Hi Y.,
We've had to steer away from processed food due to allergies. Lunch doesn't have to be tough if you plan ahead...
*If he still needs baby food texture, check out a baby cookbook by Annabel Karmel from the library. She has good combo meals you can make ahead, mash and freeze.
If he can handle food that needs a little chewing...
1. When you make tender meat for dinner (our favorites are chicken breast and pork tenderloin) make a little extra to keep in the fridge. You can even cut it up small enough for your little guy and freeze individual servings in ice cube trays.
2. Keep frozen peas on hand. One kid-sized serving takes about 30 sec. to thaw in the microwave under just enough water to cover. Drain and finish heating for a few more seconds.
3. Instant mashed potatoes are quick and easy, and the flakes are usually just dried potatoes with little processing. For my daughter pour milk (or broth) into a bowl, heat it in the microwave, and stir in the flakes.
4. Other grains. My daughter is allergic to wheat, so we've experimented with other grains. Keep cooked rice, barley, quinoa, etc. In the fridge and mix with a protein food, veggies and a little cheese.
5. Cornmeal mush--Recipe on the back of the cornmeal box--when freshly cooked, it resembles oatmeal. Then pour it into a pan to cool. Cut into sticks. When ready to eat, heat sticks (in a skillet will give them a little crust). My daughter likes them with Parmesan cheese or molasses. I've used them for sunflower seed butter, too (peanut allergy).
6. Sweet potatoes are another quick and easy-to-microwave veggie. Mash them or eat as cubes. Tiny cubes of carrot take longer to steam in the microwave but are good. Again, cook more than one serving so you have them on hand to reheat.
And for a cold lunch...
1. Large curd cottage cheese or small cubes or crumbles of other cheeses (my daughter even loves blue cheese and feta!).
2. More fresh fruit. Frozen or canned in juice are good, too.
3. Dry cereal.
4. Ham in small bits, if you eat cured meats.
5. As another reviewer mentioned, if you're still avoiding peanut products...There are lots of good seed and nut butters as alternatives. You can thin them with a little milk or water if they're too sticky in texture. I dip rice chex cereal in sunflower seed butter for my daughter.
6. If he can eat egg, keep some hard boiled ones on hand, cooked and ready to go.
Best luck. I know how easy it is to get into a rut when figuring out meals and snacks for everyone in the house every day!