What Do You Put in Your Kid's Lunchboxes?

My 6 year old is a big veggie fanatic, so I send some sort of cut of veggies every day. Sometimes I include a little container of Ranch dressing too. I always send either fresh or prepackaged fruit/applesauce and a granola bar. We buy lunch size chips in bulk at Sam's. I open a bag of those and half it so that it lasts two days (half of a bag fits perfectly into snack size baggies). That way he is still getting the chips that he wants, but it's not more than he needs and I save a few cents too. :)

Also, I just read an article about interesting school lunches and we tried one out yesterday. Take a cinnamon flavored tortilla. Spread honey nut cream cheese over it and put in several slices of thinly sliced apples. Roll it up. The cream cheese will help it stick together. My son said it was great and more fun than his regular PB&J.

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/ff/bts/lunchideas.htm

Kraft lists some good ideas!

We do lots of roll ups. I take some lunch meat and cheese and roll it together. I also send hot dogs without the bun. My sons favorite meal is 2 hot dogs, a small container of Applesauce, graham crackers and a sweet treat.

Butterball sausage cooked and cut up is good. Just send a small container or ketchup or barbecue sauce with it.

Leftovers are a big hit too. I will reheat them and use a small thermos to keep them warm until lunch.

Fruit and crackers, pigs n blankets, tortilla sandwiches are also good ideas.

I just saw in "Family Fun" magazine an interesting twist on a hot dog. They took a hot dog bun spread peanut butter on it and sprinkled and then put a banana in it instead of a hot dog, drizzled some jelly and that was their sandwhich and fruit all in one. She also to save time got 3 baskets one for fruit, one for chips and other salty snacks, and one for sweet snacks like granola bars and fruit snacks. She made the sandwhiches and then had each kid grab 1 thing from each basket to put in their lunches. It saved her time and the kids ate more of their lunch cause they grabbed what sounded good to them that day.

I've gone organic last year and have been trying to keep my daughter on the healthiest of diets, I make spagetti, which she could eat everyday, put in freshed baked pumpkin pie and some veggie sticks with dip, and grapes. I also make sure it is in fun containers she likes...crayola containers from Wal-Mart is her current favorite. I send her with cold icewater as well. This combination as been working well.

It really depends on the child's age but u definatley wanna stick to healthy yet yummy(almost impossible combo for kids)
Rice is a favorite(if you can do seasoned or flavored rice that would be good)
Mixed fresh fruit cut up and mixed together(your kids favorite fruits)
String Cheese
GoGurts(Yougurt in a squeezable packet)
Jello
Nuts, dried fruit mix

Try slices of summer sausage. My daughter likes that and she's very picky!! I'm looking forward to reading the other mom's responses. It is a challenge trying to keep their interest in eatting their lunch.

shoot me an e-mail...I"ll send you a list -- this was already asked a couple of weeks ago...

____@____.com

I put in healthy snacks and normally finger type foods so that my daughter can seal up the bag if she does not finish the food at lunchtime.

I do give her the option of picking out one sweet snack each week and she gets to take that in her lunchbox as well.

She's only 5, but is able to help me at the grocery store in picking something out that appeals to her.

Hope that helps,
C.