Major Frustration: I need new ideas for my kid's school lunches... please help!

[princessmomma]

I have just run out of ideas for my kids lunches. They have informed me they do not want sandwiches anymore! They used to love ham and cheese and peanut butter and jam, not anymore! I also went through a phase where they wanted Campbell's chicken noodle soup, so I purchased those wide-mouthed thermoses and that was a hit for a few months.

I try to pack something from each food group, grapes or apples, yogurt or cheese strings, carrots or cucumbers, (they both enjoy all these), but I can't think of new ideas for the grains (except sandwiches).

Any suggestions!

 

[momof2inPA]

, but I can't think of new ideas for the grains (except sandwiches).

Any suggestions!

Crackers? There are a million kinds out there. Maybe cheese and crackers? Lunchables? Bagels? My son eats cream cheese bagel sandwiches for lunch all the time. Waffles? Pancakes?

 

[Rebecca P.]

Pita triangles with dip. I have friends that send hotdogs in a thermos! Crossisant sandwiches.

Rebecca

 

[coinkc]

My daughter went on a kick where all she wanted was cereal. So I just packed a plastc bowl and spoon and a baggie of cereal. Then she bought a carton of milk and was happy as could be! It only lasted a few weeks till she wanted something else.

 

[Southern4sure]

I make Pb & J sandwiches using Nilla Wafers. You youngest loves these with a banana. He also likes celery with PB and raisins on top...we call them ants on a log.

Southen4sure

 

[christinadei]

You could do rollup sandwiches, get different wraps, spinach, tomato basil, etc. (don't tell them whats in them) but they'll like the colors. I also like the ideas of crackers with cheese or cheese and meat like lunchables.

 

[buckeye]

My daughter also loves wraps, but of the less exotic type. I put a bit of shredded cheese on the tortilla, microwave for about 10 seconds, then add ham/turkey and some lettuce. I pack a freezer pack with it.

My kids also think a sandwich is more special when made on a bun. They like turkey and cheese on a bun.

Some kids bring cold pizza to school for lunch--mine aren't fond of that, but I think I'd like it!

 

[princessmomma]

Pita triangles with dip. I have friends that send hotdogs in a thermos! Crossisant sandwiches.

Rebecca

Do you stuff the pitas with anything?

Thank you for all the suggestions. I think my kids may like the wraps. Also the hotdog in the thermos, my son would go for that. My daughter has done the cereal for lunch thing (they eat lunch soo early that her teacher has Special K with berries every day).

Thanks again!

 

[rsschneck]

I try to be somewhat healthy when it comes to DD's lunches. She gets tired of sandwiches too. I have purchased the frozen crustables and she likes those. They are still sandwiches, but look different. She likes the chicken noodle soup too with goldfish crackers. She likes Spaghetti O's (check the labels because some are okay). She likes the Chef Boyardee 98% Fat Free Raviolli. I haven't tried cheese and crackers because she does not like cheese.

I love this thread! I hope to get some new ideas myself!

 

[jenr812]

Great ideas in this thread! My kids are getting quite tired of sandwiches too. Thank God there's only 6 weeks left in school. Thanks for all the ideas

 

[disneyfan551]

This is a great thread! I've been struggling myself, since my 3yo dd just started a private school recently. She's used to a hot meal for lunch, and the few times I've sent spaghettios or something similar, she says it isn't hot when she eats it. Granted, she's 3yo so I'm not sure if that's the truth or not!

So far, I just send peanut butter, cheese or bologna sandwiches cut into Mickey Mouse "heads". She also loves cucumbers & ranch dressing, so I send that some days. And, of course, some type of chip or fruit, like applesauce/peaches.

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Have you ever tried having the deli cut the ham really thick (about 1/4")? Then we cut the thick slice into strips for ham sticks.

 

[HookdonWDW]

I'm always trying to change out ds's lunches. Let's see... trying to think of some of the things I've packed that aren't already listed...

How about chicken burritos? Kind of like a cold soft taco. I slice up leftover chicken, and roll it in a tortilla with chopped lettuce, tomato and cucumbers.

Ritz cracker pizzas - I pack pepperoni, crackers and shredded cheese in seperate baggies. Sometimes I'll add a little container of "homemade pizza sauce to put on the crackers.

Fruit salad makes a nice change.

Nachos w/ toppings and salsa

Tuna and crackers

Cucumber boats - cut a cucumber lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Then fill the middle of the cucumber with your favorite filling - I usually use chicken or tuna salad, but you could do ham or egg salad.

If you have a hot lunch bowl/bottle, try sending in leftovers for lunch. If I'm feeling particularly generous, I'll make some Easy Mac (because you can make one bowl at a time), and add chopped ham and broccoli. he likes it because I don't make "instant mac & cheese" at home, and I feel okay, because I get the green veggie in .

 

[beth_cam]

My DD doesnt actually like sandwiches. She will however eat all the parts separately. So I end up sending buttered bread in her lunch box with a slice of chees or ham on the side. My brother used to take tuna salad and crackers. My daughter has taken a regular salad before.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My daughter likes to take a garden salad with some string cheese and a little container of mandarin oranges and some crackers. My son hates sandwiches so for him I pack pepperoni, Ritz crackers, and cheese with some fruit and veggies.

Oh, and to help keep them cold I freeze their drinks (not completely, just enough so they'll still be thawed, but cold, by lunchtime) and some frozen gogurt.

 

[java]

Just yesterday my daughter tried a sandwich for the first time- always wanted bread and meats separate..well she hated it! I am lol because as she tells her story my ds says oh I always just take it apart and eat it. So all these years I thought he was eating his sandwich-he was taking it apart.
Now this same dd goes through lunch cycles- when she wants only Ramen noodles for lunch(I'll pack carrots/yogurt drink in there too)
or just cereal trail mix- bunch of cereals mixed together(cheerios/kix/ricecrispies/honeycombs)
or pastina in a thermos with salt and butter
or thankfully she will buy one day a week.

My DD doesnt actually like sandwiches. She will however eat all the parts separately. So I end up sending buttered bread in her lunch box with a slice of chees or ham on the side. My brother used to take tuna salad and crackers. My daughter has taken a regular salad before.

 

[princessmomma]

Wow, thanks so much everyone.

I am writing these suggestions on a sticky and keeping it on my refrigerator!

Great ideas!

 

[mum4jenn]

Just curious........


Do any of your kids school serve school lunch????? Most schools that have food service have really great lunches. Lunches have changed a great deal from the days back when the parents went to school.

Can you tell that I am a manager of a school lunch program????? Tee Heeee!!!! I have been the head manager at my school since the end of January and we have 547 students and we have a school lunch participation rate of over 95%!! The kids LOVE our food!!!!!!!!

 

[marissat]

Had to add one of my son's favorites

I roll out bread really thin and then smooth a layer of PB&J on it and roll up and slice into "sushi". I pack it in a tupperware container. He thought these were great.

and Grahm crakers with fluff or PB or both


Marissa

 

[disneyfan551]

mum4jenn...I WISH they served lunch at my dd's school! I just feel like she isn't eating very nutriously. I'm making a list with everyone's ideas though, to post in the kitchen! BTW...my dd never liked sandwiches either, but she thinks she is special having Mickey or other shaped sandwiches at lunch every day! (especially since they aren't supposed to have characters on their lunch box, shoes, sleeping bag, etc... )

Come on DISer's...give us some more ideas!!