Whatcha packing in your kids lunch?
Hey all!
My first born is starting Kindergarten next week (booohooo) and, as we've seen, school lunches leave allot to be desired.
So, Serious Eaters, give me some ideas...
What do you pack in your kids lunch?
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17 Comments:
I don't have any children, but was talking with my sister about this (she has 2 kids). Her son is very picky...so most sandwiches are out.
My suggestions: (some needing the use of an ice pack in their lunch box)
Hard Boiled eggs, carrot sticks, crackers and fruit
cereal with milk, fruit
yogurt, crackers, fruit
cheese (cut chunks or sticks), crackers, fruit
Soups (in a thermos)
chicken tenders, fruit
If they are more adventurous:
hummus, with vegetables and crackers
california rolls
I would pack lunches that avoided junk food which I don't think provides good fuel for kids to learn.
Good Luck!
Pawsinhand at 8:27PM on 08/28/08
Aww...how cute! Good luck!
As a kid, I remember liking it when I got lots of little things--you could make tiny sandwiches of different varieties (either cut roll-ups using flatbreads or bread slices with lettuce and cheese and tomato or peanut butter, for example). Sandwiches cut into hearts and stars with a cookie cutter. Mini bagels with cream cheese. A piece of fruit or fruit salad. A small bag of chips. A cupcake or cookie. Kids aren't always sure what they want, but some variety ensures they'll feel like eating something.
Growing up, the most unusual lunches I saw in the lower grades were salads with ingredients in individual compartments, cold chicken, cold pizza, and bagels and lox, but for kindergarten, you might want to keep things finger-food friendly!
Oh, and of course a note with a smiley face from mom :)
HeartofGlass at 8:50PM on 08/28/08
@pawsinhand - hard boiled eggs are great, a nice way to mix things up. Slice them with one of those little egg slicers and you have easy finger food, packed in one of those mini-ziplock cups.
And @heartof glass, I totally agree, lots of little stuff. It may not all get eaten on a given day, but trades are good too.
"Family Fun" always has cute back-to-school lunch ideas. And kids do like cute...
pourgirl at 11:02PM on 08/28/08
I don't have kids, but I do have some suggestions as well:
1. Nothing with a weird smell. This could gain unwanted attention, and therefore, mocking from their peers.
2. Something familiar. This could be the comfort your child needs to make it through the day. Lunchtime is not the time for a culinary surprise.
3. Skip the "love notes." These could be socially fatal if they land in the wrong hands. Maybe pick a specific "I love you . have a great day" food (maybe a babybell cheese or something).
3. No hot pockets. They're just bad. And see #1.
4. Nothing too messy.
5. If it needs a utensil, pack it. There's nothing worse than spaghetti-O's with no spoon. Unless it's a pudding cup with no spoon.
6. And to reiterate #1-- nothing that may subject the kid to unnecessary mocking. Now, granted, every kid will get some teasing some time, but lunch should not be an anxiety-inducing time.
beth1 at 11:11PM on 08/28/08
I also do not have kids. lol. I agree with everyone above. Also since this is the kids first time into the "big world of school" there could be the anxiety of the unknown. I would pack something he/she is familar with from home that he/she likes ( a comfort type thing) at least till they get adjusted to the new surroundings. Talk to other parents about what they pack lunch for their kids and to teachers. Then you can base the advise to you your child. Good luck.
pjracz10 at 3:14AM on 08/29/08
Here are some of my son's favorites, hope it gives you some ideas:
For protien we usually go with a chocolate milk box (Horizon organic has a great one), yogurt (YoKids), and cheddar cheese with crackers or on a sandwich.
Baby carrots or sliced cucumber for veggies.
Fruit: individual cups of pineapple or peaches, sliced orange, grapes, apple (peeled and sliced and sprinkled with cinnamon)
Individual bags of snacks/dessert: chips, Pirate's Booty, cookies, crackers, fruit snacks etc.
My son likes the protiens to stay the same - the variety comes through the fruit, veggies and snacks.
I agree with posters above regarding familiarity and packing utensils, but I do include a little note when I think of it!
