Ideas for kids school lunches....we're bored!!!!

[Darster]

So it's the 2nd day of 3rd grade here in Georgia and we are already bored with our lunches.

School lunches went up to $1.50, and since I have 2 kids, that'd be $3.00 a day, so we decided they'd take their lunches again...groan.

ANY ideas would be great!

[chellem]

wellllll......if the classroom has a microwave..and the teachers let them heat things....lots of GREAT ideas...those noodles in a cup... chicken nuggets..pizza rolls..regular pizza...hot pockets..fried chicken..hamburgers..hot dogs..soup..ravioli

if nooooooo microwave... you can try...sandwhich rolls...take cheese and some meat and roll it in a tortilla shell..sandwhiches are always good..you can change your meats and cheeses and breads and all... PBJ as far as "side" items..raisins..all kinds of cut up fruit..pineapple.apple.oranges....carrots --don't forget the ranch for dipping!!!!!! jello..chips...fruit roll ups...the little fruit snacks..applesauce..yogurt..cheese sticks..crackers

oh man...i could go on and on..... email if you want more

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[NaomiMarie]

LOL.............
1st grade - Steven took a bologna sandwich EVERY day!
2nd grade - Steven took a PB (plain on a potato roll) EVERY day!
I swear I could make his lunches with my eyes closed, there's no variation.
We've had a VERY HARD time trying to introduce new foods....... he JUST started eating pizza and hamburgers. A HUGE milestone!
Hoping to bulk him up a lil, LOL
This wasn't just your ordinary "picky eater syndrome" either, I'm talking borderline eating disorder
The pediatrician kept saying "it'll pass", guess he was right, just thought (hoped) that it would happen a lil sooner
He eats the same foods day in and day out....he loves pasta/butter and Kraft mac & cheese. Not the most nourishing but something is better than nothing, right?!


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[cata5]

I always get stuck in the sandwich mode...like you have to have one...but you don't! lol I also tend to forget that some kids eat so little, but still get enough. I started doing half sandwiches for my daughter because she was bringing half home in her lunch box...and she was 11 yrs old!

Making your own "lunchables" goes over well...crackers with cheese and deli meats cut small.
A muffin made with some healthy ingredients????
Bagels with cream cheese.
Peanuts in the shell.
Trail mix that you buy in bulk or make yourself...with dried fruits, nuts, coconut...
Salads? you send the dressing in the tupperware midgets.
peanut butter and banana sandwiches
Pickles wrapped in ham and cream cheese
Granola
Pita bread with fillings...


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[bonniejeanne]

My kids have almost always taken homemade lunches. They hate the school lunch. I don't blame them, as the cafeteria always smells atrocious when I'm there. I usually pack them a sandwich. Side items include grapes, baby carrots, snack mix, nuts, granola bar, apple, kiwi, chips, pretzels, celery (sometimes with peanut butter), the pretzels filled with pb that you can buy at Walmart, fruit rollups, cookies, and various Debbie snacks.


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We don't have a coupon code, but you can save gas and time by shopping Walmart.com online, right?

[bwsmom]

I, too, would recommend pita sandwiches. You can have the kids choose their own fillings....anything from lunchmeats and cheeses to pb and j to....??? Let them be the ones to get creative. The thing about pitas is you can usually find pita bread both in "regular" and "wheat", and they're self-containing!! No need to worry about drips, spills, etc!! Plus, one pita flat makes two sandwiches!!

As for snacks, we do the same as everyone else....fruit (banana, grapes, etc), small veggies (baby carrots), "whole fruit" fruit snacks (not the ones that are 10% fruit and 90% gelatin), crackers or small chip bags, etc. Hee hee....I make it sound like we're hippies or something....we're not, but I do want my daughter to make good eating choices, since I haven't and now have the bod to show for it!!

Hope you and the kids can come to a compromise soon!!


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[mama2calli]

Originally posted by Darster
ANY ideas would be great!

A friend of mine just sent me this link for Back to School lunch ideas, I haven't had a chance to explore it much yet but you may find some help here:

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Kath


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[Darster]

Only on DOD could I post a question and then go to bed and wake up in the morning and find 6 great replies!!!

Thanks so much....I really hadn't thought of the pita idea! They'll like that!

Thanks for the site too, I got some great recipes off there for chewy granola bars!

[billsmrs]

My daughter likes the lunchables. We also do sandwiches and the little drink boxes........she HATES milk. She says it is always warm at school. Can't say I blame her though. I only like ice cold milk!

Another idea that both my kids love is one we did at VBS for snacks. It is cheap and easy to make. Get some flour tortillas. Mix peanut butter with a little honey or corn syrup (we prefer the honey) spread on tortilla and sprinkle the peanut butter with chocolate chips then roll it up! You get your bread your peanut butter (protein) and something sweet all rolled into one and there is no refrigeration needed!


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[blueaguave]

cheese sticks, hard boil eggs,bannanas....I'm hungry now

[eldo]

I agree, the same old sandwiches can be sooo boring. Our school lunches have been $2 for a couple of years, and my kids never buy lunch because they don't like the food.

You've already heard some great responses, so I'll just add that my kids like:

- leftover pasta (you can put it in a plastic container plain or with some finely chopped veggies or cubes of cheese)

- frozen Go-Gurt makes a nice treat (by the time they eat it, it will still be very cold)

- tuna salad (instead of a sandwich, send along some crackers they can scoop it up with)


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[cata5]

I'm not sure any older kids take their lunches and the selection they have is usually bad. I even remember in Jr high eating donuts and/or chips or not eating anything! ('70s) In our jr high here there is a salad bar that my girls liked. It was the typical iceburg lettuce, etc. That seemed better than many other selections I guess. In high school there is no longer a salad bar and I think my daughter ate "snack" foods rather than a meal. Both of the girls are pretty healthy eaters, but they didn't have many GOOD choices...HEALTHY choices. They think there will be new choices this year due to the expansion of the cafeteria...maybe...


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[twonky]

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[june72]

OMG my ds has ate the same thing for the last 2 years.
peanut butter sandwich, chips, cake or pudding and juice
he will not eat anything. i have tried everything and he will go hungry before he does. can you believe he has never tried pizza, hamburger, spagatti, porkchops, any type of veggie. I have tried everything. Here is what he eats and nothing more.
buscuits
gravy
pancakes
ramen noodles (beef)
hotdogs(kahns only)
french fries
mac-n-cheese
shells-n-cheese
sausage
bacon
apples
you are basically looking at what he will eat. its awful and yes i have tried making him sit at the table till he tries something, i have tried making him taste differant things, i have bribed him, i have done everything. rewards you name it done it. so can you help me????????????????? i'm at my wits end with this.