It's that time again!

**Daisygirl** · 07-30-2006, 07:26 AM

Well, the clock is ticking! Time to go back to school and start packing those lunches. What are some ideas for foods your kids will actually eat and not trade or throw out? Here are some of mine:

1.) Smore pudding. I put chocolate pudding in a little tupperware and top it with some mini marshmallows. I send it with graham crackers for dipping. The girls love it!
2.) Jello jigglers in colors appropriate to the season
3.) Zippie bags of fresh fruit to dip in vanilla yogurt
4.) Salad (my kids ask for this)
5.) Dry Ramen noodles (don't ask me why, all the kids at my daughter's school eat these. They crunch them up with the seasoning packet and eat them right out of the bag. Yech!)
6.) Veggies and dip
7.) Veggie wraps: Veggies like lettuce, grated carrot, cucumber and tomato mixed with shredded cheese and ranch, then wrapped in a tortilla.

**AmyBoz** · 07-30-2006, 07:56 AM

My kids lunches are pretty mundane, but so far, they've never complained.

PBJ sandwiches or Cheese sandwiches (just cheese and bread)
banana or peach or apple
yogurt

I guess maybe I should get more creative.

**baxjul** · 07-30-2006, 08:29 AM

DD likes to take lunchables, so we make our own! I have little cookie cutters and we cut out the cheese, turkey, ham, she loves to do this.

**slowtypinwoman** · 07-30-2006, 10:13 AM

Good thread!
Alex will be starting middle school this year and I'm hoping she doesn't get into the " I'm fat" thinking many girls do at that age. I'd like some ideas for some "fun,cool" food. lol Usually we just take left-overs from dinnerthe night before.

**bumplett** · 07-30-2006, 10:20 AM

I'm going to try the Smore pudding! that's a great idea.

otherwise, Josh is soooooooooo picky.... we stick with pb&j sandwiches & chips.

He had surgery on his gumline last week, so he has to eat ONLY soft food for 6 weeks!! Geez........ I'm running out of ideas at home, I don't know what to do when school starts !

**Daisygirl** · 07-30-2006, 12:09 PM

OOH Baxjul! I love the cookie cutter idea, definitely going to try that one! My 5 year old would think that was fabulous.

**inneedofhope** · 07-30-2006, 09:20 PM

I've done the MYO lunchable, ds loves that. I will definately do some smore pudding for him. He likes his pb sandwiched and yogurt, ham and cheese (dry), and spaghetti os with meatballs in his thermos bowl. I've also sent hotdogs and chicken nuggets, just cook in the microwave, and he eats them cold at lunch. He likes rice cake pb sanwiches, too. and cold leftover pizza.

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 07-30-2006, 09:49 PM

my ds age 6 is normally the only one who packs his lunch. hes extremely picky. he packs the same thing EVERYDAY!!!! it consists of peanut butter sandwich, granola bar, fruit snacks & a orange juice.........lol

**YankeeMom** · 07-30-2006, 09:54 PM

My youngest, who starts Kindergarden this fall, has already put in his order for what he wants to bring his very first day of school:
ham sandwich
grapes
fruit snacks
apple juice

My older kids like it when I make homemade hot pockets, esp pizza ones. They eat them cold at lunchtime. They also like chicken patty sandwiches. I heat up the chicken patties, put them on a bun with a little mayo then stick them in their lunch box with a cool pack. They say they are really good cold.

My oldest son likes finger foods....carrot sticks, cheese sticks, celery sticks. So if I can make it small & handheld, he's happy lol.

**missytata** · 08-18-2006, 02:50 PM

These are some great ideas! We took a job transfer that came with a raise, so now we are going from free lunches for the past 2 years to paying $1.75 daily for lunches the kids aren't crazy about!

**kabin63** · 08-18-2006, 03:08 PM

My DD was so picky last year that all she took in her lunch all year was carrots, celery sticks, pringles chips and a cookie. She said she didn't have enough time for lunch last year, almost an hour...LOL
This year she only has 20 minutes for lunch and she takes a ham and cheese sanwich with mustard, carrots, frozen water bottle, 2 cookies and an occasional snack...LOL and she likes this so far....go figure.

**celina** · 08-18-2006, 04:38 PM

my dd started school last yr.
apples..
peanuts and raisins mixed
popcorn
veggy sticks and raw broccoli and dip
yogurt
her fav are tortillas with cream cheese and cajun chicken lunch meat rolled and cut into pinwheels
lunchables with fun shapes
sandwhiches cut into a fun shape
cheez wiz in a closed lid container and mini crackers..(like the handi snacks)

leftover garlic spegatti with shrimp and brocolii (the staff wanted to trade with her on that one)

leftover steak and brocolli...(again the envy of teachers)

pate on a fresh bun...

chicken fried rice is a huuuge fav if it has tons of chicken in it...

my ds is the oposit of her...pbj everyday at home...hope that changes..

**miss_thrifty** · 08-18-2006, 06:58 PM

our schools dont allow anythung with nuts inthem, theirs a few kids were are extremly allergic so we have to buy nut free granols etc. no P.B. sandwhiches at school here , i wish.
Mostly i give my youngest a thermos with hot soup or fresh kraft dinner made that morning, it keeps hot all day.
Most teachers have microwaves in their classroom, 1 min. per child, so evryone gets a turn.
_ham sandwhiches, egg sandwhiches, turkey in a tortilla, leftover stuffing and cranberry sauce.
_all differnt kinds of fruit and veggies
_ ready made drinks and ones made to put in the stay cool containers.

**northernmom2boys** · 08-18-2006, 09:26 PM

Each classroom has a a microwave so lunches are easy around here.I can send leftovers to reheat or canned pasta and stuff.My 5 year old who enters senior kindergarten this Sept

wahhh only wants sandwiches in his lunch,the same thing everyday of the year lol

**baxjul** · 08-19-2006, 09:54 AM

My dd loves lunchables, and she also loves summer sausage. SO, summer sausage was on sale huge stick for $4.50 at our walmart. We've been making our own lunchables, with little cookie cutters for the cheese! She loves them.