Need Lunch Packing Advice for Obstinate Son!!

[grlpwrd]

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).

Well, the only kids that get to use the microwave are the kids whose parents work at the school. Their parents fix their lunches in the office, heat them up, and then bring them out. All while the other kids look on. I'm not crazy about that, but hey, what am I going to do? He's mentioned that a few kids get to eat Lean Cuisine's or heated leftovers because their parents work at the school.

At first I thought he had strictly allergy and sensory issues with food, but now I think part of it could be the comparison factor. Who would want to choose to eat a homemade lunch compared to a catered lunch for $3 and some kids who are able to use a microwave to eat something yummy? I know if I was a kid looking at the alternatives I wouldn't.

Have you let him choose foods that he could pack? Like make a list of what he would actually eat plus what you think he should be eatingand go from there? Yes, his input could make a major difference.

Also, I try to make exciting and healthy foods so they will actually eat it. I have 3 older dd's and I try to make things they like. I did actually resort to buying a few books on lunches off of amazon.com and some cookbooks for healthy and/or vegetarian kid-friendly foods. They eat wraps, Asian stirfries and noodles, spaghetti and meatballs, banana bread, homemade breads, soups, etc.

BTW if he takes things in a thermos are you heating it up properly with hot water for about 5 to 10 minutes and placing the warmed food in it? That helps keep the food warm - as I don't think I'd buy a $80 cooler just for that. lol There are steel thermos that are bit pricier than the plastic one's and they do a great job. I got my dd's one's from an Asian store and I know stores like WalMart sells them.


GL!

 

[golfgal]

At our house if someone wants to bring a cold lunch THEY have to pack it the night before. We do have a hot lunch option daily though. Personally, I would just butt out of the whole thing. Make it his responsibility to pack his own lunch, make him do his shopping like someone else said and let him be responsible for that. If he is eating a healthy breakfast and a healthy dinner, a little junk at lunch isn't going to hurt him in the slightest. Sometimes we as parents think that if we send a bag of Doritos in a lunch we are bad parents. We need to remember that kids need more fat and calories then we do as adults for their brains and bodies to develop properly.

I remember watching 20/20 or similar program where the parents got fed up with the kids and their picky eating so they let the kids pick out what ever they wanted at the store and let them eat what ever they wanted, when ever they wanted. Of course the kids were having ice cream for breakfast, cake for lunch, etc. for about a week. The next shopping trip the kids were picking out apples, oranges, good food. The kids all said they felt terrible when they at only junk. I thought that was one of the smartest parenting decisions I ever saw.

I have never made a big deal out of what my kids ate. I buy healthy stuff and some junk food. The apples and oranges are gone LONG before the chips, etc. are. I think by obsessing about what the kids eat we do more harm then good. Let him make his own choices and eventually he will settle on a mostly healthy lunch.

 

[golfgal]

Insulated bags would keep a microwavable dinner warm/hot until lunch time. I have one for a casserole pan from Pampered Chef that will keep food warm for hours. I am sure you could find something like that. You could also get those hot/cold pack things and stick one of those into the insulated bag. My guess is with that combination his food will be at eating temp at lunch time.

 

[Nancy]

Hmm...I'll have to experiment with that.

He also may very well be trying to be cool. One of his complaints is that, by lunchtime, he sandwich is mushy. This, despite the fact that I put the sandwich in a hard container and away from moisture. So, yesterday, my husband had him wrap his bread separately from the meat (it was homemade roasted chicken breast). He did eat the meat, but gave his bread away. That doesn't really bother me, just confuses me? What's up with that?

Maybe he just doesn't like the bread? Sandwiches aren't his thing.

Kids and food are fun.I have a 13 year old that makes the weirdest sandwiches. One is mayo on white bread, the other is ketchup and crushed potato chips. She started making ketchup and mayo sandwiches when she was still in pre-school (she made her own). My 17 year old nephew takes a lunch everyday..his Mom makes him a grilled cheese sandwich every morning! He eats cold grilled cheese and 5 oreos every day for lunch. My kids buy everyday, I have no idea what they buy. Sometimes they pack a lunch, I haven't made their lunches since they were in 1st or 2nd grade. I give them $10.00 per week, they eat what they choose.

