kid's lunch??

odusgolp

Really need ideas of things to pack in 5 year olds lunch - he isn't a big fan of sandwiches. Alternatives?

angelicdisgrace

Lunchables or salad.

kaaatielove

definately lunchables.

Hananiah

Lunchables taste good, but are full of sodium and preservatives. Here are some healthy ideas for kids lunches: http://www.fitpiglet.com/Fit_Piglet/SQUEAL_Spiel/SQUEAL_Spiel.html

granolagirl

How about Somme soup, chili or spaghettios in a thermos. I've sent veggie chicken nuggets wrapped in foil before. Maybe sliced veggies with pita triangles with a dip( my kids like hummus).

leynak

What about some type of wrap?

AndreaWyland

I use a thermos and send leftover dinners such as pastas, chicken, salmon, veggies, etc. or soup, or whatever leftover we had. I switch that up with sandwiches (my daughter is not a big fan of sandwiches either). I dont buy the lunchables as its very processed and high in sodium, my kids have never even had one. I make sure to send lots of fruit and chopped veggies and sometimes a bar like a granola/protein bar as a snack. She doesnt eat cheese either so her favorite is a pasta with parmesan, I load up the parmesan and try to get some chicken or salmon or tuna in for protein:) Oh and yogurt!!!

cat3nv

Lunchables are full of preservatives and sodium. I send string cheese and fruit in my kiddos lunch box.


A few years ago after getting tired of sending PB&J to school every day, I went to amazon.com to see if I could find a book with better ideas.

one is a small square green book called Top 100 recipes for a healthy lunch box by Nicola Graimes. This book has some parent friendly recipes as well in case you take your lunch. The other book is a yellow and red rectangular book called Brown Bag success, making healthy lunches your kids won't trade by Sandra K Nissenberg and Barbara N. Pearl.

These books have changed lunch meals around here.

Good luck!!:flowerforyou:

sunkisses

I seriously do not recommend Lunchables. There's not a shred of nutritional value in them whatsoever.

My kids liked bringing warm things in a Thermos for some reason. So I'd send soups, leftovers, etc.

wraps
pitas
white meat chicken cold with a dipping sauce
chicken salad or tuna salad on whole grain crackers or in the wrap/pita
"sandwiches" on the little King's Hawaiian rolls.

Sides:
baby carrots and ranch
sliced apples
grapes
whatever berries are in season

The Family Fun magazine website has some killer ideas, loads of them.

odusgolp

I dont really like lunchables. If we can help it, We don't eat anything with preservatives, food dyes, HFCS or MSG at home. LOL

But GREAT ideas! Thanks everyone. Will definitely check those books out! I forgot about the thermos of soup idea! He loves soup. Must buy a thermos!

Oh, side note: my kid doesn't like pasta or Mac n cheese LOL WHO doesn't like pasta?? Goofball;)

Sasssy69

Girl - I HEAR you. Both my kids hate sandwiches. Here is what I typically pack (been doing this for two years now):

Kids Zbar (Kid's version of a Cliff Bar - full of protein and DELICIOUS)

Cheese or sliced turkey (they let me know what the want)

Pretzels or Gold Fish crackers

Fruit

Juice box

Kids are usually okay withe same thing every day. I mix it up with the fruit and occasionally throw in some animal crackers.

Sasssy69

Oh, side note: my kid doesn't like pasta or Mac n cheese LOL WHO doesn't like pasta?? Goofball;)

My six year old will ONLY eat velveeta shells and cheese -refuses to eat any other noodle/pasta. She also won't eat hamburger with a bun, or tacos. TACOS. She's just a weirdo.

melaniecheeks

I wouldn't call a kid a wierdo, they all have different tastes and likes (which will change over time...)

For some great inspiration, google bento boxes!

Lunchables are Ok at a pinch, but I wouldn't do them every day.

vim_n_vigor

Stuff I would not have though of before preschool last year:
String cheese with a breadstick, dip and fruits veggies in small pieces. Frozen fruit chunks thaw nicely by lunch.
Make your own lunchables version of cheese, crackers and meat.
Make your own trail mix.

mlmcquinn

I second the Bento box suggestion! We started doing Bentos about a month ago and every single kid in our family is in love with the idea. JustBento.com has wonderful ideas, recipes, and a gallery of pictures where people get crazy creative.

calibri

3rd for bento boxes! Really good at portioning and a nice canvas for creativity.

odusgolp

Dude! I'm digging these bento boxes! What's your favorite website to get them from?

Sasssy69

I wouldn't call a kid a wierdo, they all have different tastes and likes (which will change over time...)

The weirdo was tongue in cheek. She calls herself a weirdo all the time. She's not sensitive, and she has a sense of humor, like her mom.

calibri

I bought my bento box in a local shop in Chico. It's plastic and BPA free.

odusgolp

OK, our first ever lunch hath been packed

Cubed California Pepper Seasoned Chicken (I just baked a few and cut them up for the week)
Baby Carrots
Kashi Vegetables Crackers
Grapes
Yellow and Red grape tomatoes from my local farm stand (the yellow ones are to die for they are soooo good. Mini already ate half the pint tonight

It's in his superman lunch box (which has a CAPE) *LOL*

But I really do want to get a Bento. How cool.

DizzieLittleLifter

My 5 year old doesn't eat sandwiches either. She also doesn't eat meat I make her:

hummus and crackers
boiled eggs
celery and ranch
Annies organic cheese ravioli
Annies organic Mac N cheese
Tofu dogs
bagel with cream cheese
trader joes chickless nuggets
Morning star farms meatless corndogs
cold cheese pizza
soup

I have a formula I follow for lunches. 1 crunchy, 1 main dish (carb and protein), 1 fruit or veggy, and bottle of water. I have a reverse ice pack that I heat up in a pan of boiling water. That combined with a heat insulated container keeps her food hot. She is very picky, and we DON'T do school bought lunches. HTH Kinder is exciting huh? My heart still aches every time she walks away!

mlmcquinn

For anyone who didn't want to Google: Bento is a Japanese lunchbox. You pack it like you were making a sampler. You are supposed to try to include 5 colors: red, green, white or tan, yellow or orange and tan. Lunch is a whole lot more interesting to eat, more fun to pack, usually healthier food, and shows you care We don't get as fancy as they do on this website, but we do use clever ideas sometimes like a sandwich cut into a flower shape with a grape on top as the center.
JustBento.com Yes, we do pack Bentos for kids, but it has been an awesome dieting tool! You do something interesting for yourself and it is like eating at a tiny buffet :-) HUGE TIP: We have read different places online, that the milliliters your Bento holds is approx the number of calories it holds.

To answer you question, we have gotten some neat boxes on Amazon or Ebay, but for a reliable source with huge selection, we like Allthingsforsale.com This week we got 5 Bentos that were under $6 each. They have a "specials" section. However, they have really nice sets that are more pricey. I was aiming low because there are six of us. Now we have an official bento for each member of our family. They shipped from CA, we are in Indiana. We got our box, flat rate shipping, in one week.
Prior to that, while waiting for payday, we were using plastic containers from ziplock and rubbermaid, because we could get them fast, cheap, and bulk. Now they go into use in my kitchen. Packing the "real" bentos is way more fun in my opinion, but I learned a lot and got in the Bento habit, so I know it was worth the investment now.

JDNOX

i love that lunch box

cat3nv

Today I packed mini kabobs which consisted of yellow tomatoes and cucumbers from our backyard, olives, and cheese cubes. Apple juice and rice chips with a greek yogurt dip.

I made the dip with plain greek yogurt, about half a shredded up zucchini, sea salt and garlic powder.