Toddler lunches

**New-mom-to-be** · 05-23-2011, 08:51 AM

My almost 3 year old is going to pre-school 3 days a week this summer. We have to pack his lunch. He won't eat sandwiches, other than PB&J, and the school is a nut free zone.

Suggestions for what to feed him? He won't really eat meat, so I am at a loss for what to send. Nothing that requires staying cold or being heated is allowed there. It has to sit in a lunchbox in his cubby for 3-4 hours.

**tervsforme** · 05-23-2011, 09:05 AM

Do a google search on Bento Box lunches for kids. You will get some fantastic ideas on things you can pack for lunches. I use this principle for my own lunches. Here are a couple of links to get you started. There are sooo many site and blogs about this. Good luck! It can be lots of fun!

Bento box lunches for kids : The Mommy Files

Easy, Healthy Bento Lunch Box Ideas for Kids - Parenting.com

Bento Lunch Ideas for Kids » Michelle's Blog @EverythingMom.com

**New-mom-to-be** · 05-23-2011, 09:33 AM

I actually bought a bento box for him so he doesn't have to mess with plastic bags

**zakity** · 05-23-2011, 12:14 PM

What about cheese sticks or cubes?

What about soynut butter or sesame butter? I know of a little boy who is allergic to nuts and he can have both of those.

Cream cheese?

There are also small reusable ice things. We have several shaped like different kinds of balls. They are palm-sized. We use them for burns and such rather than lunches.

**FrabjousDay** · 05-23-2011, 02:39 PM

We use insulated lunch bags with an ice packs to keep things nice and cool. This is the "lunch idea" list we use at our house...

Cubed chicken
Tortilla/wrap sandwich
Hard boiled egg
English muffin sandwich
Pita/bagel/muffin with cream cheese spread & jelly
Pasta salad
Egg salad
Ham & cheese “sushi”
Mac & cheese

Pickles
Grape tomatoes
Jello cubes or cup
Carrot sticks w/ dip
Hummus
Red pepper slices
Crackers-Goldfish, Wheat Thins
Roasted chickpeas
Bagel chips
Pita chips
Chips and salsa
Pretzels

Cubed cheese
String cheese
Pudding cup
Yogurt tube
Cottage cheese

Melon
Blueberries
Strawberries
Grapes
Pears
Pineapple
Apple slices
Banana
Clementines
Fruit salad
Fruit skewers
Applesauce cup

Brownie bite
Fruit roll up
Vanilla wafers
Dry apricots
Graham cracker squares w/ nutella
Granola bar
Cereal or cereal bar
Trail mix
Cookies
Muffins
Animal crackers

**zakity** · 05-23-2011, 02:49 PM

I am so stealing your list! You don't mind, do you? That is a great list!

**FrabjousDay** · 05-23-2011, 10:55 PM

Of course not! Steal away!

**New-mom-to-be** · 05-24-2011, 12:00 PM

I like the list. Thank you. He is pretty much a self declared vegetarian, so I think some sort bean based meal is what I will send. A pita with hummus and tomato and cucumber is a favorite of his.

**L555** · 06-19-2011, 08:57 PM

You can make your own hummus in all different flavors. Our favorites are roasted beets w tahini and green pea with lemon. Add anything to chickpeas with oil and mix it up in your food processor.

**Ali Lee** · 06-20-2011, 12:44 PM

Cut off the crust of bread, spread jar cheese on, roll up. Or spread cheese on tortilla & roll up & slice..
Jelly, applebutter & butter sandwich or put in tortilla- if he likes them.
Pizza pepperoni's & cheese, crackers
Instead of peanut butter, use soybutter, sunflower butter..
Animal crackers, fruits, applesauce cups, pudding cups, jello cups, check your bakery for pizza or cheese bread & dip into pizza sauce, pretzels & cheese sauce. If you use a small ice pak, the ideas are endless...like LO pizza-my kids eat it cold

**New-mom-to-be** · 06-20-2011, 05:07 PM

Well, today was his actual first day.

i sent falafels with tzaziki, cheese cubes, edamame, mango and kiwi, and milk.

He ate almost all of it. So I am also going to try some roll ups on tortillas. he likes that

**Imarachne** · 06-20-2011, 06:51 PM

We baby-sit a toddler and the mom sends the same cereal with a fruit cup(prepackaged), and a Gerber graduate lunch. Over and over but I bet the mom at work is eating different lunches out everyday !

**New-mom-to-be** · 06-21-2011, 10:22 AM

Well, today was tortilla coins (a whole wheat tortilla with hummus, cucumber, sprouts, and feta then rolled up and sliced), peas, grilled pineapple, granola bar, and milk

**xtena** · 06-21-2011, 10:28 AM

You've come up with two delicious healthy 'gourmet' sounding meals so far, great job! I wonder how many kids in that preschool are bringing chemical fat-packs (aka Lunchables)...