I’m almost ashamed to admit that for the 5 past years I have been VERY spoiled when it comes to school lunch. The daycare/school that B (now L) attended makes a fresh hot lunch every day – included in tution. Same with Ms. Angela. Most days, I didn’t know what the kids ate. {bad parent alert!} They don’t have food allergies or food restrictions and the menus were healthy and well balanced.
Most parents struggle with getting their kids to eat and for the most part both kids have always been stellar eaters when with their peers (eating at home is a different story). So honestly, I haven’t worried.
Well, sadly, those days are over. Enter school lunch.
Sure we could pay for hot lunch each week – but horrible memories of Orange County hot lunches creep in so I can’t let myself do that. Plus, I have enough teacher friends to know that the lunches are normally less than stellar. He can buy the mystery meat every Wednesday when he gets older – but for now? I’m planning on making his lunches.
So far, so good. We stick with a half a peanut butter sandwich (or maybe a bite), fruit, carrots/goldfish, applesauce, and a Larabar for a treat (the Larabar is of course B’s favorite part – but at least it’s healthy and balanced!). But…I can’t serve this every day. Can I?
There are two areas of concern that is pigeonholing me…
1. B is pretty picky. He doesn’t like sandwich meat (or most meats) and he doesn’t like hummus. He loves PB, salad, veggies, and fruit. And treats, of course.
2. This recent study from the University of Texas at Austin (thanks to my friend Devon for letting me know about it!)…
Despite parents’ best intentions, many school lunches packed at home may reach unsafe temperatures by the time a child eats, and that’s true even when lunches are packed in an insulated container with ice packs.
Yikes!! Kids are getting sent home constantly from what parents/nurses think is a virus — when it’s really a food borne illness.
The suggestion is to bring items that aren’t perishable and aren’t dependant upon being a proper room temperature: Items like peanut butter and fruit!
I know I’m doing it right – but I worry that 180 days worth of peanut butter and fruit is going to burn B out — so I’m asking for some help! What else can I make him??
Please feel free to include some links or direct me to other blog posts. Thanks {in advance} for your help!!!
Email
Facebook
Twitter
We the same lunch box. Peanut butter is pretty much the norm here also. I try to mix it up with different jams and preserves (pineapple is the newest fav) and honey. Kiddo also loves cream and jelly. Sometimes the bread changes (whole wheat or those sandwich thins). Strawberries, blueberries , apples, & grapes travel well.
The only part they really care about anyway is the treat. I have to go pack up his lunch now.
Vinobaby recently posted..Summer Smashed at the Shore
MMMMM… will have to get back to you on this.. you always bought your lunch.. and you didn’t have any problems.. but again.. what did I know once you left the house. PB can only go so far.. change it with a bit of fluff.. I know that not correct either.. just don’t go buy processed ham in a can.. that was the worst my mother gave to me.
Ummm — there is no chance in hell I am ever giving him processed ham in a can
Ha ha!!
PB and Fluff — brings back memories
I am not sure how our lunches will evolve over the year. Daycare strongly discouraged snack types of food in their lunches (ie chips and desserts) so 99% of the time I obliged so I really only sent a sandwich (using soy nut butter and jelly – I can’t wait to actually send REAL PJ!), fruit and a veggie with dip. We also do thermoses as well – I am not worried about the thermos – we will send leftover pasta, mac and cheese, or chicken nuggets.
The only thing I do worry about is mayo and yogurt. I am trying to get her to eat more cheese to get her protein in and occasionally we’ll send black beans as well.
Have you tried making hummus with peanut butter? So yummy!!!
I think we will have her buy her lunch occasionally – especially Mondays when Mommy doesn’t feel like making a lunch Sunday night
I am also not sure what to do about a drink – she’s been getting milk at school now and she drinks water for dinner. But honestly, I don’t trust her not to buy chocolate milk every day (don’t get me started about the fact that they sell flavored milk in schools!) so we’ll probably send a water bottle and have her drink milk at dinner again.
Yeah – I don’t know that I would be worried about a thermos either – I need to buy one. I’m such a novice!!
Hummus with peanut butter sounds good — I’ll have to test out of the waters!
I’m definitely NOT opposed to hot lunch, just not all the time. I find it easier to make him food though – then to find/send cash! Ha ha.
