school lunches

[DCLbrideSept2009]

Okay, so it's nearing the end of the year and I guess the kids are getting bored with their lunch options. They all pack their lunches (4 kids) cuz I think it's cheaper to pack than buy. Oldest (high school) refuses to buy lunch anyway (thank goodness, cuz THAT is expensive!). The other 3 are in elementary. I have been trying not to buy too much junk cuz if I do, 2 of the kids will eat ONLY the "junk" and not eat anything healthy. While I don't think there's anything wrong with the "junk" in moderation, it IS a problem if that's all they will eat. Ugh... youngest will even attempt to just put 2 pieces of bread in a baggie and pretend it's a sandwich (yes, with NO protein on it whatsoever). She would LIVE on bread and plain pasta if we let her.

I have been buying fruit (grapes, apples, bananas), baby carrots with ranch, nutri-grain type cereal bars (but off brand), chewy granola bars, cheese/peanut butter crackers for snack, yogurt, string cheese... I think that's about it. Well, they're bored and want something different and I have NO IDEA what to buy??? We only have a few weeks of school left, but still... I'm trying not to buy chips.

What do you pack in your kids' lunches? Fairly healthy, not a big budget buster?

 

[NYCDiane]

nutri-grain type cereal bars (but off brand), chewy granola bars, cheese/peanut butter crackers for snack, yogurt, string cheese...

None of the above items are "healthy".... read the labels and look at the sugar/fat content (especially in those yogurts!).

The healthiest thing you can give them is fruit... peaches, pears, grapes, bananas, apple slices, etc etc etc. Why not make a little fruit salad in a gladware container? watermelon, kiwi, grapes, strawberries, all cut up and tossed together?

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

Buy plain yougert, plain granolla and fruit and let them make their own yougert fruit parfeits (sp?). You can also have peanut butter on graham crackers. Buy bagels instead of bread for a change, but it is still a sandwich using things they like. I am interested to see others ideas also since I will be packing lunch next year not just snack.

 

[Nette]

None of the above items are "healthy".... read the labels and look at the sugar/fat content (especially in those yogurts!).

The healthiest thing you can give them is fruit... peaches, pears, grapes, bananas, apple slices, etc etc etc. Why not make a little fruit salad in a gladware container? watermelon, kiwi, grapes, strawberries, all cut up and tossed together?

Have to agree. Unless you are reading the ingredients on those prepackaged things, they probably aren't the best choices. I limit prepackaged stuff to one item in DD's lunch box, and even then I search for the stuff w/ the least sugar and no unpronounceable ingredients or HFCS.

DD often takes leftover veggies from the night before dinner. Her favorite is lightly steamed broccoli which she just eats cold with her fingers.

Other side dishes are

--cheese and whole wheat crackers.
--plain greek yogurt w/ a spoon full of honey to mix in.
--whole wheat pita with hummus spread on it.

She often takes two pieces of fruit in a single "lunch" (a lunch for us is usually her actual lunch + a morning and an afternoon snack -- I don't care what she eats when)

She loves berries of all sorts, so a small container of those is a good snack. Even if you just buy the frozen fruit, by lunch time it will have thawed some and be good and kind of goopy. Eat it w/ a spoon (we buy the heavy duty plastic spoons and she brings them home to wash in the dishwasher, but if she loses one it's no big deal).

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

None of the above items are "healthy".... read the labels and look at the sugar/fat content (especially in those yogurts!).

The healthiest thing you can give them is fruit... peaches, pears, grapes, bananas, apple slices, etc etc etc. Why not make a little fruit salad in a gladware container? watermelon, kiwi, grapes, strawberries, all cut up and tossed together?

I do get fruit... mostly have been getting grapes, bananas, apples, etc. If I give them little containers, those containers will never make it home and I'll be buying them constantly. I've also been getting baby carrots with ranch (although I realize the ranch isn't the best, it's the only way they'll eat them).

Snack has to be something that doesn't make a big mess and doesn't require utensils (hence, cheese/peanut butter crackers or sometimes they will pop popcorn and take that in a baggie).

