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The Lunch Box

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan ~ Apr 2009: Cooking Corner: The Lunch Box users admin

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Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 8:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
I need help to pack Sam's lunch box and figured I would get some great ideas here.

He is starting JK this year and will be going full days on Monday and Wednesday and then every other Friday. I'm not sure if it's a "balanced day" or not as I have not received any info home from the school yet.

So, I'd like to try to keep it a simple as possible without buying alot of crap and sending difficult thing to open etc. He does not like cold cuts or cheese so those easy things are out, along with PB being a big no-no. He like most fruit, some veggies, applesauce, yogourt etc. but is that type of thing going to get him through the day?

Anyone have any wonderfully terrific ideas for me?

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 8:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Those lil applesauce packs and yogurt and jello and pudding are very easy to open and pack with a plastic spoon. Umm does he like a jelly sandwich instead? Tuna or chicken salad? Apples or grapes or plums too. Maybe a cookie or 2 and a juice box. Oh and crackers.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 8:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
My Ryan has always been a huge challenge in the lunchbox dept. Luckily he loves a good PBJ, so that is his main staple. Once in a while I will pack a chicken nugget lunchable for him. (http://www.kraftbrands.com/lunchables/)

Here are my main things:
banana
yogurt
tube yogurt (which I freeze the night before so it is cold yet thawed by lunchtime)
pretzels
goldfish
applesauce
cheerios (in a baggie)
grapes
baby carrots


(Why is PB a big no-no? I would be in big trouble if they would not allow PB at his school. I know cuz of allergies you can't bring in PB for the class, but you can individually)

Doesn't look like i have anything wonderful that you haven't already mentioned... Sorry!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 8:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Spitfire, think protein... fruits and veggies are not going to be enough. Does he like nuts (assuming he's not allergic)? You could have him help you make up his own trail mix (buy different nuts, dried fruits and raisins, maybe some M&M's or chocolate chips, different cereals, and mix 'em all up).

What about chicken, like chicken drumettes (which are kina fun to eat)? You could add a little container of dipping sauce (or even ranch dressing which could go with chicken or veggies).

What about wraps? You could take lavash bread (or tortillas although I hate cold tortillas), spread a bit of cream cheese on it, and then add slivered veggies. Roll 'em up and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. The morning of, slice into rounds and wrap up. They are kinda fun to eat and the cream cheese adds some protein.

Cold quesadillas are also good. And if you add chicken to the quesadilla and a little container of a salsa for dipping? (Kids here grow up on mexican food so that's always an easy option.)

More work would be cold tacos. Use beans to hold things in the shell (use fresh tortillas and grill them so they are soft and fat free), add a bit of meat and other toppings, then roll up and wrap in wax paper. They are easy to eat and easily customized.

Get creative with the yogurt and fruit, and use the fruit for dipping into the yogurt. If you buy plain yogurt, you can add a bit of jam or honey (so YOU control the sugar).

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 8:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
Julieboo, just like you mentioned, it's because of allergies. I actually have not been informed that it's a peanut free school yet, but I guess I'm just assuming. I think most schools around here a peanut free. Makes it hard. Maybe I'll luck out but I've already informed Sam that there is no PB allowed and he understood why.

Mocha, great ideas. Maybe he will learn to like jelly sandwiches. No tuna or chicken though. He does not like sandwiches period unless they are PB & J or grilled cheese. Yes I know I said he didn't like cheese but this is the only exception. :-)

Julie I was wondering about the freezing of the yogourt tube idea so I'm glad you mentioned it. Do you find that Ryan is satisfied with just muchie things rather than more of a meal type thing?

Has anyone tried send a grilled cheese?

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 8:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
Costa, I like the cream cheese wrap idea. I think he may learn to like it. He like cucumber so that could be added in there.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 8:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Spitfire, if pb is a no no, try soy nut butter. Caleb is allergic to peanuts so he eats it and has for years, but surprising to me is Dakota who does eat pb has absolutely no problem with the soy nut butter. Says it tastes, smells, and looks just like pb (I think so too.)

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 9:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Oh I thought he didn't like peanut butter lol.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 9:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Spitfire, you can get really creative with those wraps. If you do it right, when you slice it you can get a smiley face. Might be fun to play with. And you can get lots of veggies in there... cucumbers and carrots, along with lettuce. For something different you could do cream cheese and jam with walnuts (almost like a dessert roll-up but healthier).

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 10:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Yes, Ryan is totally satisfied with munchie things. He has never been one for a large meal.

If Sam is not allergic to PB, then go ahead and give him PBJs. I have never heard of a school that would not let an individual kid have his/her own PB sandwich.

