Alternatives to deli meat for kids lunches

[Anonymous]

My kids have skewed toward wanting to eat deli lunch meat sandwiches pretty much daily. I buy organic nitrate-free deli meat, but still, it’s processed meat and worry about daily consumption.

The problem is, I feel like I run out of options that contain protein, to pack for them. They will eat peanut butter, but not daily. Sometimes leftovers, but I don’t always have those available or they just don’t want them.

[Anonymous]

Mine like hard boiled eggs, pita pockets with hummus and veg, and shredded or diced chicken wrapped in a tortilla with various toppings (cheddar cheese and salsa, caesar salad, etc.).

[Anonymous]

My kids love sandwiches from leftover dinner, like meatloaf sandwich, roast chicken sandwich, roast turkey. The also like soup heated in a thermos with crackers. For awhile, DD preferred yogurt with add-ins. Not everyday, but to mix it up with pb and j. They don't like deli meat.

[Anonymous]

Make your own. Roast some chicken breasts or a turkey breast on bone and slice thin

[Anonymous]

You’re over thinking this.

Cook your own chicken and turkey and slice it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make your own. Roast some chicken breasts or a turkey breast on bone and slice thin

Jinx

[Anonymous]

Rotisserie chicken sandwiches.

[Anonymous]

We rotate through:
Boiled eggs
Cottage cheese
Greek yogurt
Rotisserie check
"Salads" (egg salad, salmon salad, ham salad, pasta salad)

[Anonymous]

Too bad tinned sardines are smelly. Otherwise a delicious source of protein and good fats, Omega Three, etc.

[Anonymous]

Cheese

Hummus

Eggs

Meatballs

To be honest though, I try to put various things in lunch but don’t always emphasize protein every single lunch. They get milk at school. And breakfast I give protein as well as milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too bad tinned sardines are smelly. Otherwise a delicious source of protein and good fats, Omega Three, etc.

I love me some sardines on avocado toast. Yummy! I don't care how they smell.

[Anonymous]

Cheese
Hummus
Black bean and rice burritos

[Anonymous]

Tuna salad! Twice a week will do a body good - light very albacore to keep the mercury content low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tuna salad! Twice a week will do a body good - light very albacore to keep the mercury content low.

versus, not very

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make your own. Roast some chicken breasts or a turkey breast on bone and slice thin

This is what we started doing. My husband packs a lunch every few days and was eating too much processed turkey too. So, I just roast or brine or poach (with plenty of salt and seasoning so not perfect but not chemicals either) chicken breasts and slice thin instead. We should do turkey too just haven't.

I also do tuna salad, chicken salad, lox and cream cheese (maybe no better but delicious), cheese/veg/hummus, and hamburger patty sandwhiches too.