school lunch packers, looking for different ideas.

[Indiana Rose Lee]

http://lunchinabox.net/2006/06/22/williams-sonoma-for-egg-molds/

 

[misled3]

Tuna, Egg or chicken salad in a halved yellow bell pepper instead of bread
Sunflower butter and jelly/honey sandwiches
cold chicken tenders from the deli at the grocery store
string cheese rolled up in ham or turkey slices

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Tuna, Egg or chicken salad in a halved yellow bell pepper instead of bread
Sunflower butter and jelly/honey sandwiches
cold chicken tenders from the deli at the grocery store
string cheese rolled up in ham or turkey slices

Salad in a bell pepper sounds really good!

 

[Aristomommy]

I usually pick a serving of fruit, vegetable, grain and protein to ensure a well balanced lunch. My kids eat at school maybe once a month since I think the school lunches are processed foods and junk.

Both of my kids are content with a sandwich (either meat and cheese or natural pb on whole wheat) so that takes care of grain and protein. DS drinks milk at school (provided) so dairy is taken care of but for DD I usually put in a yogurt. Then they each have their favorite fruits and veggies and about a 4oz serving is right amount.

I also have thermos for each of them, so left over soup, lasagna, etc can be heated up for that. I have done the bento box for them as well, but it takes more thinking and planning to do that than I have time for.

 

[mickeylove2]

I usually pick a serving of fruit, vegetable, grain and protein to ensure a well balanced lunch. My kids eat at school maybe once a month since I think the school lunches are processed foods and junk.
Both of my kids are content with a sandwich (either meat and cheese or natural pb on whole wheat) so that takes care of grain and protein. DS drinks milk at school (provided) so dairy is taken care of but for DD I usually put in a yogurt. Then they each have their favorite fruits and veggies and about a 4oz serving is right amount.

I also have thermos for each of them, so left over soup, lasagna, etc can be heated up for that. I have done the bento box for them as well, but it takes more thinking and planning to do that than I have time for.

Wow, that really stinks! I'm glad my DDs school lunches are not all processed foods and junk, they don't buy often but occasionally like once a week. Our school serves pretty decent lunches compared to when I was in school. Grilled chicken sandwiches on whole wheat roll, side salad, fresh fruit, cucumbers, carrots, celery and ranch dip, veggie burgers, bean burritos, tuna or chicken salad in a tomato, lean pockets, hot turkey and swiss on a whole wheat pretzel roll- YUM! there is a choice of sandwich 2 or 3 times a week, ham and cheese, turkey and cheese both on rye or wheat, they cut out most white bread choices, they have pretty much cut out fried foods and only have pizza twice a month, the kids have to take a fruit serving and veggie serving with every lunch, and a milk or yogurt, for drinks they have 1% milk, apple or orange juice, flavored or regular water, the only chips they serve are the baked lays or pretzels, the schools around here have come a looooong way, sorry to hear so many other school districts don't have the same thing going for them. If it weren't so expensive, my kids would probably buy lunch every day, but I can't see spending $2.20 a day per kid!

 

[mumto3girls]

I love DD's thermos. She uses that almost daily. I often give her leftovers from dinner that she liked--pasta & meatballs, tortellini, mac & cheese--she likes it with a bit of tuna mixed in, soup--I make veg beef, wedding and chicken noodle and freeze it and she will eat any of these. I also occasionally do lunch meat or pbj sandwiches, pizza if we have some leftover and sometimes she will take a 2 hard boiled eggs as the main part of her lunch.

As for sides, I almost always send her some cut up raw veggies--carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers and some type of fruit--apples, clementines, grapes, cut up strawberries. I also might send a yogurt or string cheese or laughing cow cheese and maybe some pretzels or crackers of some kind. She gets an afternoon snack that is also sent from home. I just let her pick from her "sides" as to what she eats for a snack in the classroom. If she has anything that contains nuts she has to eat that in the cafeteria where the kids with allergies have their own section. The classroom itself is nut free.

She takes a stainless steel water bottle with water to drink.

I like the idea of the bento boxes. I should look into those. My oldest is not picky so packing her lunch has been no big deal. My middle child is my pickiest eater and she starts 1st grade next year and will need a lunch. It may be much more difficult for me. She does like sandwiches a lot though so that will probably be her lunch. She will not be as interested in the leftovers though. She also likes hummus which I think will be great for lunch sometimes with crackers or raw veggies. Hummus is one of the few things my oldest DD will not eat.