*ATTENTION PARENTS* Help Needed!!

I usually pack my daughter's lunch with a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, some kind of fruit, string cheese, and a snack size bag of pretzels or baked chips. I also send a refillable bottle of water with her.

Kudos to you for choosing this way!! I think it so important that we take care of our kids as much as possible, including nutrition. Some of the stuff they serve in schools under the guise of being healthy is astounding... as if "potato wedges" are really better than fries. And who needs to be giving a kid three servings of fruit juice at once from a vending machine bottle?

I don't have kids, but from what I hear they love to play with their food. I read an article about school lunches that suggested buying a lunch box with compartments (she used bento boxes... I'm sure if you Google them you can find an online retailer), and put different foods in each compartment--sort of a healthy, fresh version of lunchables, so they can assemble their lunch at school, which even I think is pretty fun. If they don't have a fridge, I would recommend easy things that keep well with an ice pack like carrots, apples, and mini pitas and I would definitely stay away from deli meat (don't want that sitting out of the fridge for too long!).

Good luck to you guys!

I pack Jake a sandwich (PBJ, turkey and cheese, ham and cheese on light wheat) and then put in a bag of baked chips and fruit. For the fruit I use fresh if it packs easy or I break down a can of fruit in light syrup in a small Glad container. He's 9 and so far it has usually been more than he can eat, but what he doesn't eat he has for a snack on the way home. For a drink, we keep an account open for him because he will either grab water or milk.

L

I packed my grandson lunch all year for Pre-K and I usually made a sandwich on whole wheat bread with lean turkey and cheese, baby carrots, grape tomatoes, fresh fruit or natural applesauce. Sometimes I packed lean turkey pepperoni, cheese slices and whole grain crackers instead of the sandwich. His school supplied milk and water. They did not allow candy or sweets but I did sometimes sneak in a few mini vanilla wafers or graham crackers. His 4th grade brother bought the school lunch but we watched the menu and if it was something he didn't like I packed him the same lunch as his little brother. Fortunately we live in an area that is very organic and health concision so meals tend to be healthier in our schools.

and I wouldnt deprive my kids from a snack so if you want to add a snack just to applaud him for eating a healthy lunch, throw some gold fish, a fruit roll up or a pudding in there....

I got complimented in texas about my daughters lunches when I sent her to school with lunch lol and thats when i didnt care about being healthy but I did care about their lunches at school because I didnt want them to be hungry all day....

My oldest will be going into 1st and I packed his lunch every day (except for a handful of pizza days) last year. One of my BEST purchases was a Thermos Brand FUNtainer ("Splurge" and go for the actual Thermos brand)...they come in a large array of characters and will last for years. While he packed, he still got a hot lunch some days...I put homemade mac-n-cheese in there, scrambled eggs, homemade (low sodium) soup, leftovers (think spaghetti, even chick brst and green beans).

http://www.thermos.com/product_catalog.aspx?CatCode=FOOD

I did the water bottle thing as well, but occasionally he got a juice box...the ones from Apple&Eve.

http://www.appleandeve.com/

sanwhich is always a winner, make sure its on whole wheat.....carrots and sugar snap peas are good for kids, because they taste sweet. You can make your own cookies or desserts, so you know exactly what's in them and put one in his lunchbox....and a little thing of milk or juicy juice. String cheese is also a winner

My girls eat everything as well but they really get a kick out of bringing leftover dinner from home (pasta, chicken, salads, etc.) On a busy day, I will pack sandwiches and baby carrots, edamame, and whatever fruit is handy. They do get a bit busy during lunch, so yours may not eat as much especially in the beginning. My girls also love the secret lunchbox notes... Having him pack his own lunch also makes it fun and might encourage him to eat all of it. Have a good time!

maybe my kids are weirdos, but they like alot of leftovers cold. homemade pizza, baked 'fried' chicken, spaghetti/goulash, grilled cheese, meatloaf, etc.

on a day i am feeling ambitious, i make about 50 individual pasties and freeze them. my kids eat them about once a week for lunch. a pasty is like a meat-and-potato calzone - pie crust, hamburger, potatoes, carrots, onion, salt and pepper. i also change it up by adding egg, bacon, cheese and peppers (breakfast pasty). you could make a alfredo, chicken and broccoli turn-overs using the same idea or pepperoni, cheese and spaghetti sauce.

my boys get sick of sandwiches, so sometimes i just send sliced deli meat, cheese singles and wheat crackers and they make their own 'lunchable'. speaking of sandwiches, there is nothing worse than a soggy one, so i send the bread packed seperately and they can assemble it themselves, especially blts. they also like bagel sandwiches (using the minis). their favorite is when i send taco meat, cheese and a wrap for tacos.

hummus and pita bread is another idea.

cherry tomotoes, baby carrots, zucchini sticks, cucumber slices, half a corn on the cob, ect are great 'finger food'. my boys don't like ranch, but you could send some. steamed veggies like broccoli and cauliflower disappear, especially in a cheese sauce (mine don't like them raw).

blueberries, grapes, cherries, etc are good because they don't bruise. my boys do not like it when i send peaches, plums or bananas, etc. they also don't want anything they have to peel, like oranges or clementines. they love pre-cut apple slices (use a touch of lemon juice so they don't turn brown). they like when i send yogurt or peanut butter as a dipping sauce. also, melons in a plastic container gets top reviews. when i send strawberry shortcake, i am the best mom ever.

they pretty much get a string cheese everyday.

i usually include a homemade trailmix with nuts, m&ms, dried fruit, cheerios, etc for their chips/dessert. an occasional pudding cup or 'fruit pizza' (wrap with cream cheese and sliced fruit) makes the cut.

an ice pack and an insulated lunchbag is a must. hope this helps.
dawn

Wow,...did everybody give you some really good food ideas. Please allow me to add just one point as a plea from a Kindergarten teacher. Whatever you pack, make sure your child can open it by themselves. Those gogurts and fruit cups can be a challenge to a kindergarten friend...have them practice before hand. It will make everyone's life so much easier!

BTW...don't forget snack time too!

My daughter will be starting kindergarten this year also so I broke down and got the thermos funtainer as well. I tested it out one day and it does keep the food warm so she can enjoy a hot lunch some days.