Need school lunch help

MrsOlson

Okay, not until August but...

My DD#1 is the pickiest eater. Ever. She has some SPD issues and will start therapy when she starts kindergarten this fall.

There are only about 10 "main course" meals that she will eat. And none of them are going to work for school lunch because she can't warm them up to eat them. Now I was just told that she can't even bring a pb sandwich to school for lunch because of kids with allergies. She won't eat any deli meat. What else is there to bring for lunch on the days they serve meals that she doesn't like?

The only thing I have thought of so far is cheese and crackers and then fruit to go with it. My husband mentioned the Lunchables but then again she won't eat the meat out of it.

I just don't know what to do. I know I have a few months to prepare for this but it is really making me nervous. I don't want her to go hungry and just "make her eat it" does not work. She really won't touch things she doesn't like or doesn't want to try.

Anyone else in my situation? Any tips?

omurray

Has she tried Sunbutter?  It is similar to peanut butter, but made with sunflower seeds instead, so it is safe for nut allergies.  It looks, spreads and tastes very similar to peanut butter.  My DS eats it regularly and loves it.  I have seen it sold at Jewel, Target, Amazon.com  etc.. 

https://www.sunbutter.com/products-creamy.php

Yogurt is another good healthy option if she likes that. 

Does she like soup?  You could keep that warm in a thermos.

 

MrsOlson

Thanks! I will try that sunbutter!

She doesn't like yogart but she does like applesauce so I could bring those little cups of applesauce....

peekaboo716

Not sure which of these your DD will eat, but for ideas, some things that we pack are:

cheese sandwiches, cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, cold pasta salad (like tortellini), string cheese, gogurt, applesauce (or those crushers from Trader Joe's), fruit cups, baby carrots, sliced cucumbers, hummus or ranch dressing for dipping, edamame, crackers and sliced cheese.

My SIL packs cereal for her DD every day. Her DD will bring a thermos of milk and pour the cereal into the thermos to eat it.

LinzDavid

I was also coming in to suggest sunbutter or almond butter and a thermos.  Also ds likes kids' cliff bars.  Would she eat something like that maybe with a yogurt or some cheese and crackers?

https://www.clifbar.com/food/products_clif_kid_zbar/

omurray

LinzDavid:

I was also coming in to suggest sunbutter or almond butter and a thermos.  Also ds likes kids' cliff bars.  Would she eat something like that maybe with a yogurt or some cheese and crackers?

https://www.clifbar.com/food/products_clif_kid_zbar/

If the school is nut free (and not just peanut free), then almond butter will also not be allowed. 

Littlejen22

Does she like fruit?

DandelionMom

Take a look at all those bento lunch box blogs.  My picky eater loves her bento lunches even though I never get as fancy or involved as a lot of the bloggers do.  I use the laptop lunch box and I put little flower shaped silicone cupcake liners in the compartments to make them a little smaller and cuter.  DD's lunch today was mini corn muffins, cheese cubes, grapes, baby carrots, and mini marshmallows.  I send little plastic cocktail forks with it and she thinks it is awesome. 

MrsOlson

Littlejen22:

Does she like fruit?

 

Yep, she will eat apples, bananas and grapes.

Littlejen22

MrsOlson:

Littlejen22:

Does she like fruit?

Yep, she will eat apples, bananas and grapes.

 

I might be different than others but I would have no issue with sending her with a drink, a banana and some grapes and maybe some crackers or something else with a little substance.  I cannot tell you how often my DD eats those GoGo Squeeze applesauce things and she can eat 3 or 4 of them and I figure that will balance with the food she eats the rest of the day, I don't feel each meal needs to be balanced as long as they get different healthy food through the day or even week.