Lunch Ideas - Woodridge,IL

I know you’ll get a lot of great suggestions on healthy snacks but I just wanted to add that if you get a really good insulated lunch bag, thermos, reusable utensils and cold packs, it will give you more options on hot & cold foods. I pack all of my daughter’s lunch in tupperware and her sandwiches in a sandwich container. My daughter in preschool loved when I would give her pasta in her thermos for lunch. I would also use a little Tupperware container and put some parmesan in it. Her favorite was pita bread for sandwiches with egg salad and mixed fruit too. If you put the fruit in a container it will not get all mashed like when you put it in a baggie.

My daughter also is a picky eater.....it's so frustrating.....so what i found out would be the best solution for this was to take her to the store with me and she would help me pick out her own lunch....this worked out great and it also made her feel like she had a part in choosing and she ate every bit of her lunch....we just made a day of it once a week.....try it...you both will love it....and it is also a great way to bond with your child. I hope this helps, it really helped me. I actually got the advice from one of my best friends and it worked, so we continue to do it. She is now in the 2nd grade.. Good luck!!!!!!

Hi L.,
We started using a program called "Laptop Lunch" when my son was 3 1/2 and love it. By packing kids lunches in reusable containers, you provide nutritious meals. It also comes with a user's guide filled with ideas for the picky eater. Check them out at www.laptoplunches.com
L.

Soups or pasta in thermos would be good.

For sandwiches - vary the bread (regular, ciabatta, tortillas) and put different things such as chicken breast, ham, cheeses, etc. I second bringing your child to the store to pick the items out. Use cookie cutters to cut them up into smaller / fun shapes.

What about fruit or veggies with tupperware with stuff to dip (hummus, vanilla yogurt, ranch, etc).

Send a frozen go-gurt or juice along and it'll be thawed out by lunch and will have kept lunch cool.

Cut fruit into bite sized pieces (except apples/bananas - things that will go bad before lunch).

Chips and salsa are good (you can dip the carrots in there too).

What about hard boiled eggs?

Individual applesauces / pickles / jellor or pudding are good ideas too.

Not sure what you mean by picky (he only likes certain things - such as???).

Cold mac and cheese goes over well in my house - my daughter loves it!

Or make a pasta salad with pasta, pepperoni, cubed cheese and mixed with dressing.

Ritz crackers with pb/jelly is a different alternative or maybe adding cream cheese and then crab meat onto it instead (assuming he likes crab!).

Annabel Karmels Lunchbox recipe book is a godsend all different ideas in there.

Campbell's soup at hand and a pack of crackers. My kids love them

My kids used to love those little pots of apple sauce or apple/berry sauce. They'll need help getting the foil lid off but other than that it's an easy lunch option. I also do bagels with cream cheese on, cut up into bite size pieces. (You might want to make sure PB&J is allowed as many schools ban peanut products.)

hello L.
I had the same problem with the packed lunch! My Bobbie she is a picky eater she got bored with Sandwiches
so I made pitta bread pockets with her favorite filling and I used to tell my Daughter they were magic and only special kids got them lol works every time
or Tortilla wraps? with Yummy fillings such as Grated cheese and ham!!
some chopped celery, or carrot. a yogurt and a chocolate biscuit once you get the first week over it a piece of cake
hope some of these idea's help...xx

Hi L.,
My son is also a pickey eater.Most pre schools and other schools do not allow pb& J. I suggest cheese and crackers, pizza buns you can make yourself. Even cucumber slices or dry cheerios in a container, hope this helps you a bit. Good Luck, D..