 

[ItsonlyExperiment626]

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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."

If he is alright with eating a bagel and cream cheese, I would just give him that for lunch too.

 

[Christine]

If he is alright with eating a bagel and cream cheese, I would just give him that for lunch too.

I had said earlier that he only likes his bagels toasted, and almost burnt. He won't eat soft ones.

Today he decided he would bring in one of those Uncrustable Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. We heated it up this morning, wrapped it in foil, and put it in his pre-heated steel thermos. I'm really curious to see how that works!!

 

[momof2inPA]

My son (also with a peanut allergy) takes pudding, yogurt, cereal bars, sometimes bacon, bagels with cream cheese, waffles, chips, fruit leather (the only real fruit he eats is strawberries) and milk money most of the time. He basically eats breakfast for lunch, but he's not going hungry.

 

[mchames]

My VERY picky DD6 has been on an interesting kick:

BRIE and french bread (or crackers), grapes, blueberries & raspberries or apple slices (I sprinkle a little Fruit Fresh on them so they don't get brown) and a bottle of water. It's pretty funny to see this little kindergartner pull out her hunk of french bread and wedge of brie from her butterfly lunchbox. I sometimes throw in a cereal bar or a bag of goldfish. I limit the "junk" I put in her lunch because often she'll eat that first and not "have time" to eat her healthy food.

She doesn't like sandwiches either and is not a big fan of deli meat. Other things we've tried are: a tortilla with shredded cheese, organic yogurt (less sugar) and cheese cubes or string cheese and whole wheat crackers. It was much easier when she was in pre-school and they had access to a microwave.

DD8 is much less picky and most days brings a ham or turkey sandwich, organic yogurt and fruit. She also likes: flatbread with hummus, cucumbers, tomatoes and feta cheese, a tortilla with shredded cheese and sliced chicken or a hardboiled egg and some cheese cubes or string cheese.

Mary

 

[Mishetta]

I think you have your answer right there....he's on ADHD meds. My DS (10) is too (& my 4 y/o DS also for that matter), & even if it's something he normally likes, he's not interested at lunch time. So beef up his healthy eating at breakfast (my DS eats great at B-fast time), & just let him snack for lunch. Time permitting, I'll make my DS a cheese omlette but when we're rushing, he gets oatmeal or cereal (Special K, Corn Flakes, Cheerios, Rice Chex) or granola bar. Sometimes he just wants toast with butter so then I try to give him a fresh fruit too. Or I've given him yogurt with granola sprinkled in it. My DS doesn't really get hungry till about 7pm, & that's okay since that's about the time we eat dinner daily anyway. I do pack my DS 2 slices of Roast Beef (only lunchmeat he'll eat right now) on one slice of bread cut in half & some cucumber & either an orange or 1/2 (huge Fuji) apple or grapes & sometimes I throw in a bag of chips but he usually brings those home unopened....along with a bag of fruit snacks. He sometimes eats most & sometimes hardly anything. It's the luck of the draw. As his neurologist & pediatrician have told me "feed when hungry."

If your DS is hungry when he gets home from school (I'd be surprised), then make sure he's eating a somewhat healthy snack.

We used to call my 4 y/o the "goat" because he'd eat anything in sight & will try anything....unfortunately now that he's on the ADHD meds, his appetite has curtailed too. Funny thing is that I'm also ADHD & sometimes take my meds (usually only if I have something important to attend ~ like doctor's appt for my kids or a school meeting where I'd like to "absorb" what is going on & be able to sit still & not keep interrupting anyone) & I'm still as hungry as ever after taking my pills. Go figure!

I know it's maddening....I wish you the best. I live your life everyday with picky eaters & it's not easy. Isn't it fun to plan dinner too?