SSMom at 8:11AM on 08/29/08
I have two kids, and they are generally rather picky eaters. I find that for my little one, a half a sandwich is enough for her (if I were to pack a whole one it would just get wasted). nothing fancy or icky smelling -- mine like peanut butter and honey, or ham or turkey with a little mayo or mustard. Then I pack those small containers of fruit, like Dole or DelMonte mandarin oranges or peaches, with a spoon. More fun than sticking a plain old apple in there, which if cut will turn all brown and "yucky" and probably not get eaten. Those gummy fruit snacks are always a big hit -- it's like candy only a bit healthier. I try to stay away from chips, which are high in fat and contain little in the way of nutrition, but if they want something crunchy I usually put those little mini pretzels. Yogurt is a big hit, generally, if you can pack something in their lunchbox that will keep it cold. A fun idea is to buy those little mini pita pockets, and fill that with something they like. Or crackers and mini baby bell cheeses.
juliebugsmama at 8:22AM on 08/29/08
Packing a healthy lunch is easier than you think. Yogurt, cheese, sliced vegetables, roasted turkey are all great ideas..however no need to add candy-like snacks or chips which are essentially empty calories which will keep your child from eating what they really need. Kids will often eat those first and not have room for the important components of their meal
One of the easiest things to do is to cook more at dinnertime..see here:
http://www.izzyeats.com/2007/09/last-nights-dinner-lunchbox-key.html
izzy's mama at 12:27PM on 08/29/08
I have 2 boys that are in elementary school. They have always loved out of the ordinary in their lunch. Hot Lunch is out of the question. Try spreading a tortilla with peanut butter and a little honey, placing a banana in the middle and wrap it up. I cut it in half and wrap it. They love that. They also love to pack their own (or help)
this is a clever box to pack http://www.laptoplunches.com/ it is fun.
Pirate Booty
cut veggies and something to dip
sandwiches cut into puzzle pieces - peanut butter & honey is a favorite
cut up fruit (apples and peanut butter are fun) this is starting to sound like a peanut butter commercial. They don't eat peanut butter everyday
hot food in a thermos, soup, leftovers
food on a stick (mini chicken teriyaki kabobs)
toothpicks for picking up pieces of fruit, cheese, meat
mini baby bell cheese
again hard boiled eggs
nuts & dried fruit
good luck mom!
passion4eating at 2:03PM on 08/29/08
I ask my kindergartener what kind of sandwich he wants and let him help me pack his lunch the night before. Then he's always happy with what he gets. Usually it's turkey and cheese on w.w. bread (love the Sara Lee soft & smooth 100% honey wheat), pb&j or egg salad, with sides like grapes, baby carrots, raisins, cheese, sugar-free pudding cups, yogurt, or granola bars and something healthy to drink.
buffy at 3:00PM on 08/29/08
Oh and by the way I cried every day the first week I started taking him to school.
buffy at 3:00PM on 08/29/08
The proofraeder in me is coming out. "Allot" isn't a word. School lunched leave a lot to be desired.
I feel bad that kids can no longer bring peanut butter to school for lunch. I wonder if cashew butter is admissable.
Stufsocker at 4:27PM on 08/29/08
I fail. Lunches.
Stufsocker at 4:28PM on 08/29/08
"Allot" is absolutely a word. It just doesn't mean the same thing as "a lot" does. :D
wellred at 5:17PM on 08/29/08
@stufsocker...yep...you got me...my grammar sucks...I'm pretty sure 'whatcha' isn't correct either...but hey...glad you were there to catch that. thx.
@ everyone else...thanks for all the great ideas..no smelly/icky/weired food...involve the kid in the process...MUST PACK UTENSILS...
but it there seems to be a split vote on smiley face love notes...is it humiliation or adoration?
hammondcheese at 9:41PM on 08/29/08
I know I posted before on this thread, but I remember my favorite lunch. It was when mom put $5 in an envelope and said she got up late. (especially after che discovered hot pockets) :)
beth1 at 1:35AM on 08/30/08
I think love notes are still okay in kindergarten!
KarynMC at 7:42AM on 08/30/08