Healthy Packed Lunches for Back to School

shellyrulz

I have made a decision and my daughter is on board with it as well. I have discovered that I can feed her healthier than the school system does. But I am looking for some ideas because I really don't want to feed her nitrate filled processed lunch meats. Any suggestions on what I can do in her lunch. She is a very good eater and she is not picky at all. I guess that is the fact since she has been introduced to new foods her whole life since her Dad is a chef. Can't be picky with that!:happy:

FaithHopeTrust

My mum used to buy a fresh chicken at the begginning of the week, she'd cook it and then pack it away and i'd have chicken sandwhiches, or i used to love taking cold pasta or cold couscous!

kennie2

i came across this website yesterday where the woman says what she packs in her kids healthy lunches. its quite good for ideas. http://juliebofamilyfood.blogspot.com/search/label/Easy Lunchbox system

Diary_Queen

I make my kids a lot of stuff like I would cook at home for dinner. Do It Yourself fish tacos are one that they like. Warmed corn tortillas wrapped in foil, a container with baked cod or some other white fish, a little 'snack bag' ziploc with a lowfat sourcream & cilantro & tiny bit of avacado, some shredded cabbage & a lime wedge. I also send them almond butter and sugar free strawberry preserve sandwiched on 35 cal. wheat bread or sometimes homemade pizza slices (who doesnt like cold pizza?!?!?!?)

cawood2

Cook a roast/ham/chicken then slice for sandwiches. There are more "natural" meats that you can get here, not sure if Schneider's is in the US, but they have a line of Country Naturals, which just uses recognizable ingredients (salt, vinegar, lemon juice) as opposed to preserving chemicals. Or cheese sandwich, peanut butter, or PB&J, but to be honest, I hated when I got that in my lunch. Could also do hardboiled eggs or egg sandwich. Tuna... Just read ingredients when you're buying/making, and work from there.

Hummus and veggies or crackers, yogurt, fruit, or just home-made snacks or cookies that you control ingredients in.

JS70

I agree completely! I made the decision at the end of last year to send lunches with my kids to school. It really bothered me after watching the show on tv about the school lunches with Jamie Oliver. I now buy lean turkey or ham, 100% whole wheat sara lee thin style buns, baked chips or pretzels and lots of fruit and veggies. My girls were both considered overweight by their pediatrician and they now have become considerably healthier. I am so glad I made this decision to help my kids eat better!

shellyrulz

I agree completely! I made the decision at the end of last year to send lunches with my kids to school. It really bothered me after watching the show on tv about the school lunches with Jamie Oliver. I now buy lean turkey or ham, 100% whole wheat sara lee thin style buns, baked chips or pretzels and lots of fruit and veggies. My girls were both considered overweight by their pediatrician and they now have become considerably healthier. I am so glad I made this decision to help my kids eat better!

That is exactly the reason I choose to start packing as well. Plus my daughter will not be eating lunch until after everyone else does because our school goes to 5th grade and she is in 4th grade and the two grades eat together. Last year my neice was in the same school and she said by the time she got her food they had run out of nearly everything and all she would get was a protein and possibly a fruit or veggie. Ridiculous if you ask me!

shellyrulz

What awesome responses! I am so glad their are others out there that feel the way I do.

jah1165

my daughter does not like sandwiches and so i pack her yogurt with blueberries...string cheese....fruit in little cups...crackers with cheese....or peanut butter....pasta noodles .....tortilla wraps with hummas.....

erisfreenici

In the US, Boar's Head is a good quality lunchmeat.

KBomar2

My daughters school doesn't have hot lunch so I've been sending lunches for years. Peanut butter and jelly gets old quickly so I've gotten as creative as I can. She loves her thermos with chicken noodle soup, chili, pasta or meat for her to make tacos with. She likes hummus and pita chips with tomatoes and kalmata olives and when I make her a sandwich I use cookie cutters to make fun shapes. Another thing we do is make a sandwich with a whole wheat tortilla and cut it into rounds.
I've gotten some ideas from this website too. http://www.laptoplunches.com/healthy-lunches-bored.php

cricketannie

I try to pack healthy lunches also. Some of the usual lunchbox items are yogurt that is high in protein, fresh fruit, crackers, cheese, home made chicken tenders (cut up breast and coat with bread crumbs, baked), homemade biscuits, fresh veggies, and peanutbutter. I always try to include at least one full serving of carbs because she is so energetic, and needs them to get through the day.
My father is a chef, so my daughter gets all kinds of different foods all the time as well. I try to stick to plain, normal kid foods in her lunchbox because other kids can be so mean, and make rude comments about her lunch if she has something they don't think looks good.

calibri

Maybe this is out there, but I make kappa sushi rolls and fruit for work lunch. It's just some sushi rice, nori, and cucumber. It's filling and you can substitute for brown rice. I like to use a lot of bento box ideas for lunch.