Hi everyone! This request may seem simple, but hopefully the responses will help others too. My second grader is tired to PB&J and turkey sandwiches in her lunchbox. I need new ideas!!! Please don't hold back if you think what you're packing is obvious, because it probably isn't to me. Thanks.
My kids like a bagel and cream cheese to break up the PB&J routine. I usually have cinnamon and raisin bagels, I toast 'em and spread the cheese, and bag it up.
I'll get a pizza, taco or other lunchable when they are on sale, just to break up the routine, too.
The September issue of Better Homes and Gardens (pg 232) had some ideas - Bean barritos, DIY yogert parfait, Middle East Sampler, Greek Pasta Salad. Wheat flour tortilla's rolled are always a fun alturnitive to sandwhiches (cream cheese and fresh fruit or humus and veggie rolls).
My kids really love to have the little containers of applesause and turkey sandwiches the best. If you mix things up then the PB&J does not get so old. Fruit helps a lot too.
K.,
my kids get ideas from a website called Laptop Lunches. We don't own the lunchboxes sold from the site,as they are a little to childish for my kids.
My boys like to look at the photo gallery (http://www.laptoplunches.com/LaptopLunchPhotos.html) and pick out the meals they would eat.
The website also has a Quick Reference Guide (http://www.laptoplunches.com/ideas.html) which lists breads, condiments, fillings, fruits. The possible combinations are endless.
Hope this helps.
K.
chicken nuggets from the freezer will thaw in time for lunch...also a bagel taken from the freezer and pryed open with a knife can get some cream cheese and then thaw in time for lunch
Dear K.,
If you do want to make another PB& J or turkey sandwich, try using diffrent cookie cutters to add spice, shapes are fun! Also here are some ideas my daughter loved from APrents magazine in Sept issue.
1. 1 cup bow tie pasta salad with veggies
1 cup baby greens salad with 2 Tbs. low fat dressing
3/4 cup melon cut up
2 fig newton cookies
TIP: The simplest healthiest foods look extra-yummy when they're tucked into colorful little compartments. That's the idea behind the Laptop Lunches website. The compartmnents are a great size for ages 5-8.
2. Fishe shaped tuna sandwich with lettuce on whole wheat
10 baby carrots with 2 Tbs. low-fat ranch dressing
small plum
1/4 whole grain goldfish crackers
3.String cheese and a handful of whole wheat crackers
1 cup broccoli and cauliflower florets with Tbs light raspberry dressing
1/2 cup blueberries
Slick of banana bread
4.1 slice leftover pizza cut into squares
3/4 cucumber moons with 2 TBs hummus
1/2 cup purple grapes
1/2 cup popcorn
For fruit cups, open them and drain. Put into reusuable container.
Use things other than bread at lunch, that can seem boring too. You could use a square bagel, corn tortilla, whole grain hotdog bun, english muffin, veggie flour tortilla, and mini baquette.
Good Luck!
Pammy
My girls (9 and 11) like cheese and apple sandwiches or roll ups. Peanut butter and apple roll ups are also a favorite. Leftovers like pasta will stay warm in a thermos. You can put together your own "lunchables" with crackers and cheese and fruit. My girls make their own lunches the night before and that helps cut down on complaining as they are choosing for themselves.
Good Luck.
My second-grader likes soup or noodles in a thermos; she eats that with a few slices of cold cuts and some crackers. She also likes mini-hotdogs baked in Pillsbury dough. You can bake up a batch and freeze them. I'm looking forward to seeing some other ideas!
