school lunches ?

[Poohforyou]

My dd will be a hs junior and has never bought a school lunch. She also doesn't like sandwiches much. A wide mouth thermos is a great thing. She taken leftovers, perogies, soup, different pastas and even scrambled eggs.

There are also cold containers available where the lid has a built-in ice pack. That's great for things like salad and fruit.

I'd say dd's most favorite lunch is ziti pasta with a small container of sauce (tomato or pesto) to dip it in, cut up fruit, cheese and some kind of treat.

 

[wenrob]

My kids tend to make their own lunchables. Today DS has pepperoni, American cheese, carrots w/ranch, a pudding cup and a flavored water. DD's is the same except she has crackers and cheddar. I finally found uncomplicated divided containers that are easy to open/close, are sturdy and have a decent seal on them. (Sistima To Go Clip it's) Also, I found olives and tiny baby dill pickles in those little cups like the fruit cups. My kids are super excited about them, lol!

Things like cheese sticks, baby carrots, sliced apples, pretzels, crackers, pepperoni, precooked chicken breast (I make large batches and freeze in single serving portions), ranch and peanut butter are staples for lunch here. What about Almond Butter as a substitute for PB? DD likes taking leftovers like Swedish Meatballs or pasta in her thermos and DS likes the macaroni & cheese cups. I've tried pizza rolls or chicken nuggets heated and put in the thermos but they haven't faired well.

eta: DD also likes cherry tomatoes and sliced cucumbers in her lunch. Basically anything that isn't time consuming to eat. They only get something like 20mins for lunch.

 

[slo]

I have used the wide mouth Thermos brand. The trick is to warm it up prior to filling it with the food. I boil water in my teakettle and fill the thermos with it. Then I heat up the food (usually Mac and cheese, but I have sent soup, leftover lo mein, fried rice, and even hot dogs before). Dump the water just before filling it. My kids have reported that it is still warm at lunch time. I do heat it up a little warmer than usual.

I do the same thing.
I also do.....chicken nuggets, mini corn dogs, breaded chicken patty on a bun (cut it up in 1/4s and shove it in the thermos), spaghetti o's, mini raviolis and other things like that.

 

[wenrob]

I do the same thing.
I also do.....chicken nuggets, mini corn dogs, breaded chicken patty on a bun (cut it up in 1/4s and shove it in the thermos), spaghetti o's, mini raviolis and other things like that.

What's the trick to chicken nuggets in the thermos. My kids complained they were soggy AND hard.

 

[slo]

@wenrob - I don't know - I don't do anything special.
After I put hot water in the thermos (water stays in it for 15 min) I then wipe it out with a towel really good to make sure it's really dry.
I cook the chicken nuggets in a toaster oven to make sure they are crispy.
I'll have to ask my DD how they are since she's never said anything.
I'm now curious

 

[mefordis]

Thanks, op, for starting this thread. It's helpful to get so many ideas in one place.

I pack a chicken patty on a roll for my 6th grader, and I am stumped for my 1st grader so I'm going to read some ideas here! I know she likes fruit strips and carrots.

 

[T00dles]

If you can't get sun butter we've used almond or cashew butter. We also will make homemade "lunchable" with pepperoni, cheese and crackers. Yogurt is popular too.

 

[Vernie822]

100 Days of Real Food is great! I really love a lot of her ideas. Sometimes myself I like a "snacky" lunch - wheat thins with laughing cow cheese or cheese slices, some fruit, some popcorn or something, and some veggies with dip.

My fiance is pretty picky but he loves chicken salad sandwiches. I just cook chicken in the crock pot, shred it, mix it with greek yogurt and a little mayo for flavor, celery, salt, pepper, and a little onion sometimes. If it's for me I add grapes and apples into it.

You can also do mini pita pizzas which I think 100 Days has on their website.

 

[Vernie822]

Another thing that's easy to do: shredded chicken in the crockpot mixed with bbq sauce, or hot sauce, or taco seasoning. Add whatever toppings the kids like and roll it up in a tortilla. You can make the chicken by the batch and just make the sandwiches each night or morning!

 

[scrapquitler]

what are you packing for your kids this year. my two older kids are ok with a sandwich everyday but I have a very picky five year old who will not eat cold cuts. my problem is k does not eat till 1pm so I don't want to pack anything that needs to be warm to eat.

what can I pack that will make her happy that is also healthy. it can't be anything with peanuts she is in a no nuts class.

I had a non-cold cut, picky eater with a no peanut butter rule.

She ate a lot of cold pizza, bagels with cream cheese, veggies with humus, hard boiled eggs, cheese/crackers/pepperoni, leftover cold pasta with sauce, and her favorite: I'd send a tupperware container with cereal in it and a spoon, and she'd buy milk and have a bowl of cereal.

