Peanut Free Lunches - help

[hermione]

We've discussed this, I'm sure. But I can't find the thread(s).

We had Meet the Teacher Night and found out C's classroom is peanut free due to a child having an allergy (so it's not school wide, just her class). It was not peanut free this summer. Quite frankly, she's taken peanut butter crackers (Keebler) or an Uncrustable (shut up!) in every lunch all summer long.

She will not eat lunch meat, red meat, hot dogs, pasta, cheese, or yogurt. She almost always refuses leftovers. She doesn't like most bread and she will not eat a PB&J sandwich that we make because it's not "right" so I don't think she eat a substitute like sunbutter.

Here's what I have thought of: Fruit, red peppers and hummus, pouches, baby carrots, veggie chips, graham crackers. Help me add to this list, please! This all seems so insubstantial.

Disclaimer: I truly don't mind the classroom being peanut free. I realize my lunch issues are far less of a problem than being the parents of the child with the allergy. 

[nabum]

grilled chicken wraps, bean & rice burrito, chicken & rice, bagel w cream cheese, breakfast burritos ... thinking of more.

My son's school is nut free but they provide all food. I do know that he eats a lot of things at school that he normally wouldn't eat at home because he's starving and it's his only choice.

[ilikedonuts]

My first thought was crackers with sunbutter similar to the keebler crackers.

[hermione]

Will they think we're weird if we toast a waffle in the morning and send it? I know she'd eat it cold...

[hermione]

I'm going to explore some of these suggestions this week! Please keep them coming.

[whitemerlot]

I would try the sun butter or almond butter and have her help make it. Cut it out with a cute cookie cutter. Worth a shot.

[hermione]

Sept 2, 2015 22:00:28 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

I'm kind of confused, how is an uncrustable different from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (or in this case a sunflower butter and jelly sandwich)? Is it the frozen/thawedness of it? The cut so the edges are sealed?

This is a question I've asked the two year old several times. Her answer is, "NOT RIGHT!"

[dcn]

I'd try crackers with sunbutter or even the Keebler ones with cheese. I'd also send a waffle. Who cares if they think it's weird? It's not much different than bread.

What about cream cheese? Ds loves that stuff and will eat anything if I put cream cheese on it.

[bugandbibs]

I would get one of those molds to make your own uncrustables and try that. We really like the brand WOW butter as a PB substitute.

My girls really like crackers, cheese, and summer sausage for lunch. Easy to eat while talking to their friends

[robyn]

Would she do sunbutter and jelly of you cut it with a large round cookie cutter so it's like an uncrustabke? Does she like cream cheese? I love cream cheese and strawberry jam either as a sandwich or maybe on a bagel?

[redheadk]

Pampered Chef makes a tool to make your own uncrustable with sealed edges. You can probably find one somewhere else, I just remembered seeing this one: www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cook%27s+Tools/Prep+Tools/Cut-N-Seal/1195

You can do sandwich roll-ups with a tortilla instead of bread. DD likes those. You could also try grilled chicken strips or nuggets with dip/sauce. DD will eat that cold.

[jln]

Sept 2, 2015 22:02:47 GMT -5 hermione said:

Sept 2, 2015 22:00:28 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

I'm kind of confused, how is an uncrustable different from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (or in this case a sunflower butter and jelly sandwich)? Is it the frozen/thawedness of it? The cut so the edges are sealed?

This is a question I've asked the two year old several times. Her answer is, "NOT RIGHT!"

I bought a cutter that seals the edges and makes the sandwich look just like an uncrustable.  DS1 loves it and thinks he's eating the real thing.

He goes to a nut-free school and I make him a sunbutter and jelly "uncrustable", fruit, graham crackers of cheezits and a string cheese.   

Just looked up and saw redheadk 's response.  That's the cutter we have. 

[hermione]

Sept 2, 2015 22:25:36 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Pampered Chef makes a tool to make your own uncrustable with sealed edges. You can probably find one somewhere else, I just remembered seeing this one: www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cook%27s+Tools/Prep+Tools/Cut-N-Seal/1195

You can do sandwich roll-ups with a tortilla instead of bread. DD likes those. You could also try grilled chicken strips or nuggets with dip/sauce. DD will eat that cold.

