How to keep a sandwich warm (school lunch)?

[Kim&Chris]

My poor co-worker. She has a son that is entering kindergarten (full day) this week. She says that ALL he eats is grilled cheese sandwiches. He won't eat lunch meat, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fruit...or anything else that kids typically like. In fact, she says she takes him to McDonalds in hopes of him TRYING something new, and he refuses.

So, it looks like she's going to have to pack grilled cheese sandwiches for him. Any ideas how to keep them warm?

I suggested wrapping them in tin foil (after cooling for a bit), and she's afraid it'll become soggy.

I figured that maybe some of you "experienced moms" might have an idea!!

 

[tlbwriter]

What a coincidence...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2784150

 

[Kim&Chris]

Thank you!

 

[Swan4Me]

This is what I think-

send him with a cold cheese sandwich-he'll live


In fact-being exposed to a couple dozen kids who

eat a variety of different foods may help this kid expand his horizons

 

[Missy1961]

This is what I think-

send him with a cold cheese sandwich-he'll live


In fact-being exposed to a couple dozen kids who

eat a variety of different foods may help this kid expand his horizons

I agree. She's asking for trouble if she gives in on this. Isn't there a poster here whose husband only eats grilled cheese, mozzarella sticks & some other kiddie food? The time to broaden his horizons is now.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Well, unless he also eats those for breakfast, dinner and snacks, he doesn't just eat grilled cheese sandwiches. I think she probably just needs to think outside the box a little. I've seen plenty of kids bring in breakfast foods for lunch (cereal, bagels etc...) or things such as yogurt, cheese etc... I had one student who made a meal everyday out of lots of different types of snacks. Just a thought....

 

[Kim&Chris]

Well, unless he also eats those for breakfast, dinner and snacks, he doesn't just eat grilled cheese sandwiches. I think she probably just needs to think outside the box a little. I've seen plenty of kids bring in breakfast foods for lunch (cereal, bagels etc...) or things such as yogurt, cheese etc... I had one student who made a meal everyday out of lots of different types of snacks. Just a thought....

Well, I'm not there when my co-worker fixes meals for this kid, but she has often said "he'll only eat grilled cheese sandwiches". I NEVER hear of other foods being consumed by him (except, maybe, french fries).

I agree...once he sees other kids eating better food (and a variety of food), I do believe he'll cave and try other things. He's going to have to :-(

 

[grafxgirl]

I teach preschool and had a girl in my class who was extremely picky (ate strawberries, go-gurt brand yogurt, and sliced cheese on a bagel). Our preschool requires the kids to eat the lunch served at the school unless there is some medical reason to have a packed lunch. The mom used to give into her, but when this situation arose she had no choice but to make her daughter expand her food palette. The girl kicked and screamed, but soon realized she had no choice. After a while, she willingly began trying the foods on her own and discovered she liked pretty much everything that she ate.

It's funny how that worked out because my pediatrician once told me that if a kid gets hungry enough he will eat what you give him no matter how picky he is.

 

[SpecialK]

I teach preschool and had a girl in my class who was extremely picky (ate strawberries, go-gurt brand yogurt, and sliced cheese on a bagel). Our preschool requires the kids to eat the lunch served at the school unless there is some medical reason to have a packed lunch. The mom used to give into her, but when this situation arose she had no choice but to make her daughter expand her food palette. The girl kicked and screamed, but soon realized she had no choice. After a while, she willingly began trying the foods on her own and discovered she liked pretty much everything that she ate.

It's funny how that worked out because my pediatrician once told me that if a kid gets hungry enough he will eat what you give him no matter how picky he is.

My niece was the same way twenty years ago and went to a pre-school with the same policy. She never at one bite while she was there - never.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Well, I'm not there when my co-worker fixes meals for this kid, but she has often said "he'll only eat grilled cheese sandwiches". I NEVER hear of other foods being consumed by him (except, maybe, french fries).

I agree...once he sees other kids eating better food (and a variety of food), I do believe he'll cave and try other things. He's going to have to :-(

Well, you're a good friend to try and help out. Hopefully she'll find a solution.

 

[Coconut36]

Well, I'm not there when my co-worker fixes meals for this kid, but she has often said "he'll only eat grilled cheese sandwiches". I NEVER hear of other foods being consumed by him (except, maybe, french fries).

I agree...once he sees other kids eating better food (and a variety of food), I do believe he'll cave and try other things. He's going to have to :-(

I believe parents tend to enable their children when they say things like "they will only eat.." (obviously not counting in children with feeding/texture/sensory or other issues). They eat what you allow and what you offer. Most kids would eat crappy food if given free reign to do so. (my Mom by the way is a horribly picky eater and says without a doubt in her case it is because her parents never expanded her horizons. If she said "eh" they said "OK go eat what you like" and she has spent much of her adult life trying to "retrain" herself and strongly regrets that they didn't step up and parent and stick to their guns regarding meals/food choices (and don't get me wrong..I recognize there are times when a person..even a child has an item they generally do not like but for me and my kids at least it is very clear when it is a power play or when it is a genuine dislike). As another aside..I can't imagine it is a healthy balanced diet for a growing body to eat only grilled cheese. If it was me I would be speaking to our Ped and depending on the discussion and attempts to change the behavior follow up with a feeding therapist. Growing bodies need a variety of nutrients.