 

[scrapquitler]

Another thing: my brother used to make himself a grilled cheese sandwich or two in the morning and take those to school for lunch. He was perfectly happy eating those cold, and did it quite often.

 

[wenrob]

@wenrob - I don't know - I don't do anything special.
After I put hot water in the thermos (water stays in it for 15 min) I then wipe it out with a towel really good to make sure it's really dry.
I cook the chicken nuggets in a toaster oven to make sure they are crispy.
I'll have to ask my DD how they are since she's never said anything.
I'm now curious

I'd be interested in what she says, thanks. I think I had heated mine in the micro, I'll try the toaster oven.

100 Days of Real Food is great! I really love a lot of her ideas. Sometimes myself I like a "snacky" lunch - wheat thins with laughing cow cheese or cheese slices, some fruit, some popcorn or something, and some veggies with dip.

My fiance is pretty picky but he loves chicken salad sandwiches. I just cook chicken in the crock pot, shred it, mix it with greek yogurt and a little mayo for flavor, celery, salt, pepper, and a little onion sometimes. If it's for me I add grapes and apples into it.

You can also do mini pita pizzas which I think 100 Days has on their website.

We make "pizza quesadillas" at home. I was thinking those might not be bad in a lunch box.

I forgot yogurt in my list. Easy to grab and easy for my college student too. I keep all kinds on hand, Greek, danimals, gogurts etc and am always running out because everyone loves them.

 

[brooke789]

I have two five year olds and finding something they will actually eat is difficult! The school is also nut free which is sad since my daughter would eat the Jif Whips Chocolate & Peanut butter spread everyday if I could send it! My son also loves Nutella which is a no go. I did send Soy Nut butter one day but no one ate more than a few bites. I'm going to make some homemade nutella made with sunflower seeds this weekend and see if they like that.

Here's what I've sent:
Cheese quesadilla
Pizza quesadilla
Crackers + Pepperonis
Pimento Cheese

Now to find a peanut butter replacement they will eat!

I usually send something chippy (Veggie Straws, Goldfish, POpcorn, other crackers), something fruity (Oranges, apple slices, banana or raisins) and something desserty (apple sauce, yogurt, actual cookies. haha). They have a water bottle in their lunch.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I will look into the sunbutter. thank you for that tip

If your kids don't go for the Sunbutter, try Wowbutter. I like the texture a lot better.

 

[JaxDad]

For some reason my somewhat fussy 8-year old daughter does not like having a regular sandwich in her lunch, but loves the "deconstructed" sandwiches I have been giving her. I just put folded salami and cheese slices on a toothpick skewer, a buttered piece of French bread, and some lettuce in a single Tupperware. She eats it all every time! Instead of regular French bread, I've also bought Jimmy Johns bread (they sell it for 49 cents or will even give it to you). I freeze it and heat up pieces as needed.

 

[Ladcassidy]

We've also found that making the macaroni and cheese "soupy" with extra liquid will stop it from getting too dry in the thermos.

 

[elaine amj]

My kids don't like cold cuts either and PB is a no-no in my area.

What's the trick to chicken nuggets in the thermos. My kids complained they were soggy AND hard.

I find nuggets in a thermos gets soggy. I bake mine in the oven and just put it in a regular tupperware. my kids eat it cold with ketchup in school. Naturally, not as good as hot, but they still like it. I do the same with stuff like pizza too. They prefer it cold rather than soggy.

Another thing: my brother used to make himself a grilled cheese sandwich or two in the morning and take those to school for lunch. He was perfectly happy eating those cold, and did it quite often.

We do a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches and french toast too.

We also use the thermos a lot - pastas, noodles, fried rice, etc.

While my son loved eggs, he has banned me packing eggs for him. Apparently his friends don't like the smell of eggs. *sigh*

 

[Minnesota!]

We do lots of pasta salad, homemade Lunchables, leftovers, etc.

My kids do like sandwiches, and are allow PB products, but I like to switch things up.

 

[bsblady01]

Thanks, op, for starting this thread. It's helpful to get so many ideas in one place.

I pack a chicken patty on a roll for my 6th grader, and I am stumped for my 1st grader so I'm going to read some ideas here! I know she likes fruit strips and carrots.

your welcome

 

[SmallWorld71]

As I teacher, one thing I see that is very common with pickier children is cereal. Just buy milk at school and add it in. Simple and healthy.
Deconstructed sandwiches (as mentioned by a PP) are also very popular and the little ones seem to eat them better than regular sandwiches and a lot less gets thrown away.
Yogurt appears in many lunches.
I also see a lot of lunches that are really just a bunch of snacks (ie crackers, grapes, cheese etc....) but put them all together and they are enough for a little tummy.