Lunch at Preschool

Macaroni and cheese, finger foods, fruit cocktail, grapes cut in half, jello, sandwiches of one meat one cheese cut smaller, Those little pop top toddler foods.

I've always done PBJ or PB&honey, with a side of pre-cut fruit and a small side of crackers/chips. I throw this in his bag along with an ice pack and either a sippy of whatever drink or a small juice box. He's really only goes once a week for lunch, so I don't feel bad at all for sending the same thing as he gets more variety at home.

I used to teach at a MDO. I have a few ideas.

Cut the hotdogs lengthwise to make "sticks" or cut them into "bites" to prevent choking.

Make your own "lunchables" (Cheese & Lunch meat cut into bites and crackers).

Freeze a juice pouch as your "cold-pack".

Fresh fruit/Veggies (grapes, banana, carrot sticks, broccoli, etc.)

Chips are always fun too.

I hope it helps. :o)

Blessings,

P. <><

There is always PB&J, but you can do many other things. Get a thermos and put in mac N cheese, try a wrap that is cut up, use your imaginiation. Hot dogs are good, but at that age, cut them up. You can do cheese/meat W/ crackers. Lunchables of course. My son loves plain noodles w/ salt and pepper and a tiny bit of margarine mixed in, I put that in a thermos and it stays warm. There is always spaghetti O's or a chef boyardee favorite. Do not be afraid that he will not eat it, otherwise, he might not try it.

I bet someone has already said this, but my 2 yr. old loves the Lunchable Jrs. It has cubed ham, cheddar cheese and crackers or the other choice is cubed turkey, mozzeralla cheese and crackers. You actually get 2 pkgs. for about $2 or something like that. I simply add a juice box and a fruit snack or yogurt or fruit. Very easy, and I know he will eat it.

we couldn't do peanut butter - we had a really good thermos (there are the really cute ones now with the characters - Thermos brand - wide mouth) - and my dd took spaghetti, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets etc in her thermos and then a fruit or fruit cup, string cheese.

She also really likes veggies and dip - so a little container of carrots, cucumbers and pea pods with ranch dip was a real winner - with some crackers and a cheese stick or babybel cheese. She likes honey turkey breast from the deli - just rolled up slices.

She would like grilled cheese in her thermos too. Little bags of chips/pretzels. Pudding, yogurt, pizza lunchables.

I am sure you will find something that works!!

Haha, I often feel like a horrible mother because I literally send the SAME lunch for my son every day he goes to MDO (2 days a week). I figure he would let us know if he gets sick of it, plus he still asks for these things at home even though I try to reserve them only for school. He doesn't like meat or cheese. So here's our lunch: a jelly sandwich (he hates pb), a package of Whole Grain Fig Newton minis, and a Dole Fruit Cup. We vary the fruit, and flavor of jelly and newtons, but my point is to find something he likes and go with it.

I always sent crackers with cheese squares. Fishy crackers, lunch meat, and fruit. Make sure to check with your school about peanut allergies. Some places are peanut free.

No hot dogs. They are dangerous, like grapes and that's why many places don't allow them. There are too many kids for them to watch and kids horse-around at lunch so you don't want one choking on a hot dog or grape.

My teen girls like to nibble on a variety and they like:
cheese and crackers
pasta salad (which could be as simple as cooked rotini, small chunks of Velveeta, bitt of chicken and tossed with a mild italian dressing)
chewy granola bar
an orange
rolled tortilla with turkey
flavored mini rice cakes
cherry tomatoes (but mine are teens so it's safer)
fresh, lightly steamed brocolli
applesauce cups

My son eats the same thing every day and has for years, so I won't bother giving you his boring menu. Good luck!

My dd use to go to mdo here is a few of our ideas:

yogart w/ her favorite fruit
unsweetened applesauce
annie's bunny crackers
pb&j on whole wheat
ham or turkey wrap
slice of cheese
fresh fruit cut up in small pieces
carrot sticks

My oldest started preschool at 3 and a 1/2, but she was (still is) a really picky eater. I would make her whatever I normally made her for lunch in the morning and just wrap it up. Usually it was a cheese quesadilla or turkey wrap. They eat so early at that age stuff doesn't really have time to go bad!

The MDO where my daughter goes doesn't allow hot dogs or grapes, and has PBJ restrictions if anyone in the class has a peanut allergy. My daughter is not a big meat eater, so I was always at a loss with what to send, but mostly I send raisins or some other type of dried fruit or maybe mandarin oranges, some sort of bread or cracker (raisin bread, wheat crackers, sometimes packaged cheese and crackers), and something sweeter like a granola bar, or trail mix, or fruit snacks.

She would never eat any of it. Ever. She did not eat at school last year. As soon as she would get in the car with my mom (she picked her up), she would eat all of it. Today was the first day for this year, so we'll see. I sent a lunchables mini today. Those are good for a time saver, but the cheese is kind of gross. We just like real cheese I guess.

Don't worry, if you send something he doesn't like, he'll just eat the other kid's food. Ha! Just kidding...sort of.

A.
www.greenbabydiaperservice.com

What about peanut butter or PB and jelly little sandwiches, like finger sandwiches, yogurt, little cubes of cheese (those keep pretty well). Put a freezer pack in there to help keep things cold. Spaghettios, those are fine at room temp. Fruit, already diced, chex mix, turkey sandwich with the freezer pack to keep it cold. That's all I have right now!

they have little lunchables

every now and then I give my 20 month old the lunchable minis...they are little foods for little hands...or a sandwich w/fruit...?????

our mdo teachers suggested cheese, cut up sandwich meat, fruit (already diced), maybe some bread to go with the sandwich.