ISO Kid's lunch ideas...

[cotomom]

My kids are so picky, I'm running out of ideas for their packed school lunches.

So, I thought I'd come to the experts

Here's what I've done so far this year:

cheese and crackers
peanut butter and crackers
cut up apples
carrots and dip
grapes
blueberries
spagetti o's or mac n cheese in a thermos
popcorn
prepackaged treats for dessert

They won't eat sandwiches or soup and really just want the chips/cookies/fruit snack 'junk' food...

Many thanks in advance for any help!!!

 

[Rebecca12345]

Snacks for lunch:

pretzels

mini muffins

biscuit sandwiches (turkey or ham, cheese)

choc covered raisins

ranch dip for veggies (they have mini disposable covered containers that can be reused but not a big deal if lost)

boiled or deviled eggs

string cheese

bagels w/ cream cheese (the mini ones are fun)

yogurts

lettuce wraps (fill with meats)

mini pizzas (or sliced)

nuts - peanuts, pistachios, cashews..

trail mix : kids can make their fav combinations & bag it up for a weeks worth of snacks - using cold cereals, cranraisins, or reg raisins, a few mini m& m's, pretzels, nuts, etc..

My kids used to freeze their capri suns then it acted like a cooler for their sandwiches & was sometimes even still slushy for lunchtime umm - works with water bottles/juices too - just drink a sip beore you freeze for expansion )

fruit leather

jerky or pepperoni stick

mini cinnamon roll

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Good luck! Sorry I don't have any good ideas...I'm the only one in my family that routinely packs lunch and it is generally based on a turkey sandwich....

Gave up on kids when they went to middle school and we do the hot lunch from the cafeteria routine. They know most of what is served, including the supposedly "healthy" options is on the junkier side, but it is easier than trying to get them to pack it....and DS can leave campus for lunch if he wants as a junior so I know he wouldn't eat a packed lunch even if I did it!
Deb

 

[MerryPoppins]

My kids like pigs in a blanket, made with biscuits and little smokies.

They also like soft breadsticks split lengthwise (sort of like a hot dog bun) and stuffed with string cheese, a tiny bit of squeeze pizza sauce and pepperoni. We microwave til hot and wrap in foil. They call them pizza sticks. Leftover cold pizza is always a hit, too.

Have you tried ravioli in a thermos? Or meat and cheese kabobs with fruit? Or even beanie weenies? How about sandwich wraps made with tortillas instead of bread for a change? Or cheese melted on tortillas and cut into wedges?

My daughter likes to take grilled cheese. It's not warm by the time she eats it, but she says it's still really good. Sometimes I add tomato soup for one of her favorite meals.

Whip up a block of cream cheese with a small jar of marshmallow creme for a great fruit dip.

If there is a ranch or onion dip that your kids like, they might enjoy fresh veggies and some dip.

 

[MerryPoppins]

a few more ideas:

send taco meat in a thermos, a baggie of cheese/lettuce/tomato, and flour tortilla for a build your own taco meal

send a small bag of fritos, chili with grated cheese in a thermos for frito chili pie

leftovers in a wide-mouth thermos

chicken strips

If you have a meat grinder you can grind ham, roast, chicken or turkey and add enough mayo to make a sandwich spread. Add pickle relish and grated cheese if desired. This can be served on crackers, bread, pocket bread or tortilla. When I make mine, I do a large amount of meat and freeze the plain meat in smaller baggies. That way I don't have to mix up a lot at one time. This is great if your kids have braces on their teeth because when their teeth are sore it's hard to bite and chew.

 

[sconnell]

send taco meat in a thermos, a baggie of cheese/lettuce/tomato, and flour tortilla for a build your own taco meal

I saw a neat idea for using a small baggie for two items. You put the first item in (the lettuce) and then zip the bag and turn it so it falls to one side of the bag. Then, tie a pipe cleaner like antenna. unsip the empty side and add the other item (cheese). Ta-da! A butterfly food bag.

 

[cotomom]

Thanks you guys! You've given me some great new ones to try!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

When my kids were little, I used to boil a hot dog in the morning and pour the hot water into their thermos, add the hot dog, and secure the lid. I would include a bun in a baggie and add packets of catsup/mustard. They loved having a hot hot dog for lunch. Before long, many kids at the lunch table were hotdogging it too! It's not the most nutritious lunch going, but they thought it was fun.

Tink

 

[MerryPoppins]

DD tried a new lunch yesterday. I had some leftover, boneless pork chops that I had grilled. They were the thin cut kind. She sliced them into pork chop fingers and took them to school with a leftover tub of sweet and sour sauce from McDonalds. She said they were great! Just thought kids might really like the dip thing with meats.

 

[merfsko]

I stay at my K-8 shcool for lunch, and although I'm older then your kids, I still have some good ideas:

*If they like any type of canned food: Ravioli, Tuna (no mayo), etc. the just put that into the thermos, uncooked.

*Pizza Pockets/Pops cooked before hand, wrapped in tin foil keeps them warm and I've seen kids grade one tthorugh grade eight eating them. They're really great.

*Same goes for Chicken Fingers and Fries.
I know this isn't all exactly the healthiest lunches, but helathy snacks can make up fir the lunch

Hope I was of some help.

 

[cotomom]

Thank you! Some more great ideas! Can't have enough of them!!!