 

[Christine]

Actually, his ADHD meds don't have much of an effect on him. He has a pretty big appetite and they do curb it a bit, but he is still hungry. He tells me his is hungry at lunch. He gets home at 3:30 everyday and immediately asks "what's for dinner?" and "what are we having?".

I want to thank everyone for all the ideas. I've gotten some great ideas for smaller snack-like things and I will be picking some stuff up at the grocery store this weekend. Thank goodness he's "buying" for the rest of the week.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Couldn't you toast a bagel until it's almost burned and then send it in his lunch?

I'd vote for leaving out the bread. If you want him to get a grain, do it another way or send something like a muffin, banana bread, pretzels or tortilla.

Then experiment with meats he likes. Would he eat leftover chicken, roast or ham? Maybe cut them in cubes and serve with cheese and fresh fruit? Ask him which lunchables he likes and maybe you can build your own with things he likes.

 

[Christine]

Couldn't you toast a bagel until it's almost burned and then send it in his lunch?

I'd vote for leaving out the bread. If you want him to get a grain, do it another way or send something like a muffin, banana bread, pretzels or tortilla.

Then experiment with meats he likes. Would he eat leftover chicken, roast or ham? Maybe cut them in cubes and serve with cheese and fresh fruit? Ask him which lunchables he likes and maybe you can build your own with things he likes.

Not a chance on the pre-toasted bagel.

His favorite Lunchables are the pizza ones, which he apparently will eat cold.

 

[CathrynRose]

I want to thank everyone for all the ideas. I've gotten some great ideas for smaller snack-like things and I will be picking some stuff up at the grocery store this weekend. Thank goodness he's "buying" for the rest of the week.

I had suggested creal in a tupperware container, then he just buys a carton of milk at school - I didnt want this lost in the shuffle, cuz when I finally had this , it was a Godsend, for my super dooper picky son!

Give it a shot - just remind him to put the bowl and lid in the sink when he gets home. We forgot this past Christmas Break, and didnt find it until the evening before school began again -

Stinky - to say the least.

 

[Christine]

I had suggested creal in a tupperware container, then he just buys a carton of milk at school - I didnt want this lost in the shuffle, cuz when I finally had this , it was a Godsend, for my super dooper picky son!

Give it a shot - just remind him to put the bowl and lid in the sink when he gets home. We forgot this past Christmas Break, and didnt find it until the evening before school began again -

Stinky - to say the least.

Thanks, I will give that a try. He does like Life Cereal at least, so I can try that. Now, getting him to bring the bowl home is another matter.

 

[mum4jenn]

Just get some of those Gladware bowls. They are super cheap and if he brings it home fine and if he trhows it away it is cheap enough to be ok with it. I think ziplock make them too and there are several in the pack.

 

[Disney Doll]

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

This would work for me. My guess is that after a few days of being hungry, he's suddenly learn to like a lot of stuff.

 

[SoonerKate]

Vegan Lunch Box is a daily blog showing what one mom packs for her son every day -- even though you may not be vegan, there are LOTS of great, adaptable ideas!

 

[bigmerle1966]

Thanks, I will give that a try. He does like Life Cereal at least, so I can try that. Now, getting him to bring the bowl home is another matter.

Another idea would be to put the cereal in a plastic bag and send a styrofoam or plastic disposable bowl. That way you don't have to worry about any of it needing to come home. I do that with salad, I have a package of plates in a drawer at work.

I have had one to many times of forgetting to take the lunch bag out of the car on Friday night and lettuce after a couple days is nasty and sometimes the smell won't come out of the container.

 

[Christine]

My guess is that after a few days of being hungry, he's suddenly learn to like a lot of stuff.

Oh, he does that already and it hasn't changed him. He comes home with an uneaten lunch.

 

[Bearvet]

DS10 likes the big soft frozen pretzels. They are in the freezer section near the pizzas. I take 1 or 2 out in the AM, sometimes leave plain or you can add a little water then sprinkle with the salt that's included. Put them in a Ziploc and they're thawed by lunchtime. Add a string cheese, some fruit and dessert and there's lunch.