Need Lunch Packing Advice for Obstinate Son!!

[Christine]

Aaarrggghhh!! My DS (11) is a PITA when it comes to bringing lunches from home.

He attends a private school and, for the first time in the school's history, they've hired a company that caters in a hot lunch everyday ($3.00 per day). Prior to that, a group of parents organized a hot lunch 3 times a day--this would consist of pizza, hot dogs, Popeye's chicken, Mac & Cheese (easy stuff).

Anyway, the food from the catering company is definitey much more balanced. But, of course, there are days that they make stuff that he doesn't care for, so we have to pack a lunch.

Now, in general, my son is not a picky eater. He eats most stuff I cook at home and will try odd stuff, but when it comes to packaged lunches it is awful. He refuses to eat them and throws most of lunch away.

He cannot eat PB&J because he has a peanut allergy.
He doesn't like tuna fish.
He doesn't like lunchmeat sandwiches (he used to).
I've tried making wraps.
I've put leftovers in a thermos (because he told me "other" kids had this and it looked good).
I've tried cold leftovers.

Basically I've tried EVERYTHING that I can think of and he HATES it all.

Part of his dislike, I think, comes from his prior egg allergy where he couldn't have mayonnaise--therefore, he never developed a taste for tuna salad, chicken salad, or sandwiches. For awhile, he would eat sandwiches with mustard but they are no good now.

Last night I got a small sub from Subway thinking he would like this, but he doesn't "like" Subway because he hates lunchmeat.

Oh, and he doesn't like carrots and dip either--at least not at school.

So, I don't know WHAT to do for him.

Can you think of anything I haven't tried?

 

[SC Minnie]

I am DD11 pack on own lunch every morning (with observation of course). If she goes hungry because she doesn't like what's packed its not my fault

 

[Christine]

I am DD11 pack on own lunch every morning (with observation of course). If she goes hungry because she doesn't like what's packed its not my fault

Well, I do make him put his lunch together and I ask him for ideas before I go to the grocery store. Even when I say "what do you want" he says "I don't know, everything is just bad." And he often goes hungry and is STARVING the rest of the night. I'd really just like to find something that he would enjoy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What about the dairy route?Cheese & crackers, yogurt, fruit, pudding, jello.
Thermos stuff like... mac & cheese, soups, spaghettios-type meals, pasta?
Cold pizza & chicken?

The protein portion of the lunch does not have to be significant.

 

[Christine]

What about the dairy route?Cheese & crackers, yogurt, fruit, pudding, jello.
Thermos stuff like... mac & cheese, soups, spaghettios-type meals, pasta?
Cold pizza & chicken?

The protein portion of the lunch does not have to be significant.

I already do yogurt, fruit, pudding, jello. I am a bit "against" the pudding and jello if he's not going to eat something a bit more healthy prior to that. Don't want him on a sugar rush.

We did try homemade spaghetti in the Thermos. Also, he likes fajitas at home so if I have leftovers, I will put the filling in the thermos and give him cheese and tortillas. He comes home with it uneaten (or partially eaten) and tells me that it just tasted awful in the Thermos.

He *will* eat a Lunchable but I've heard those things are awful.

I am also trying to not fill him up with junk and maybe that's the problem?

 

[damo]

My son was the same. So we just did a huge variety of many things. A little bit of this and that. (crackers, cheese, veggies with dip, bread with butter, peeled or sliced fruit) He also liked thermos things.

 

[Marseeya]

Wow, that sounds rough! Is he on any kind of meds that's affecting his appetite or sense of taste? Does he just not like cold foods? What does he eat for breakfast? Might he like breakfast bars or things like that? Protein drinks?

You'd think if he was hungry enough, he'd eat whatever he had! Could it be that he's just not hungry at lunchtime, but then gets hungry later and is starving by the time he gets home?

 

[CathrynRose]

Aaarrggghhh!! My DS (11) is a PITA when it comes to bringing lunches from home.



Can you think of anything I haven't tried?

Ah ha.... my son has a twin! Lord knows how my child grows... he rarely eats anything. No allergies - just a butt-nose when it comes to pickiness. I 2nd the other posters mentioning him putting it together on his own.

That being said....

I buy -
Yogurt (which can be frozen overnight and will thaw to normal by lunchtime)
Saltines, butter and American Cheese "sandwich's"
String Cheese
Cereal (in a bowl with a lid - and buy the little carton of milk, at school)


Hope some of these help.... this is the staple of my youngest's diet. ANd the kid is the tallest in the class with feet as big as mine (age age 10!!!)

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

My DD likes salads..I bout those little plastic cups that I put dressing in...
She likes Chef Boyardee so I have heated that and put it in a thermos...how about Mac and cheese in a thermos..

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am also trying to not fill him up with junk and maybe that's the problem?

What do you mean by that?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

if he likes lunchables...try cutting the lunch meat with cookie cutters so it is in neat shapes....
I think kids like Lunachables because they are "cool" but they are FULL of salt and preservatives!

 

[Jennasis]

You can't have your cake and eat it too ( no pun intended...i think...). You either want him to eat SOMETHING or not. So I think you might have to sacrifice healthy here just to get him to eat ANYTHING.

1. Let him pack his own lunch. If he won;t eat it then and "starves" the rest if the nigh then that's his own fault and then he'll have to try something different the next day.

