Packing kids' lunches

fellesferie · July 2013

So... I am already in back-to-school mode. In my defense, DS starts back on Aug 9!

What do you do with your kids' lunches? We generally pack a lunch 3-4 days a week and let him buy lunch 1-2 days. Near the end of last year, he was so sick of sandwiches he complained almost every day.

I'm going to try and come up with 5-10 different things I can rotate in and out. So far, this (https://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/09/kids-week-ideas-for-packing-a-lunch/) is the best list of suggestions I've seen online. I am not creative or crafty enough to, for example, make Phineas & Ferb heads out of sandwiches.

What works for you??

cole2144 · July 2013

We generally pack SD sandwiches, cucumbers with ranch dressing, fruit, lunchables, or salad, stuff like that. She gets two snacks for school so we like to pack a healthy one for example yogurt or granola bars and a fun one like fruit snacks, cookies or whatnot.

Banana44 · July 2013

Honestly, I am not creative at all and I also don't have the patience or the time.

We pack lunches everyday (maybe once a month he buys lunch). But we buy lunchables when they are on sale as a treat and we will pack soup/spaghetti-o's/mac & cheese at least once a week. I have been lucky enough to have some great hot containers that work well!

I know they aren't the best for the kids, but we always pack a fruit and a veggie - so I don't worry about it too much!

Also, my SS (10) started complaining this year about lunches so we changed his chores to add packing his own lunch the night before and it has worked out great! He packs what he wants - he eats his lunch because he picked it and we don't fight in the morning anymore!

fellesferie · July 2013

DS would love it if he would get Lunchables more often.

He likes eating cold pizza and even hot dogs, so those are possibilities. We have a thermos thing that we sometimes use for ravioli or spaghetti-os.

DS has maybe never had pasta salad. I've never made it at home as DH gets weirdly squeamish about cold pasta. But I can try DS on it.

I was thinking I could even do chicken fingers, but I'm not sure about having big pieces of meat not refrigerated for a few hours? We generally put a cold pack in his lunch if he has any fruit/veg/meat, but it feels somehow sketchier with a bigger piece of meat?

Thanks for the ideas!!

Ilumine · July 2013

Pinterest has tons of ideas. I am looking at getting her an insulated Roku box. That way she can have tons of small things to choose from.

fellesferie · July 2013

I'm looking at similar stuff! Using silicone baking cups to hold bits of pretzels or almonds or grapes is a great idea.

Littlejen22 · July 2013

My DS only has half day K last year buy brought the biggest snack ever. Not much variety though. Usually a frozen squeeze yogurt either Organic or Chobani Champion Greek yogurt one. And one or two fruits which consisted of the packages precut apples, clementines that I pre peeled but he could do it himself, strawberries with leaves cut off, blackberries or raspberries. Sometime he took cheese and crackers rite cheddar or laughing cow major processed crap that is like crack for my kids and usually Wheat Thins because they are one bite and fit easy into small container. Sometimes I would send something like Goldfish and a few times a week I might add something little like a Hershey Kiss or a few MMs. Oh and he likes Freez dried apples pears and strawberry banana.

Littlejen22 · July 2013

Banana44:
Honestly, I am not creative at all and I also don't have the patience or the time.We pack lunches everyday maybe once a month he buys lunch. nbsp;But we buy lunchables when they are on sale as a treat and we will pack soup/spaghettio's/mac amp; cheese at least once a week. nbsp;I have been lucky enough to have some great hot containers that work well!I know they aren't the best for the kids, but we always pack a fruit and a veggie so I don't worry about it too much!nbsp;Also, my SS 10 started complaining this year about lunches so we changed his chores to add packing his own lunch the night before and it has worked out great! nbsp;He packs what he wants he eats his lunch because he picked it and we don't fight in the morning anymore!

While my son's lunch is usually very healthy it is refreshing to read a normal Mom being honest about this because usually people only fess up to the healthy stuff! And I learned from SD that they will only eat what they want and toss the rest as we had no idea that she was not eating her whole lunch.

Oh and I do plan on sending some sandwiches although not sure what because he does not like deli meat and I won't send PB if a classmate is allergic. I might try another nut butter. DD will be easier because she loves a healthier version of Nutella. I am so scared Of full day because I don't think either 1st grade teacher let them have a snack and DS usually are breakfast at 9 lunch at 11:30 and then had a snack in afternoon K around 1 an snacked when he got home. I have no idea how they expect him to go from 8:15 until lunch until home and only eating once. I

fellesferie · July 2013

People seem to like the easy lunch boxes for kids who like lots of little things: https://pinterest.com/easylunchboxes/easy-lunch-box-lunches/

I think I'm going to pick up a set of them for DS & DD.

The only thing is, I'm not sure how important it is (to the kid!) for the lunch to be so visually appealing. And that seems like the focus of so many of these ideas.

AlwaysForgetful · July 2013

Easy Lunchboxes are awesome! I own some of them. The ones I have are a year old and are used every day for DH and the kids on and off. Still going strong. We were actually featured in one of her articles once.

Anyway, there are lots of ideas out there for lunches. Check the links on Easylunchboxes.com.

My lunches are not normally up to par with most of the lunches she has, but you would be surprised how easy and quick a set of cookie cutters and sandwiches are. I make 4 lunches in 15 minutes. Ham and cheese can be used for cutouts to decorate. Like take a PB and J sandwich. use a barn cut out and a cow or pic cut out. Take a piece of salami and cut out a barn with it to go over your sandwich. Use a cheese square and rectangle to make a window and door on your barn. My kids loved it!

Click the links to the blogs. Some women get into it more than others https://www.easylunchboxes.com/neat_ideas/fan_sites/index.htm

Easy and some not so easy lunch gallery https://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb#!i=696914733&k=sPTvth5

kirbear · July 2013

I pack dd's lunch daily as she has allergies. Once or twice a week I make sandwiches. The other days I rotate between: using her hot thermos and sending pasta and meatballs, or healthy nuggets. At first I wasn't sure about having it sit but I got over it as I was desperate for different stuff! Also prepping the thermos with hot water makes a huge difference in things staying warm.
I also have a square lunch container that I out 4 silicone baking cups in and will put grilled chicken, cut up cheese, carrots, cucumbers, fruit, barbecue chicken etc. and then I send a small contained of ranch. The container has an ice pack that sits on top under the lid so it stays cold and it helps it all stay in the right compartment. She also likes salad and I will add in edemame, chicken or shrimp to help fill her. And then will send a fruit and dessert. I've also done bagels as she likes them cold not toasted.

Great post I'm always looking for more ideas!!

Nineoceans · July 2013

Wow that's early! SS likes pb and j, usually a fruit, either a gogurt or a cheese stick, a bag of chips OR a cookie and we pack juice to drink. I hate giving kids juice but SS expects it

Holly_1007 · July 2013

what about DIY lunchables? cheese, crackers and pepperoni is an easy one. you can use a pita bread as a base for a pizza. I don't even know what else lunchables offers now haha

fellesferie · July 2013

Thanks for the ideas!

I went to Michaels and picked up some silicone cupcake.. things. We'll use those and get an easy lunch box so I can try to get out of this sandwich rut!

We have done some DIY lunchables in the past, and he digs it. So I can definitely do those once or twice a week.

It seems like it might be more intensive on the food prep end of stuff, but maybe easier putting the lunch on a daily basis.

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