Grains, Entrees, and Miscellaneous
mini waffles with hummus, cream cheese - top with fruit, jelly, sprinkles
left over pancake sandwiches - use a big cookie cutter to cut bread into a cute shape for their sandwich - it is all about presentation
cookie cutter whole wheat hamburger bun, but switch out top and bottom cookie cutter shapes without flipping over cut-outs for "two-tone" sandwich
left over pizza
stuff mini pitas with hummus and cucumber, lunch meat and/or and cheese
graham crackers with a tiny cup of cream cheese or hummus for dipping
an Oatmeal Square or breakfast bar or granola bar
a thermos isn't just for soup - use one for left over casseroles or mac and cheese
Hard boiled eggs
Cheese and crackers
Chicken salad
Cream cheese and jelly sandwiches
Anything (meat, cream cheese, cucumbers, lettuce, etc) rolled in a tortilla. Hold together with a toothpickits about the presentation
Bagels
English muffins
Homemade muffins
Pasta salad
Yogurt covered pretzels and raisins
Fruits and Veggies
serve bite sized fruit with a little cocktail (olive) fork
arrange strawberries, banana slices, apple pieces, etc on a shish kabob
dried fruit (apples, bananas, mango, papaya, pineapple, plums)
baby carrots with a tiny cup of cream cheese, ranch dressing, or hummus for dipping
apple slices with a tiny cup of hummus for dipping
"Ants on a Log" - celery sticks with cream cheese topped with raisins
a Fruit Smooshie by Fruitabu - like a fruit rollup, but actually 100% fruit and nothing you can't pronounce
Archers fruit leather are all fruit and available at Target
mini boxes of raisins
individual no-sugar-added applesauce cups - you can get them in mixed fruit and organic versions and the cups are recyclable or you can pack your own in a leak proof container
Banana chips
Soy beans (edamame)
Sliced cucumbers and celery with dip
Pickles
Dairy
a yogurt cup (kept cool with an ice pack)
Stonyfield Farms or Horizon yogurt tubes - no artificial colors and no refined sugar
a small can of drinking yogurt
cheese cubes with a fancy toothpick or cocktail fork for stabbing the cubes
cheese squares and crackers
string cheese or colby-jack cheese sticks
square sandwich cheese slices - they like to fold and break these into smaller shapes
Containers
For a great American-style bento box lunch system check out Laptop Lunches.
Wrap-N-Mat is a great idea for a sandwich wrapper and placemat in one. A great way to cut down on plastic bags.
There is a new style of airtight and leakproof plastic container available that is easy and fun for small hands to open and close. Lock & Lock and Snapware MODS are two versions found at Target. Both are freezer and dishwasher safe.
Kroger carries a small 8.5oz Rubbermaid "Litterless Juice Box" drink container with a flip top sipping spout that you can use instead of buying the more expensive juice boxes that squirt all over when the child squeezes. It comes with a straw to attach on the inside but if needed it can be replaced by cutting a piece from a disposable drinking straw. You can fill with the drink of your choice and even add a few ice cubes. Freezer and dishwasher safe.