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 11:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
Julie, around here we have several schools that I know of that have a no nut atmosphere. Then there are some that that are more specific to just the classroom with the child who has the allergy.

Now I'm wondering if nut allergies are more predominant here???

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 11:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I think there are a lot of nuts in Canada!!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 11:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I think trying the soy nut butter is a great idea...

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 12:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Spit, it's pretty bad here too, but our school doesn't outright ban nuts yet. They have banned sugar (the trail mix would be a no no here cuz of the m&ms for example.)

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 12:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
Yes, we are nutty Canucks! lol

Hmmmm, I'll be looking into that.

Jewels
Member

09-23-2000

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 12:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jewels a private message Print Post    
I have never heard of a nut free school! Interesting.

I send the same thing pretty much everyday: peanut butter sandwich (my son doesn't like jelly), string cheese, baby carrots and pretzels.

If he likes grilled cheese would he like cold grilled cheese? My mom used to make that for me everyday and I loved it. She would toast a piece of bread, put cheese on it, put it in the microwave until melted then leave it out until it was time to leave for school and put it in my lunch bag.

I dislike tube yogurt because of the high fructose corn syrup in it. It's like candy in a tube!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 7:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
The high sugar content in yogurt is why I said to use the plain yogurt and add a spoonful on honey or jam. And the trail mix can be customized... no nuts if needed, no chocolate if needed. It's always more fun to make your own than buy it anyways (and you can buy the nuts and other grains in bulk or in packages).

While I don't have kids, the kids I know eat very healthy. Not a lot of snacking, not a lot of processed foods, and not a lot of sugary foods (like yogurt in a tube). I swear that good eating habits when young result in great eating habits when older (and less chance of weight issues, diabetes, and other complications). Anything homemade, where you control the fats, sugars, and proteins, is about a hundred times better than anything you can buy. :-)

(I'll get off my platform now! :-))

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 9:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Jewels, have you seen the new commercial out by the Corn Refiners Association? They make it seem like HFCS is practically healthy! They equivalate it to honey or sugar.

Another food question: why can't you find american cheese in prepackaged slices? You can with every other cheese (cheddar. munster, etc.) but not American. Unless you consider that kind like Kraft "cheese food" slices as cheese--which I do not...

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 9:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
I thought American cheese was processed cheese and the kind like Kraft - or in our case Walmart - was the only american cheese you could get. Guess I learned something new today.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 10:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Does this mean we should get lots of this for our kids?

http://www.corn.org/HFCSnaturalFDAclarification07-08-08.htm

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - 12:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
Forgot to tell everyone that it is a nut free school. The exact phrase they used was "this is a peanut/tree nut free school."

I have found a non-peanut, peanut butter (lol) around here called P-Butter. It's not really that bad.

Now he's sick of sandwiches though. He's eating all the other things in his lunch though so I'll just keep packing alot of extras.

Hukdonreality
Member

09-29-2003

Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - 7:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hukdonreality a private message Print Post    
Spitfire, my friend loves to take a breakfast sausage and roll it up in a pancake to take for lunch. She loves them cold. The thought sorta gags me, but I know kids generally don't care about stuff like that.

Have you considered sending cereal and milk? If you gave him a hot breakfast, he would probably love to have his cereal for lunch. I found this container online, but no website for ordering. Just gives you an idea:



Skootz
Member

07-23-2003

Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 3:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Skootz a private message Print Post    
My kids like me to make a "lunchable" in a container put crackers, cheese and meat.

Get the small wraps and put some shredded cheese in it and a slice of meat.

Pepperoni sticks.

hot soup in a thermos with crackers

We are nut/peanut free school too - my kids miss pb&j sandwiches

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 6:06 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
I had success yesterday with a jam and cream cheese sandwich. I used my tiny cookie cutters so they were bit sized which he seemed to like.

This morning he was reminding me about a time when I made crepes and rolled a banana in it, drizzled a bit of syrup over top and he could pick it up. This is his request for the next lunch.

Y2krazy
Member

09-17-2002

Thursday, October 09, 2008 - 11:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Y2krazy a private message Print Post    
my DS is now 20 and no longer in school, but back in the day....peanut butter was banned for just-in-case.

Justavice
Member

11-22-2005

Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 1:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Justavice a private message Print Post    
Just some things that I thought of:

string cheese
dried fruit
baby carrots and ranch
cut up lean turkey hot dogs
granola bars
cold mac n cheese
bagel and cream cheese
cottage cheese and fruit
pretzels
tea sandwiches - cream cheese and cucumber on little shapes of bread