That’s great that he loves fruits and veggies! I feel like that is not the norm with most children. Does he like wraps? Maybe sometimes to change it up, you could do a veggie wrap with carrot sticks, jicama and other veggies he likes. You could also try toasting the bread sometimes for a texture change on his pb&j. It won’t stay warm by lunch but it should still hold its crunch. Does he like bananas and honey with his peanut butter? That’s my fave!
Jessica @ Sushi and Sit-Ups recently posted..Food trucks galore
Oh, he definitely loves his share of bad foods too!
LOVE the idea of the veggie roll up! Definitely incorporating that one next week.
There used to be this website that a woman did that featured pics of her son’s lunch each day in a bento box. It was vegan, but you could really easily use the same ideas with meat. It was so great and simple! I can’t find the blog to save my life tho. I’ll keep looking because it was full of good ideas!
Nicole C. recently posted..Let Her Lie
OK, found it! I am a little nervous that she hasn’t posted since April… but maybe that’s when the school year ended?
http://www.veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/
Nicole C. recently posted..Let Her Lie
Oh thank you! I will definitely check this site out – even if it ended in April — I guess how many ideas for lunch can you have? Ha ha.
I used to eat turkey sandwiches as a kid…but I guess you have to worry about the temps? Do they eat veggie sandwiches? Or maybe add banana or apples to spice up the PB sandwich? I know when I was a kid I would eat the same thing every day for 180 days, so maybe he won’t get sick of it
Liz recently posted..Bad Fueling for a Bad Run
Yeah – the concern is the temps for anything that isn’t being refrigerated for more than 2 hours. Boo! Not that I can’t chance it – but I also don’t want to make him sick!
I’m hopeful that he won’t get sick of it – he LOVES peanut butter, so there’s hope!
That’s a hard one! Audrie loves tuna, so she does tuna cups a couple times a week. She does lunch meat and cheese a lot, and even yogurt. Not sure about the temps of the food! Veggies and fruit are always included and baked chips.
Angie recently posted..Chica Bands Review and Giveaway!
You know, I don’t know that B has ever had tuna — I’ll have to give it a shot. That would be so great for him to bring!
I don’t have to make lunches for M’s school either and won’t until she goes to “real school” in a few years. I have a feeling I will be just as lost! You put together a good looking one though. Wish I had more ideas!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..It’s My Birthday (A Giveaway Celebration)
Thanks! I feel so spoiled!! There’s no doubt in my mind that you will be sending M to school with healthy lunches
I don’t even want to think about L starting real school (I think they might start the same year). Let’s not bring that up! Ha ha.
Last year Connor only had lunch at school 2 days a week, but it was a steady rotation of ham, turkey, peanut butter or just cheese sandwiches. No viruses.
I’m thankful he likes cold cuts! Drew does not eat lunchmeat.. days he was at camp this summer, I did an assortment of veggies (sometimes with dip), a cheese stick and some whole wheat crackers and an applesauce. that seemed to work for him. I also got one of those thermos containers to try out hot pasta in, neither kid complained about the temperature of their pasta come lunchtime, so I guess it worked? But, just another option to think of…
Oh..another Drew fave is a whole wheat mini bagel with cream cheese.
I think an assortment of veggies with dip is a great idea!! I know B would love that. And I need to buy a thermos. He would definitely eat pasta – at any temperature
Suggestions…
C loves lunchables but they are HORRIBLE and loaded with sodium so we make a “healthy” lunchable… Cut up boars head turkey (or rolled up), cheese chuncks and whole wheat crackers + suggested side items… Publix Organic NO sugar applesauce (bottom shelf at our publix – lol, carrot sticks, 1 small/mini chip bag ( as a “treat” because you will find out that ALL fellow classmates get chips, fiber one bar/granola/breakfast bars, mini mandarin oranges/fruit cups, apple slices (spinkle with lemon juice or they turn brown and they WON’T eat them, also my kids are huge Nut fans and LOVE Marcona Almonds (Costco), raisins OR I’ve made my own healthy trail mix (lots of versions with nuts, cereal, cranraisins, mini dark choc chips, – make a big batch and it will last a while) After 10+ years of making lunches for MY picky kids these are some suggestions! LOL
I definitely need to make my own trailmix!!! (Why is it so expensive?). Thanks for the great ideas!!
Also freeze yogurt “gogurts” or the yobaby brand.