Personally the old food handling classes in my background speculate you could keep it sufficiently warm without greatly increasing the risk of bacteria/food borne illness. I would not risk it if it was my child..the risk of illness from food kept improperly warm would not be worth them getting to eat what they "want" every day.

Putting aside the why I would say I would be very uncomfortable in sending a food like that because I can't see how it could be kept at proper warm temperatures and food sitting too long as "warm" but not warm enough is a breeding ground for bacteria/illness. I would go with an insulated lunch box/carrier and cold packs and cold foods or have him buy the hot lunch at school.

ETA-How long would the sandwich need to be "warm". For example I have lunch packed up at say 7:45 and my ODS doesn't get lunch until until 11:30..so his food has to maintain for just shy of 3 hours.

 

[canopynut66]

My poor co-worker. She has a son that is entering kindergarten (full day) this week. She says that ALL he eats is grilled cheese sandwiches. He won't eat lunch meat, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fruit...or anything else that kids typically like. In fact, she says she takes him to McDonalds in hopes of him TRYING something new, and he refuses.

So, it looks like she's going to have to pack grilled cheese sandwiches for him. Any ideas how to keep them warm?

I suggested wrapping them in tin foil (after cooling for a bit), and she's afraid it'll become soggy.

I figured that maybe some of you "experienced moms" might have an idea!!

wrap with paper towel first then foil and that should do it it may melt some cheese on to the paper towel but won't hurt the sandwich

 

[mamacatnv]

I'm with PP - the idea of trying to keep a sandwich warm until lunch gives me the heebie jeebies.

I'd make a cold cheese and leave it at that. If he doesn't like it, he won't starve to death by missing lunch

 

[Swan4Me]

Putting aside the why I would say I would be very uncomfortable in sending a food like that because I can't see how it could be kept at proper warm temperatures and food sitting too long as "warm" but not warm enough is a breeding ground for bacteria/illness. I would go with an insulated lunch box/carrier and cold packs and cold foods or have him buy the hot lunch at school.

.

She really needs to rethink this

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I'm wondering if grilled cheese is really the only food he will eat or just the only "main course" he will eat. If he will eat "side dishes" like crackers, yogurt or even dry cereal, I would send those types of things for his lunch. Many kids in my preschool class bring a bunch of little things for their snacks but no real "main course." My kids are special needs and many have food issues, but they seem to do just fine without a sandwich or a warm meal at school.

If grilled cheese is truly the only thing he will eat, I would make an extra sandwich the night before, put it in the fridge overnight and send it cold. If he's hungry enough, he'll eat it. If he's not, he can eat when he gets home. I will also add that if the child is really picky enough that he will only eat one food item, there might be an underlying cause that needs to be investigated.

 

[design_mom]

My nephew is a very picky eater. Grilled cheese is one of the few things he will eat. It's not the *only* thing, but he actually prefers it in his lunches.

SIL tried it several different ways in his lunch box. Wrapping it in foil did make it soggy. Now she cools it before she puts it in his lunch box and he eats it cold. Apparently crispy-but-cold is preferred over warm-but-soggy.

 

[manning]

It's amazing what you will eat when you are hungry.

 

[minkydog]

My poor co-worker. She has a son that is entering kindergarten (full day) this week. She says that ALL he eats is grilled cheese sandwiches. He won't eat lunch meat, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fruit...or anything else that kids typically like. In fact, she says she takes him to McDonalds in hopes of him TRYING something new, and he refuses.

So, it looks like she's going to have to pack grilled cheese sandwiches for him. Any ideas how to keep them warm?

I suggested wrapping them in tin foil (after cooling for a bit), and she's afraid it'll become soggy.

I figured that maybe some of you "experienced moms" might have an idea!!

Oh, lord. A cheese-eating snowflake. Tell her to wrap it in foil. If it gets soggy, too bad. He'll either eat it or not. I imagine if he goes hungry a few days he will branch out his food habits. It will not kill the kid to skip lunch. She brings McDonald's to school because she's afraid he won't eat? I suggest he won't eat because he can manipulate his mother into buying him high fat, high carb, high sodium junk food, the short highway to obesity. Why would he want to eat a varied diet when he can just refuse and get his way? If she doesn't get with the program *now* this kid will never change his eating ways. I have limited sympathy for parents who won't get some gumption and serve their kids healthy meals. i guarantee you, no child of normal intelligence would willingly starve themselves longer than 3-5 days.

 

[hambirg]

It's amazing what you will eat when you are hungry.

I will bet my last nickel, there is not one Somali kid sitting in a refugee camp in Kenya claiming he only eats toasted cheese sandwiches.