lunchbox veggies

[missyali]

My kids are required to eat a fruit, dairy, protein, starch and veggie at lunch. I am running low on ideas for the veggies. We've been doing peppers (red, orange & yellow ~ won't touch green), cukes, and carrots. A LOT! I feel like they are going to get board and rebel soon. There is not microwave available, so that limits what I can pack a bit. I need help! My brain is tired and feeling very uncreative. We can do different dips. I am just at a loss. Please share the collective knowledge. TIA

[itsahumanzoo]

Celery, broccoli, maybe a cold veggie salad made with tomatoes and onions? Or you can pack a pita pocket sandwich with a lunch meat, lettuce, cukes, alfalfa sprouts, whatever they like. Then they get a starch protein and veggie all in one convenient package!

[Radish4ever]

What about broccoli, cauliflower, anything that could be eaten room temp....corn? green beans? snap peas? zucchini (room temp, but cooked and seasoned prior?)..... any kind of peas ..... my kids will eat any canned veggies room temp when I'm busy and don't have a lot of time to get things thrown together between events lol They adore room temp peas and corn!

[perSue]

celery, cauliflower, broccoli, rhubarb, turnips

bake sweet pot's or regular pot's in the oven, serve "room temp" - like fries but baked! add seasonings if they like it.

have different dips to add the veggies in... ranch, sweet&sour, ketchup, marinara sauce, honey.... whatever they like!

artichokes/hearts - w/lemon sauce
asparagus - baked/sauted/grilled - with butter/lemon/ranch
raw beets or pickled
make cabbage rolls... use as "sandwiches" for other veggies
cucumbers
baby corns
water chestnuts
bean or other sprouts
mushrooms - with sweet/sour dipping sauce
okra is fun... cut up like "wheels" - use marinara or catchup
parsnips (like turnips)
radish - unless they're too hot
dark green leafies???

just be creative... why just "one veg"? why not a combination??
think of a few leaves of spinach or cabbage... take some julienned carrots and celery, ranch dressing, wrap up in leaves.... eat

[Parksfamily5]

I know you said you have been doing cucumbers a lot but I just wanted to share a cute way to send them. You cut the cucumber in round slices, cut the center seed area out and put a small cut in one end. Then you connect them like a chain. When they lift them out of the container they are like a chain rope. It is kind of entertaining for them and a little different.
I am amazed that someone checks their lunches. At our school they could care less what you send. I have seen some pretty scarey super junk food packed lunches.

[sunshine]

Zucchini sticks with dip

raw, frozen peas (we eat them like peanuts here)

how about some veggie juices? V8, carrot juice, tomato juice, etc.

my kids liked cold, whole pickled beets - amazingly.

hot veggie soup in a thermos?

have you looked at some of the bento lunch box ideas online? they have cute ways to serve veggies.

[phoeny_moonstar]

Cauliflower, peas, carrots, broccoli, and radishes.

[IntlMom]

Required???

I'd have a mutiny on my hands!
Great in theory, but in reality, I'd waste money every day....which, as you know - ain't gonna happen!

You could make hummus (protein) and dip pita chips in it (starch)....you might even be able to find green (spinach) pita chips you can dip whatever veggies in hummus

How about a meat and chesse (or tuna fish) sandwich with pickle stackers (veggie) on it?

[madhen]

If they like tunafish, you can slice raw zucchini into rounds, then make little tuna fish sandwiches using the rounds as your "bread." Zucchini is mild enough that it doesn't conflict with the tunafish, and it adds a nice crunch to the meal.

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

My kids alway's have enjoyed taking ant's on a log. wash your celery and slice it into 4 or 5inch lenghts, fill them with natural peanut butter and then top them with plump raisins . That will give you protein, fruit and veggie:-)