DH just came to bed and told me he ordered this - he said he googled, "homemade Uncrustable," lol.

[h]

My really picky kid will eat chicken nuggets sent in a Thermos food container to keep them warm or sunbutter sandwiches/crackers. I was somewhat surprised he was okay with sun butter given his level of pickiness, but he loves it. That, turkey sandwiches, or plain cheese tortellini with no sauce are the only "entree" options he will eat in packed lunches. He will not touch a hard boiled egg, hummus, pasta with sauce, anything with jelly, grilled chicken, any sort of fruit or vegetable whatsoever, etc.

[hermione]

Sept 2, 2015 22:52:32 GMT -5 h said:

My really picky kid will eat chicken nuggets sent in a Thermos food container to keep them warm or sunbutter sandwiches/crackers. I was somewhat surprised he was okay with sun butter given his level of pickiness, but he loves it. That, turkey sandwiches, or plain cheese tortellini with no sauce are the only "entree" options he will eat in packed lunches. He will not touch a hard boiled egg, hummus, pasta with sauce, anything with jelly, grilled chicken, any sort of fruit or vegetable whatsoever, etc.

I was just looking for something to keep nuggets warm. Do you have one you recommend?

[jena]

You're looking for a Thermos food jar. I recommend the one with her favorite cartoon character on it. In the morning, fill it with boiling water for a few minutes, then put hot food in it. It works well.


Honestly I'd put a few things in her lunchbox that other kids eat but she won't - like a slice of cheese cut into heart shapes or something fun like that. Peer pressure can be a good thing too.

[madringal]

We do meatballs, turkey sausage, boiled eggs, guacamole and chips.

How about a bagel and cream cheese, or cream cheese 'ants on a log'.

Check out #peanutfree and #peanutfreelunches on Instagram. Also, follow @weelicious. She makes some really great peanut free, non sandwich lunches.

[madringal]

Oh, how about pizza lunchables?

[stretchad]

Could you try tortilla roll ups? Cream Cheese with some fruit (jam) or favorite shredded veggies included?
Mini Meatballs with marinara
Cottage Cheese with some tomatoes, or fruit (melon, pineapple)

I have a pinterest board of recipes that I've pinned that are high-calorie or toddler foods (DS was diagnosed FTT for the last year). There might be some good ideas on here too: High Calorie Food Pin Boards

[Deleted]

They make sunbutter uncrustables but they are $$$

[h]

These are the Thermos jars you want for nuggets, etc.

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00UT4ZJ0I/ref=psdcmw_13880501_t1_B00TZLUCYO

[SpartanGirl]

Ditto the pp on the Thermos funtainer. They're great.

When my oldest is feeling super picky we do "snacky" lunches. No real main course, just a lot of small servings of healthy foods. This is a great list for healhty snack ideas: www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/31/85-snacks-for-kids-and-adults/

I think cold waffles are fine. I've also sent bagels in lunch too. Will she eat oatmeal? That would be good in the thermos too.

[bunnymendelbaum]

Has anyone said edamame? My girls love that.

What about mac n cheese kept warm in the thermos container. (We use those too.)
Have you tried the triangle of laughing cow cheese?
Chickpeas are also a big hit.

[kitty]

Fancy uncrustables?  Or do these not have the right shape?

[hermione]

Sept 3, 2015 12:26:22 GMT -5 kitty said:

Fancy uncrustables?  Or do these not have the right shape?

Interesting! I will keep these in mind should the situation get dire.

[AmyRI]

English muffin pizzas (or leftover regular pizza)
Sticks of ham steak + sticks of cheese + crackers, but not sure if this would work since you said no cheese.  My DD loves the cheese and tolerates the ham.
Pancakes (cottage cheese pancakes from the Weelicious cookbook freeze/thaw well, so we make extra for leftovers later)
Quesadilla and guacamole or mild salsa
Chicken nuggets

Have you tried different sauces on pasta to see if that helps?  Pasta leftovers are frequent in our house.  Spaghetti and meatballs is also the only way my DD will eat red meat.