What do u pack in your kids lunch?

[dreamergirl78]

These are great ideas! Even for older kids. My son likes the same darn thing in his lunch everyday. It makes me crazy but I don't have to eat it. He will not eat soup or beans or peanut butter or bananas s my options get real limited. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[nena]

I went to Toys R us yesterday and got the Funtainers soup thermos. DS10 got the Star Wars one on clearance for $6.98 plus 20% off = $5.58. DD6 got the Hannah Montana one $14.99 plus 25% off = $11.24. Total was $18 for both!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Target will put their funtainers on sale w/ their Back to School Stuff. If so, I'm sure I can get a better deal that $11.24.

I also wanted to thank everyone for all the GREAT lunch ideas. This has turned out to be a WONDERFUL thread!! Keep the ideas coming!

 

[nena]

So now that I have them, I need hot food ideas!! I was thinking Chicken noodle soup, mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, Chicken w/ Mexican Rice and white rice w/ corn and melted jack cheese. I think they will like that!!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Has anyone used the bento lunch boxes? I've seen them on the Vegan website that someone mentioned, as well as here. http://lunchinabox.net/
Just wondering. It doesn't seem like I would be wasting away sandwich and snack bags by using these boxes.

 

[Clancycat]

I'm seriously thinking about getting a couple of those lunch boxes for my dds. Though they are pricey, but I think in the long run I'd save money not having to buy plastic bags & or new lunch boxes every year.

Anyone have experience with the bento/lap top lunch boxes?

 

[nena]

bump

 

[ptlycloudy]

My dd is so picky and with a nut free school many of her favorites are out. We have done a trial run on food before school started. I would make something we wanted to see if she liked it , put it in a thermos and then she would eat it a few hours later to see if it was hot enough etc. Well we found out the she can't stand her favorite mac n cheese after it had been sitting for 4 hours. It was warm but no longer creamy in texture and she just won't touch it.

So I am looking for ideas to add to this year.

All we have is
Jelly Sandwich
Tortellini and sauce
Lasagna I make an extra cut in single serving squares and freeze seperately.
Pot stickers
Chicken noodle soup
homemade lunchables

This isn't much to work with! I wish I could find a different shaped hot food container so I could keep burritos and pizza hot.

A tip on the homemade lunchables use cupcake liners in a plastic sandwich container. The meat in one cheese in another and it keeps the crackers crisp and makes it look fun and colorful.

 

[nena]

I use to pack burritos for Dh in a thermos. I would wrap them in foil and then place them in a plastic bag. Before I would place them in the thermos, I would pour hot water in it. The burritos stayed warm for hours!!

 

[ansaye2000]

I always send a sandwich of some sort (no crusts of course!), a gogurt or drinkable yogurt, bananas or applesauce, a juice box, and then either pretzels or goldfish. My kids are very picky but are content with eating this exact meal everyday.

 

[semo233]

I use to pack burritos for Dh in a thermos. I would wrap them in foil and then place them in a plastic bag. Before I would place them in the thermos, I would pour hot water in it. The burritos stayed warm for hours!!

Amy's organic bean and cheese burrittos are my daughter's favorite (and only $1.60 at Target!). I forgot about packing them the same way for her years ago. She still loves them and I'll try this again now that she is going into 7th grade

 

[donnajon]

Last year I bought a thermos bowl thing from Target. I just make left overs and heat them up in the mornings. The bowl keeps the food hot for 6 hours and the kids love them. Especially when we have shrimp the night before! It is cheaper and healthier than the junk the school serves.

 

[Renee845]

Keep in mind my DD is 5 and not a sandwich person

grapes
baby carrots
little Jif peanut butter containers and breadsticks
rolled pieces of turkey
short-cuts chicken
yogurt tubes
peanut butter sandwiches
granola bars
100 cal packs of crackers, cookies, etc.
fruit snacks
capri sun (the water ones)

I think that is it, she is pretty limited.

 

[klineyqueen]

Buying does not guarantee your slow eater will even have time to eat! The kids unfortunately take a while to "get the tray" in one piece back to their seat and then goodness if something is not just right or has to be cut up, they have to wait for someone. I'd personally plan on your childs favorites in small pieces to ensure good quality and enough to sustain him.

My son takes lunch, we include turkey roll ups, organic petite carrots and bottled water, usually pretzels and a cookie/2. Had something in the bag as a snack to hold him over.
They won't "give" the kids water at school (as part of the bought lunch) but they'll give him Milk, just Kills me, they say water has no nutrient value, well I don't know about anyone else, but MILK is not all its cracked up to be. Besides the child is allergic to it, don't get me started......

You are right about him being slow and school lunch not really helping that problem. I plan on packing every day for a couple of weeks. That way he can at least get the hang of how things work. I will probably do the homemade lunchables. Everything will be small and ready to eat.

 

[Robinrs]

My son doesn't eat sugar and is lactose intolerant... so at FIFTEEN I am still packing his lunch!!

He likes the SAME THING everyday....

Turkey on a hamburger roll

A container of black grapes

Homemade brownie made from Whole Foods mix

Cheese doodles

Green Tea in a container sweetened with stevia.

He has not varied from that lunch since the third grade....