Lunch Ideas for School

[Jeff]

The girls must take their lunch to school. Needless to say we have exhausted our current menu. They also have a fruit break in the afternoon that needs packed.

Any ideas?

I am thinking sandwich or some other main item, then a couple other items and a fruit break.

Thanks in advance.

[Linda/NE]

Do they have access to a microwave? microwavable soups are good for this time of year. Would soup stay warm enough in a thermos?

If not-- what about Lunchables--they're a little pricey but lots of different kinds.

Hmm.. other items-- cold hotdogs, cheese and crackers, fruit pies, raw veggies (baby carrots, cauliflower, etc.), dry cereal mixes (my kids love these. I usually stick in a few M&m's , chocolate chips or marshmallows for a special treat), pudding cups...

For a fruit break--what about those canned fruit cups?

Hope this was of some help. Good luck!!

[littlesista06]

Jeff - my dd packs her lunch, so I understand running out of ideas.

The BEST thing I hit on was chicken noodle soup. I bought her a thermos that she could open, and she'll down a whole can in one sitting! :)

She's NOT a sandwich eater, so I pack some of the following:
sliced lunch meat/veggies
turkey roll ups/cheese
string cheese/fruit
cereal bars/veggies
baby carrots and dip
she will eat a sandwich if I use a small cookie cutter to cut it ou - not as much bread
sometimes, I make mac and cheese or plain spaghetti noodles in the am and put in her thermos
I do not buy chips and other junky foods - she may get a sweet several times a week, but she doesn't have dessert everyday in her lunch

As far as the snack:
would cheese and crackers do?
sliced fresh pears stay nice most of the day
carrots/grapes/berries/sliced melon/orange slices
the pre-packaged fruit cups are good, but get costly - I'd get large cans of fruit and invest in some small plasticware containers and re-use them.... the same w/the lunchables - they are very costly and one of the worst things kids can eat --- so some say (no offese, Linda!) :)

Hope this helped! I wouldn't mind getting a peak at what your exhausted list looks like - there might be things I've never thought of! :D

[KathyT]

Dd 2 doesn't like sandwiches either, these are her favourites:

mini pitas and hummus
chef salad (she would take this everyday!)
wheat thins and cheese
tostitoes, fresh salsa, and shredded cheese
tomatoe soup in a thermos

I always pack lots of fresh fruit too, her faves are kiwi and sliced watermelon.

As for recess, mine usually get goldfish crackers and an apple.

[RCT]

oh this tread is so helpful...

dd is very same old thing PB&J or lunchmeat and bread (not a sandwich though) ;)

ds is harder...our school lunches are reasonable $1.30 for a hot lunch and drink......he usually isn't a tryer of new things...but at school will try things he wouldn't normally try, so its worked out for us....but on those days he doesn't like what they are serving...I am in the dark too....

Jeff can you post some of your exhausted list for us? jennifers really gave me some neat ideas for ds :)

[kat]

Jeff, stop it! You're putting me to shame. My Youngest son does not like variety though. He goes with one thing till he tires of it. Right now it's just ham rolls, cheese, and either gold fish or saltines and milk. He all but refuses to eat in the lunch room. When he was younger because he didn't like the food, now it's just that the lines are so long. He eats his lunch then goes to the band room to practice his trumpet.

Renee, our lunches are a bargain too. They are only $1.00 and that price only rose 2 years ago from .65 cents.

I had a student years ago who only ate pb&j, doritoes, and milk every single day. I mentioned to his mom one day that I guessed he was a picky eater. She said, "No, if he wants variety, he can eat in the lunchroom". She thought that would get her off the hook of packing lunches.

[Marla]

At our school, we are not allowed to send eggs, fish or peanut butter. There is also no school cafeteria.

Once a week youngest son gets pizza day; oldest son gets it only every week.

Other than our regulars are:

cream cheese sandwich
cream cheese on a bagel
turkey in a pita with lettuce and cheese
jam sandwiches
macaroni and cheese in a thermos
turkey sandwich
margarine on a bagel with a cheese stick

[Leigh]

All of those are great ideas. Thanks for posting this Jeff. (I need ideas of stuff to carry when I student teach)

[bizymum]

What a great thread. I never knowwhat to pack..

DS#1 is a very picky eater.

Also at teh school where both boys go nothing containg peanuts, or peanut oil is allowed....So granola bars, and cereal bars are out......

[MaryL]

"Hot" lunch here is $1.30/day. I am thrilled when dks will take it...however they are kind of picky eaters. It's more important to me that they get a good lunch in their tummy's...than that they try something new. I usually encourage hot lunch once per week. Our other options include:

Bologna and cheese sandwich
Ham and cheese on a roll
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Salami, cheese and crackers
Cold pizza (if we have left overs)
Ham and cheese in a tortilla (rolled up)

They also get a piece of fruit/fruit cup/applesauce each day
Maybe some goldfish crackers, or pretzels.
Occasionally a dessert...but not always.
They buy milk at school to have with lunch.

It's not fancy, but they eat it!!!!!!

The kids at our school do not have a snack during the day (Gr. 1-8). Kindergarten does have one.

[littlesista06]

Gosh, lunch here is $2 a day.... that inclues a drink.

Kinderg. and 1st get snack here too.
My dd eats first lunch @ 10:50 a.m.! So, thank goodness they have afternoon snack. Last year, she had last lunch @ 1:00, so her snack was in the morning........

[Linda/NE]

Our school doesn't have a cafetaria but the high school (about 2 1/2 blocks away) allows them to come over an eat there. It's been that way since I was kid. A couple years ago they started walking all the kids over the high school (unless they go home for home). If children bring sack lunches they carry them over. We've never been given exact guidelines on what the kids can and can't take for lunch but I think they strongly discourage pop, candy and fast food (McDonalds) /pizza hut meals.

Our kids usually eat hot lunch cause it's so hard to find things they like in lunches.

[imamama]

How funny.... that's how I found IB... doing a search for school lunch ideas!!! There are some great ideas on the main page. Fortunately, dd likes those Gerber toddler meals, so I pack one of those and some kind of fruit. Every now and then she asks for a sandwich. So far, it's not been too challenging, though I'm noticing she's getting a little pickier :\ and wants more of a say, so, my time is comin'! Sounds like you've gotten some great suggestions so far!

[Jeff]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

[Jeff]

Originally posted by RCT

Jeff can you post some of your exhausted list for us? jennifers really gave me some neat ideas for ds :)

Its pretty short. The kids are picky and I am uncreative...

PBJ on bread, rolls, tortillas
Beanie Weanies
Hot Dog - dd takes it out of the thermos and puts it on a bun
lunch meat sandwiches
cold pizza
applesauce
apples
carrots
mandarian oranges
fruit leather
cheese
cantaloup
snack foods
nuts

Bring on the second grade. Then they can order from the cafeteria.