What do you pack that is better than the school lunch?

Val_from_OH

There is a very interesting topic ongoing about the new gov't guidelines for school lunches, and many parents have said that they are switching to packing their kids lunches. I have packed my kids lunches for years for daycare, and have always been able to send "heat-ups", which are typically the healthy leftovers from last nights dinner.

With my son now in elementary school, I am wondering what parents pack that is better than the school lunch? Without being able to heat anything up, I feel like I am limited to packing salads or sandwiches for my (very picky) son, and honestly, I'd be just as happy with him having chicken nuggets as a deli meat sandwich.

aewhite01

You can still send the "heat ups." All you need is thermos. Usually if the heat-ups is leftovers like spaghetti or soup or chili or something like that, all you would need to do is heat up the thermos with hot water for about 5 minutes while warming up the food on the stove, then place the hot food in the thermos and viola. It usually keeps the food warm for up to 5 hours so depending on what time lunch is for your child, they can still have a warm lunch and at least you know what they are eating.

DoomCakes

You can still send the "heat ups." All you need is thermos. Usually if the heat-ups is leftovers like spaghetti or soup or chili or something like that, all you would need to do is heat up the thermos with hot water for about 5 minutes while warming up the food on the stove, then place the hot food in the thermos and viola. It usually keeps the food warm for up to 5 hours so depending on what time lunch is for your child, they can still have a warm lunch and at least you know what they are eating.

That sounds like a winning idea. Better than the schools mystery lunches and high sodium crap! And I'm sure he'll appreciate it more so too.

SarahD59

My son is VERY picky, and he hate sandwiches. I make him grilled chicken strips. I just buy the organic white meat chicken tenders and then just cook two in a skillet with light seasoning in the moring. It takes almost no time, and by the time he eats them at lunch, they're a little warmer than room temp which is fine for cooked chicken tenders. I add to that various fruit (depending on what's in season or what he prefers) with a bottled water and pretzels or nuts.

assymcgee

my daughter will eat most foods cold or at room temp, so the only things i put in the thermos really are soups/stews/spaghetti sauce. so she still gets a lot of leftovers. also: salads with cheese /chicken/beans, etc...hummus with bread/veggies/crackers...hardboiled eggs...sushi...yogurt parfaits with fruit, granola, etc...meatballs with sauce to dip...pasta with pesto...kebobs...and she does get sandwiches too. my daughter isn't really a picky eater, so as long as i keep lunches interesting and i vary the contents, she's usually happy.

AndiJoy812

My son is pretty picky, but I know he will eat this every day - still a little high in the sugar content, but overall much better than the crap they serve at his school. All natural peanut butter/sugar free jelly on wheat; pretzels; manderine oranges and I put a yogurt in the freezer the night before and by his lunch it is thawed out. I at least know he is going to have a full belly - and that it what is important to me at this point. (He is in kindergarten).