I also sometimes buy the no sugar added applesauce for lunches. And as for the yogurts, while not the *best*, i do get the low sugar/fat free yogurt, not the kids yogurts (those things are awful!), etc. the yogurt or granola bars are supposed to be "dessert." That's a substitute for the cookies, etc., that they would rather have. I don't see anything wrong with the string cheese either? But like I said, they're getting bored and I can't think of other things to buy???

 

[englishteacha]

What about some hot items in a thermos? Or is there a microwave they could use?

 

[squirrel]

Your children are old enough to bring the containers home.

If you can get them to do that then they could have more options.

Celery with peanut butter or cheese, raisons on top.

Baked apple with cinnamon, brown sugar and raisons or nuts.

Wraps instead of a sandwich-lettuce, meat (chicken, ham, or tuna), cheese, olives, tomato, etc. If they only like peanut butter wrap it with a banana inside.

 

[mom2travel]

a few things we pack:

* hummus and pita
* apple slices and peanut butter
* celery with peanut butter
* mac n cheese in a thermos (or other leftover pasta from dinner)
* trail mix

 

[MomToOne]

Main dishes:
- Hard boiled eggs
- Pasta salad: Cold pasta tossed with frozen veggies. Veggies keep it chilled until lunch. My daughter likes it without dressing so I leave it as it. You could add a bit of Italian, etc.
- Homemade chicken nuggets - kids will eat them cold with no problem
- Whole wheat bagel w/cream cheese
- Turkey (or ham, etc.) "roll ups": roll sliced turkey breast or whatever other lunch meat you have in a tortilla

Snacks:
- Dried fruits and nuts
- Celery and peanut butter
- Rice cakes - the flavored ones are not very high in sugar. You can get cute mini-sized ones, or the regular sized ones.
- Plain Tortilla chips - not really so bad if eaten in moderation, they are just corn and oil usually. Look for ones made with "better for you" oils, and lower in salt. Avoid anything flavored though - that's where the junk really creaps in.

 

[LaDonna]

what about baked chips, sunchips, pretzals, those are healthier than reg.chips

 

[PixiePlanner]

My DD(1st grade) has taken her lunch every day this year and (knock on wood) brought home her containers every time. I just told her I needed the containers back. On the other hand, DS took his lunch twice. One time he threw away the container and the other he forgot he had brought it and somehow the entire lunchbag/box disappeared.

Anyway, DD loves, loves, loves tortillas. I have switched from flour to whole wheat. She eats them plain, w/ cream cheese or as a wrap (I make ahead and freeze). I pack fresh fruit with a toothpick. She loves eating with a toothpick. She likes string cheese & mini Babybel cheese. Instead of chips, I pack reduced-fat white cheddar cheeze crackers or pretzels. She takes water everyday to drink and sometimes(once a month) I include a sugar-free flavoring packet as a surprise.

 

[Swimnoid]

You might be able to get them to keep track of the containers if they thought they would get more interesting lunches that way. I dont pack for kids anymore but I bring my own lunch to work everyday. I'm always looking for new ideas as well. I bring a lot of leftovers. They might like that. This week I have had left over spaghetti on 2 different days, a bagel sandwich made with leftover grilled chicken and a steak sandwich from left over grilled steak. One of my favorites is a macaroni salad with tuna and cheese cubes.

Still looking for more ideas though!!

 

[disneycruising]

I also have 4 kids and by the end of the year I am tired of packing lunches!

My boys have food allergies, so I never allow them to buy a lunch.

One of the best investment I have made, is in a good thermos for each child ($15 at target) . I use these all the time and they have lasted a few years. I use these a couple of times a week.

I don't know that these items would qualify as "heathly" but it might be something to do that is different.

*once a week, I send Spaghetti (in a thermos). You could put a small salad & a peice of fruit on the side.

* As something different: I make pizza sticks...I send it with pizza sauce for dipping. I add a few cheese cubes & olives on the side.

* Tacos: I put the meat or beans in a thermos. I fill the tortilla with all the cold items and wrap it in foil. Then my kids just add the meat when they are ready to eat.

* also chicken and rice.

