Let's Talk About New Ideas for Kids' School Lunches

[ajrsmom]

Can you believe that summer vacation is almost over?

It's time for me to start looking for some new ideas for my son's lunches.

One thing I am going to make is tortilla roll-ups cut into circles.

I'm on the lookout for is a small wide mouth thermos that will actually keep stuff hot (at least warm) but doesn't cost an arm and a leg. :rolleyes:


Any fresh new ideas out there yet?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Tami, I go through this myself being a school girl myself. Doesn't that make me sound young? lol I got my wide mouth thermos at Walmart. You could also check places like the Salvattion Army Store. I have those little blue ice bags as well. I carry an ice chest for cold things and the thermos for hot foods. However, I am sure the ice chest won't work for your kiddos because they cannot go out to their car to eat. They also have the little insulated lunch bags that you freeze to place sandwiches and such in.

I make a crockpot full of stew or soup. Then, I measure a thermos full into little ziplock baggies and freeze. Then, on busy school days, I nuke the frozen soup and pour into my thermos.

Sandwiches, soups, and chips are always winners. What about veggies and dip? You can always use those really small containers for the dip. Fresh fruit, cobblers, brownies, and even cupcakes are good for desserts.

What about "assemble your own" things? You could pack things so they could assemble their own pizza, salad, hotdog, well, you get the idea. The kids would be able to be creative and have a nutricious lunch.

I packed my DSs lunch in a brown paper bag. Then, I would stick colorful stickers all over his lunch bag. During lunch, he was the most popular kid in the lunchroom! He would share all the stickers on his bag.

Good luck!

[barbszy]

My kids love Bagel & Cream Cheese. I buy bagels by the dozen, slice and freeze in sandwich bags. The night before, I take out the bagel from the freezer, spread on the cream cheese (really easy when the bagel is still frozen), put back in the bag and refrigerate until it's time to pack the lunch. It's completely thawed by lunchtime.

Another favorite in my house is tuna salad sandwiches. I buy potato rolls (burger roll style) for these. The bread is denser so it stands up to the moist tuna salad. I also wrap in foil.

[cat lover]

You can get some ideas from those prepackaged lunch kits at the grocery and pack your own using some of those ideas, usually less expensive and more nutritous too!


Make little mini sandwiches with peanut butter and jelly or other things that don't require cold and cut them into cookie cutter shapes and pack it;
makes lunch fun and they look forward to what's in there today!
Bean dips with baked chips and fruit dip wioth fruit works well

Freeze juice boxes to help other foods stay cold, just be sure to wrap in foil and put it in a separate ziplock so the whole lunch doesn't get wet.
You can also use an insulated thermos (small wide mouth type) to keep cold salad spreads cold; pour water in it and leave it open the night before and set it in the refrigerator to chill overnight, then in the morning dump out the water and put in your cold salad spread and seal. The child can build their own sandwiches at lunch time using the spread and other ingredients like lettuce, tomato, etc. that you've placed in a separate baggy from the bread, bagel or crackers you pack.

Make your own snack mixes with dried fruit, unsalted nuts, a few M&M's, pretzels and such


Make your own cereal bars with ingredients your child likes

[ajrsmom]

Tami, I go through this myself being a school girl myself. Doesn't that make me sound young? lol I got my wide mouth thermos at Walmart. I found nice little thermoses at WalMart. He wants to wait to see if they will restock in "boy" colors. They had 2 left, one neon green and one lt. blue.

I have those little blue ice bags as well. They also have the little insulated lunch bags that you freeze to place sandwiches and such in. I use those little blue bags too. The lunchbox he had last year resembled the older ones that used to hold a thermos in the top of them. This one was nylon and the top had an enclosed space for cold stuff. I would partially freeze his juice boxes and then stick his fruit or pudding in there. Don't make his sandwich cold or you would ruin the whole meal for him! :rolleyes: ;)



I make a crockpot full of stew or soup. Then, I measure a thermos full into little ziplock baggies and freeze. Then, on busy school days, I nuke the frozen soup and pour into my thermos. I really like this idea! I'm going to try this too.


What about veggies and dip? You can always use those really small containers for the dip. He took Ranch dressing and carrots, cucumbers and celery a lot last year.

Apples too but they had to be left whole with nothing on them. ;)


What about "assemble your own" things? You could pack things so they could assemble their own pizza, salad

I made the homemade Lunchables too. He loved taking meat, cheese and crackers. Then I would add fruit, a juice box and either a candy bar, snack cake or gummi bears.

I have to be careful in what I pack this year since they will be eating their lunches at their desks and not in the cafeteria. :cool:


Thanks for the great ideas!!!

[ajrsmom]

My kids love Bagel & Cream Cheese. I buy bagels by the dozen, slice and freeze in sandwich bags. The night before, I take out the bagel from the freezer, spread on the cream cheese (really easy when the bagel is still frozen), put back in the bag and refrigerate until it's time to pack the lunch. It's completely thawed by lunchtime.

Another favorite in my house is tuna salad sandwiches. I buy potato rolls (burger roll style) for these. The bread is denser so it stands up to the moist tuna salad. I also wrap in foil.

My son will not touch very many condiments, mayo being one of them that he won't touch. Another is cream cheese.

He loves bagels though! He either eats them with meat and cheese, pnut butter or just plain.

He has always disliked tuna--and I love it. I am constantly asking him to try it again. Since we have a cat now and some of the cat food says tuna flavored, he tells me that he is the smart one who doesn't eat cat food!!:p :D

[DeBora4BobbyL]

That is funny about you DS wanting boy colors. lol

My DH asked me about lunchables, but I don't think they are very frugal. But, I like your idea of making your own. I hadn't thought about that.

[barbszy]

Not only are Lunchables not frugal, they are LOADED with salt and fat. Not the best for growing kids--or anyone.

[cat lover]

Cobb Salad Wraps

2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1/3 cup chopped green onion
1 tomato, seeded and chopped
6 slices American cheese, cut into small pieces
1 sliced red or green bell pepper
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
Mayonnaise to taste
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
6 (10") flour tortillas
1 1/2 cups shredded fresh spinach
1 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese


Combine chicken, green onion, tomato, cheese,bell pepper and avocado in medium bowl and gently mix. In small bowl, combine salad dressing and Dijon mustard and whisk to blend. Add to chicken mixture and stir to coat.
When ready to serve, spoon chicken mixture into each tortilla. Top with spinach, blue cheese and feta cheese. Fold up bottom edge and fold in sides, and wrap in wax paper and then foil.

6 servings

[cat lover]

What about making layered salads for a nice main dish salad for lunch? You know like a seven layered salad, but on a individual size. You could put the favorites in it and could use this several times a week by changing the ingredients!

[ajrsmom]

My son loves to take chef salads for lunch. I make them now in a baggie and add salad dressing in a little plastic cup. He can dump on the dressing and eat it, then throw the bag away.

Works really well. :)

[cat lover]

All this salad talk sounds good! Think we may just have a BIG salad and soup for supper!~

[ajrsmom]

We talked about Ramen noodle soup in lunchboxes. My son had it for lunch yesterday and asked for me to never send it in his lunch again. He said that it turned mushy. :(

So....it looks like its back to Spag. O's and chicken noodle soup in the thermos. lol!!!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I don't like mine mushy either, so I will remember that.

[barbszy]

Sorry it didn't work out, Tami. My DD has said it's fine. Maybe she just likes hers mushier than most of you! :D

[ajrsmom]

I would probably get along fine with your DD. I dont mind mine mushy. lol!!