2. Don't worry about healthy vs. junk food right now. He's obviously going through a "picky" phase. Just let him figure out what he'll eat.

 

[Christine]

Wow, that sounds rough! Is he on any kind of meds that's affecting his appetite or sense of taste? Does he just not like cold foods? What does he eat for breakfast? Might he like breakfast bars or things like that? Protein drinks?

You'd think if he was hungry enough, he'd eat whatever he had! Could it be that he's just not hungry at lunchtime, but then gets hungry later and is starving by the time he gets home?

He does take meds for ADHD; however, he also will take them on the weekend and they don't effect his appetite when at home. Although, they could be taking the edge of a bit, I suppose.

I think part of it is that he doesn't like cold foods. He enjoys most of the hot lunches that the caterer provides. We've tried the thermos but that doesn't seem to do it for him.

For breakfast he usually has a bagel with cream cheese, pancakes and bacon, or cream chipped beef (that is my morning repertoire). He rarely eats cold cereal but will for a "snack."

As far as breakfast bars, most are not peanut safe so I can't go that route. Don't think he'd do a shake.

I think I'm going to try to push the crackers/cheese route. He also likes string cheese.

 

[Christine]

What do you mean by that?

What I meant about the junk remark is that I'm trying to give him very little junk food in his lunch. I don't want him to eat jello/pudding/yogurt (let's face it, yogurt has now become a dessert) without know that he is eating something wholesome (like wholegrain bread with a lean meat).

 

[DVCLiz]

Time for him to do his own lunch shopping. Give him a budget (is $20.00 about right for a week's worth of lunches?) and drop him off at the door of the grocery store (sit in the car and read a magazine while you wait.) Mkae him responsible for his lunch meals - both shopping for and preapring.

Honestly, he's not going to suddenly say, "Mom! I just had some great ideas about what you can get for my lunch!!" So remove yourself from the battle. Make it his responsibility. If he's starving, them he'll have to learn that there is a relationship between what he chooses and how hungry he feels throughout the day.

If he complains, simply say, "Yes, it was too hard for me to make decisions for you, too. How are you gong to handle this issue?" Then walk away. He'll either figure out five simple meals he can fix and eat, or he'll really be hungry for your dinner!!!

I hope you don't think this is mean-spirited - it's not meant to be at all. 11 year olds are tricky, aren't they??? You sound like a great mom - but this is a a fight you won't win, so let him be in charge of it for a while.

 

[diznygirl]

If he eats Lunchables, send him with that. Don't feel guilty - just make sure he eats more healthy stuff at home. At least he won't be hungry in school. That's more important, in my opinion, than worrying about sodium content. And doesn't sound like it would be happening everyday.

Sometimes the foods in a thermos end up with a metallic taste - yuck!

Good luck!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well...the title of your thread is "obstinate son" and it may be that both of you are the "obstinate" ones.

He probably wants to have junk food like everyone else. I think you can find a balance somewhere in there.

 

[Christine]

Time for him to do his own lunch shopping. Give him a budget (is $20.00 about right for a week's worth of lunches?) and drop him off at the door of the grocery store (sit in the car and read a magazine while you wait.) Mkae him responsible for his lunch meals - both shopping for and preapring.

Honestly, he's not going to suddenly say, "Mom! I just had some great ideas about what you can get for my lunch!!" So remove yourself from the battle. Make it his responsibility. If he's starving, them he'll have to learn that there is a relationship between what he chooses and how hungry he feels throughout the day.

If he complains, simply say, "Yes, it was too hard for me to make decisions for you, too. How are you gong to handle this issue?" Then walk away. He'll either figure out five simple meals he can fix and eat, or he'll really be hungry for your dinner!!!

I hope you don't think this is mean-spirited - it's not meant to be at all. 11 year olds are tricky, aren't they??? You sound like a great mom - but this is a a fight you won't win, so let him be in charge of it for a while.

No, I don't think it's mean-spirited at all. In fact, there have been days that I said "Look, if you don't know what you want to eat, *I* certainly don't know. I've packed you a turkey sandwich, if you don't like it then you will starve." Those are my "tough" days. Then I have the days where I think, maybe I should try some different things because it is important to eat throughout the day and he needs some kind of food--don't they say that helps with your schoolwork?? So, I wrestle with it. Plus, I work outside the home and my DS has his breakfast at 5:30 a.m.. His lunch is at noon. That is a long time to go without food.

 

[Christine]

Well...the title of your thread is "obstinate son" and it may be that both of you are the "obstinate" ones.

He probably wants to have junk food like everyone else. I think you can find a balance somewhere in there.

Of course! Where do you think he gets it from!

I do think I'm balancing. I don't like giving him chips and a Ho-Ho everyday, but I do--I just want him to eat his sandwich and there must be one sandwich on God's green earth that he can like??? So, if he won't eat the sandwich or the thermos pasta, then I don't want to put the Ho-Ho in the lunch bag.

 

[SC Minnie]

Sounds like he is trying to be 'cool' at school and saying what is packed is gross is 'cool'

I make DD pack a healthy lunch but she is allowed to slip at least one 'junk' food too. Today she took chips. She might take fruit snacks another day. But she also had homemade mac&cheese in a thermos and carrots. She likes the go-gurt stuff too (don't know how she eats that crap) but at least she getting a little calcium.

Pick your battles.