Let's talk school lunches/snacks

[jaylea]

I found this post, which has some good ideas for packaging up some snacks/lunch ideas ahead of time (my kid wouldn't eat a ham or PB sandwich, so I am ignoring those!)

5dinners1hour.com/make-ahead-lunches/


Otherwise, I do a lot of snacky type lunches - she has a divided lunch tupperware thing that I will fill with cheese and crackers, veggies, fruit, etc. But I am trying to come up with new ideas. What are your most successful lunches and snacks?

This thread has some good ideas too, so I figured I'd share.

www.pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mmmoms&action=display&thread=50384

[Deleted]

Omg. A "how-to" on ham sandwiches?!

Anyway, our snacks are similar to yours. Cut up fruit, cheese, crackers, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks with hummus, apple sauce pouches...

I'd love some new ideas, actually.

[eddy]

raisins or craisins are always a hit as an extra little snack.

[Deleted]

I either feed them leftovers or I slap leftovers on a tortilla with tomato and lettuce. Today they took bbq chicken sandwiches, broccoli slaw, apples with peanut butter, and ginger snaps.

Tomorrow they will be having pork and veggies over rice because that's what's in the crockpot.

The other day, I breaded and sauteed an extra chicken cutlet with dinner so I could make them chicken caesar wraps. I do the same thing with lunchmeat or whatever else is hanging around.

[broc]

When I was older and made my own lunches, I did a lot of things in thermoses. I had a short squat one for soup/pasta and a taller one for drinks. I filled the thermos with boiling water while I made breakfast so it would stay warm/hot. You can pack anything from ravioli to chicken noodle to spaghettios in there. Make sure to get the kind without the glass core though (it isn't dangerous to the kid, but one good drop and the whole thing stops insulating). My absolute favorite was leftover chili with a baggie of fritos. mmmm.

[lazyphoque]

The number of plastic baggies in that blog post is giving my dirty hippie heart palpitations. I like the fruit with dips, though. Last week, I creamed neufchatel, honey and cinnamon together for an apple dip and it was very good. For dd (since she's still pretty little), we do a lot of roll-up sandwiches sliced into pinwheels. She's also pretty happy when we bring along leftover falafel or veggie burgers.

My mom used to slice an apple, reassemble it in a baggie, then suck all the air out. I thought it was magically awesome when I opened the bag and *walla* - sliced apple!

[jaylea]

Yeah, the fruit with dips were really what I was linking to there - it's a good idea to portion that stuff out ahead of time (I would use the ziploc or gladware containers though - buying the 2oz. condiment cups? No.)

DD is a pretty picky eater for proteins - she'll eat tons of fruit/veggies and tons of carbs, but she's not good with anything but plain hard boiled egg whites or cheese/yogurt. So I am always looking for new ideas of getting her to eat more.

[jaylea]

Sept 4, 2012 11:09:02 GMT -5 namasteak said:

Will kids eat leftovers for lunch? In my (non parent opinion) that seems like a great time saver.

Mine won't even eat it the first time around, lately. She's become a PITA as of late.

Today, though, I sent her leftover pasta salad (the kind she likes) some rolled up ham (I bet it's there at the end of the day) and grapes.

[karmasabiotch]

I wish my kid would eat hummus. We aren't allowed to send any nut things and they try to encourage/force us to pack a kosher lunch. I end up packing the same boring meals almost every day.

[peach]

Do your schools have microwaves for the kids to use?? Most of the classrooms here don't - you can't send anything that needs to be reheated. Makes it tough.

[eddy]

jaylea-we really struggle with Jack eating protein as well.

Does she have milk? That has 8 grams of protein so that is pretty good for a serving. If he drinks his milk I at least feel good he took down some protein.

[Deleted]

Sept 4, 2012 11:12:18 GMT -5 peach said:

Do your schools have microwaves for the kids to use?? Most of the classrooms here don't - you can't send anything that needs to be reheated. Makes it tough.

No but I send it warm in a thermos or whatever. Dude, lukewarm mashed potatoes never killed anyone. Or at least I hope not or my kids will keel over dead any day now. lol

[jaylea]

Sept 4, 2012 11:12:18 GMT -5 peach said:

Do your schools have microwaves for the kids to use?? Most of the classrooms here don't - you can't send anything that needs to be reheated. Makes it tough.

We got a thermos type thing this weekend, so I can send things like pasta and soup.

store.crocodilecreek.com/products/category/476.0.1.1.107156.0.0.0.0

[jaylea]

eddy, she will eat dairy all day, every day. So that's our fall back.

[lemondrop]

Sept 4, 2012 11:09:07 GMT -5 jaylea said:

Yeah, the fruit with dips were really what I was linking to there - it's a good idea to portion that stuff out ahead of time (I would use the ziploc or gladware containers though - buying the 2oz. condiment cups? No.)

I have small 1/4 cup gladware or ziploc containers that work really well.

[vicky]

www.parenting.com/gallery/bento-lunch-boxes?pnid=114068

Kiddie bento boxes! I used to be cute and make these for my clients.

[vicky]

A mom bento box site : lunchinabox.net/

[vajeana]

Ava and Lily's lunch today:

Deli meat (they won't eat sandwiches)
String Cheese
Carrot sticks
Fruit Leather
Oatmeal cookies with dark chocolate covered raisins

[lazyphoque]

Sept 4, 2012 11:17:30 GMT -5 kevin arnold said:

And also, you said "I creamed."

...There is no blushing face?
...I really hoped no one would notice if I held my books in front of me just right.
...Winnie is going to be pissed when she finds out.