What to send in the lunch box? (triscuits, burgers, grilled)

[VBmom]

My son is normally a good eater but the school lunch thing is beginning to drive me crazy and it's just the first week of school!

First, let me say that the school is totally nut free. So, no PB&J is allowed. Also, no walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc. Or anything made with them. It really is limiting.

Last year I could send ham sandwiches, but this year he no longer wants that. Doesn't like the school lunches so buying is out. I am so tired of pepperoni or bacon sandwiches which seem to be the only thing he will eat for lunch.

Ideas????

[findinghope]

can you send something in a thermos, like stews or soups, or how about some type of pasta or rice dish in a container?

[Mouser]

Lunchables, or the Lunch Tuna packs

[Racelady88]

You are tired of making sandwhiches but your son is not tired of eating them?

With the insulated bags, freeze blankets and what-not available these days I would think that there is nothing that you can't send for lunch. What does your son like to eat besides pepperoni and bacon?

I was fed bologna and cheese most of my school life. When it was very cold out there were some occasional hot dogs in a thermos.

[nan5623]

freeze "Gogurt tubes", and they'll thaw by lunch time.

Lunchables ~~ there are tons of varieties and he can pick out what ones he might like.

[VBmom]

Won't eat lunchables except for the pizza. Won't eat any kind of lunch meat and loves cheese but not cheese sandwiches. I'm telling you...this kid is killing me. Oh and I am not tired of making sandwiches. I just want him to eat something besides pepperoni and bacon. I wouldn't call them a healthy lunch but it's all he will eat at this point.

I did send spaghetti in a thermos today. That went over well. Last year he would do chicken noodle soup but it's too hot right now. Hot dogs are also on the "do not send" list because a child choked and died eating a hot dog at school a few years back. You aren't even allowed to send beanie weanies or anything with hot dogs in it. Won't eat tuna or any other fish.

For dinner he will eat grilled meats, meatloaf, burgers, etc. He just won't eat them in a thermos(or so he says). I may try meatloaf though next time I make it. He loves corn on the cob, carrots, fruit. Can't really send the corn but I do send fruit every day and have sent a muffin and fruit before. Will eat a little salad at home but not in the lunch box. I even sent cold pizza last year but he wouldn't eat it cold. They are not allowed to heat anything up and since I work at the same school, I don't think it's right for me to sneak his lunch in the teacher's lounge and warm it up.

I even tried a baked potato in a thermos. He loves them at home but wouldn't touch it at school. It's going to be a long year.

[JustJulia]

What about a cold pasta salad? Butterfly pasta, diced chicken and shredded carrots in a little Italian dressing? I make one with sesame dressing that keeps very well. My son doesn't like it, but my other two do and ask for it all the time.

What about chunks of chicken in a little container, maybe with some honey mustard or BBQ sauce for dipping?

Cheese is decent protein, so you could do cheese and crackers and grapes or apple slices or celery. What about string cheese or those little bonnie bell cheeses? Yogurt?

[Oildog]

PB&J is NOT ALLOWED??? What is this country coming to. Go Bologna and cheese. If he doesn't like it maybe he will lose some weight from all the high fat stuff hes been eating. Or get chicken/ham/turkey from the deli. If he wants something else he can prepare it.

[sophialee]

Wow I never got to dictate my lunch. LOL. I ate what was sent or I traded w/ somebody. Orrrr I went hungry.

I make for my husbands lunches:

turkey, swiss, spinach and mayo on wheat
pastrami and mustard on rye
ham, swiss, and honey mustard
triscuits, cheese, and pepperoni with cucumber spears as a side
pesto pasta salad, sometimes with chicken, sometimes without
chicken fingers w/ honey mustard dipping sauce

[redjan1225]

Originally Posted by sophialee

Wow I never got to dictate my lunch. LOL. I ate what was sent or I traded w/ somebody. Orrrr I went hungry.

I make for my husbands lunches:

turkey, swiss, spinach and mayo on wheat
pastrami and mustard on rye
ham, swiss, and honey mustard
triscuits, cheese, and pepperoni with cucumber spears as a side
pesto pasta salad, sometimes with chicken, sometimes without
chicken fingers w/ honey mustard dipping sauce

^^I agree here. Pack it and if he doesn't eat it, then oh well. You can't be torturing yourself over this. Also, depending on his age, he may be able to start planning and packing his own lunch.

I went to a very strict private school that required parents to step away from preparing lunches at the start of the child's 2nd grade year. Thank GOD we could have peanut butter in my school. I ate it nearly every day with jelly or honey. My mom took her release from responsibility so well, she could not even bother to provide some guidance as to what I should pack for myself. I also got to pack for my little sister. In time, I figured it out and as an adult, pack my lunch to work 5 days per week.

As a kid, our lunches usually consisted of a sandwich or Campbell's soup in the thermos. A box of raisins. A few Oreos in a bag. An apple, banana, or grapes for a snack.

How about egg salad, or various lunch meats like chicken, turkey, pastrami, roast beef? I'm loving the little circular bread slices and bagel slices. I also love to make wraps with turkey, sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, cream cheese, whatever is on hand. Add a slice of cheese or string cheese on the side. Throw in a bag of Sun Chips, frozen Gogurt and a piece of fruit. These are all simple things he can start doing himself.

Does the school ban chocolate as well? Most kids with severe nut allergies will have reactions to chocolate.