* Do alot of dinner left overs, through out the year.

 

[wendypooh]

I learned about these laptop lunches from a friend, I even got DS a bento box............ he's never not brought the containers home. Anyway, they have some good ideas for lunches - if you want to check it out.

http://www.laptoplunches.com/

http://www.laptoplunches.com/LaptopLunchPhotos.html

DS actually loves salads, any kind - but esp. with fresh greens, spinach, berries, avacado, beets, etc....... he also loves pita with hummus, I do the fresh fruits and veggies too and he loves sushi every once in awhile - try out new things that you think your kids might not like....... they may surprise you!!! (funny story, whenever DS brings sushi, he says all his friends ask him for some!!)

Good Luck

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

We do veggie straws (kids tried at Costco and loved them) as they are a little bit healthier than chips. We have also done dried fruit and fruit crisps. I make the kids our own PB crackers (using low fat PB and healthier crackers than the prepackaged ones). PB is at least a healthy fat and my kids need the protein anyways. They also like cottage cheese (use ice pack with this one) with some dried cherries or berries to throw on top.

 

[lorac4disney]

In our family, we do everything sugar free or no sugar added. We also stick to 100% whole grains and steer clear of anything that contains hydrogenated oils. Coming up with healthy lunches for the kids becomes a challenge. It's way too easy to get into a sandwich rut.

Here are some things I've made them for lunch that have been a hit:

Burritos with whole wheat wraps
Pita bread sandwiches
Mini pizzas on whole wheat bagels
Peanut butter on whole wheat crackers
Hot dogs on whole wheat buns

I try to stick a little treat into each lunch as well. They love the sugar free pudding and jello cups. I also send them mixed nuts, sugar free cookies, and flaxseed muffins made into their favorite flavors.

Every great once in a while, I'll let them have Sun Chips (especially if there is a class party or field trip where they might be tempted to eat the junk food). While it's not the best option, it's the better option IMHO.

 

[MandM-Mom]

Maybe not healthy but a favorite kids lunch for school here is Pasta salad with cheese and tomatoes cucumbers black olives pepperoni and fat free italian dressing. THey usually bring a dinner roll with a piece of fruit. They also love to bring tossed salad with cubed meat and cheese and a cottage cheese cup with the dressing and sunflower seeds on the side, they like to put the cottage cheese on top and eat it all together.

 

[momejay]

For lunch my kids like...

Apples & almond butter
Celery, raisins & almond butter
The middle one likes homemade fish nuggets cold, but she is wierd.
I cut carrots & celery in chunks, not sticks & they dip in ranch dressing.
Both girls bring a chef salad to school. I buy ends of ham & turkey & cut it up in bite size cubes & throw on bed of lettuce add carrots & whatever other veggies I have.
I buy whole grain cereals & give them a baggie full as snack.
DS loves dried fruit...prunes, goji berries, & mango...for him, I make trail mix
I found 100 calorie cream cheese dip packs, my oldest dips fruit in them or smears on a whole grain bagel.
My DS likes pancakes, but hates syrup. He takes pancakes leftover from the weekend for lunch on Mon. & dips them in homemade jam.
I make pound cake, cut the slices thin & smash up fruit for the top. (something to do with half eaten apple or banana & some strawberries. I freeze & it melts by lunch. If it doesn't, they have homemade icepop & cake.)
My middle one, wierd one, likes chicken spaghetti cold. (instant chicken broth, chopped cooked veggies & chicken chunks, leftover spaghetti noodles enough water to make it look wet) No reason you couldn't heat it.

 

[Carrie772]

You could make lunch a little more fancy with almond butter instead of peanut butter. My kids know that it's unique and really love to dip their triscuit wedges and apples in it.

We eat a lot of triscuits with cheddar cheese. Very good flavors.

My kids actually don't mind having peanut butter and jelly every day. I guess I am lucky.

 

[lucky1]

DD8 loves just slices of salami and cheese. She eats it as finger food Unfortunately she gets talked out of her Salami by her classmates, because they all love it too.

For the summer, cold pasta salad you can make ahead of time.