are always sides. This year my new creative idea is kabobs (foods always more fun on a stick) with grape tomatos, cheese cubes and olives, he'll probably get a dill pickle or two as well. I think I'll also add beef jerky to my list. He loves that so I'm sure he'll be happy. Occasionally for a treat he might get nachos with a container of queso and a container of chips, think I'll make homemade pico for this too. I'll probably switch that up every once in awhile with peanut butter and nutella sandwichs (not in a nut free school) but I'd love any other ideas.

 

[braysmommy]

My DS5 loves whole wheat tortilla with peanut butter and honey which I cut up into smaller pieces. I also buy the large tubs of stonyfield farms yogurt i place in small Tupperware for him sprinkled with a few chocolate chips. He also like pepperoni slices, cheese and cucumber slices to make mini sandwiches. He will only eat bread with peanut butter and jelly. I also pack chocolate milk a couple times a week which he thinks is a special treat. Going from 3 day a week pre school to kindergarten I need to come up with some ideas....thanks for the great tips!

 

[sunshine1178]

I sympathize with all of you who are trying to pack nut-free lunches. My son is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, fish, eggs, corn and apples. His daycare has done an amazing job of feeding him safely for three years, so now that he's starting full-day school, I have a tough act to follow!

The daycare rarely serves sandwiches for lunch; it's mostly hot meals. I'm thinking that that may be the easiest thing for me to do, also. I bought a wide-moth thermos container, and I'll try to heat a safe meal for him each morning, with crackers or bread. So, I have the opposite problem of most of you -- keeping the food hot until lunch!

 

[java]

Thermos trick- make sure you prewarm the thermos- with some boiling water. Keeps it warmer longer.

For keeping things cold I just bought these things
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.tpl.csweb.cm_scid.cswb.item.K31534

But I see they are now sold out. I'm going to use them for cut up fruit.

We do bento sometimes too- It's more work to put it together but once you get into the hang of it it goes quickly. Smaller snack size containers allow you to get a variety of items in. They might not eat a cup of broccoli- but they might eat 2 florets and some carrots. Favorite bento for my boys was homemade chicken nuggets, grapes, florets, carrots, rice balls oh and the orange face. Shoot I think I'm going to have to bento again this year.

Crackers, cheese and fruit
cereal trail mix- I do cheerios, rice crispies, corn pop type of cereal, with a couple mini marshmallows thrown in for fun.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I'm always looking for good ideas for lunches. I worry about how healthy school lunches are but also my son is always hungry after lunch at school. He's not an overweight kid by any means (almost zero body fat, practically solid muscle) but he has a big appetite. The docs and I were speculating that this might have a little to do with his constant stimming (he's on the Autistism spectrum). That kid never sits still not even when he's falling asleep. Anyway's he prefers lunch from home and usually goes through stages where he wants the same thing everyday for awhile. Last year he liked make your own sandwich packs. I simply packed everything that he would need for a sandwich individually (it did allow me to put meat closer to the ice pack) and he put his own sandwichs together. He loves jello and goghurt and any type of fruit so those are always sides. This year my new creative idea is kabobs (foods always more fun on a stick) with grape tomatos, cheese cubes and olives, he'll probably get a dill pickle or two as well. I think I'll also add beef jerky to my list. He loves that so I'm sure he'll be happy. Occasionally for a treat he might get nachos with a container of queso and a container of chips, think I'll make homemade pico for this too. I'll probably switch that up every once in awhile with peanut butter and nutella sandwichs (not in a nut free school) but I'd love any other ideas.

Where do you buy the kabob sticks? That sounds good!