Camp lunches with restrictions

[Anonymous]

Looking for some ideas for camp lunches when the camp has food restrictions on what can be brought. DD7 is going to a new day camp this summer and just found out it is going nut-free and meat-free this summer (some campers are kosher so it is a camp-wide rule).

Our school-year go-to lunches are PBJ and deli meat sandwiches, so those are obviously out. What are some good ideas for entrees that are nut-free and meat-free? She dislikes sunbutter (don't blame her) and doesn't care for protein bars. She will reliably eat bagels with cream cheese and sometimes will eat hummus and pita. I could send a plain jelly sandwich I guess but then she's lacking with protein and it is not really filling. Sides are no issue as she loves all fruit, veggies, and cheese.

[Anonymous]

Cheese sandwich? I took one every day for years.
Cheese and crackers
Pita chips and hummus

I don’t understand the kosher thing? Maybe a Jewish person can explain? I understand the dairy and meat not touching for the person consuming or preparing the food. But why can’t the kid down the table eat what they like? Unless it’s a Jewish camp?

[Anonymous]

We do yogurt and crackers some days or yogurt parfait in a thermos bowl. But seriously, no nuts or meat? This is getting ridiculous and I would consider a different camp. They can provide food if they want to make it that restrictive.

[Anonymous]

We often send a bean burrito, which we heat at home but is cooled by lunch; DD eats it at that temp.

I will also use something to jazz up the sunbutter sandwich, like honey, or chocolate flavored sun butter, or chocolate chips in the sandwich. Turns out maybe sunbutter tastes fine in those circumstances.

[Anonymous]

My kid also attends a nut free, meat free (kosher) camp.

Quesadilas, pita and hummus, cheese sandwiches, mini bagels with cream cheese.

There's a good peanut butter substitute called The Amazing Chickpea though it's a bit pricey. Sunbutter I think is too bitter.

I'll also make some broccoli cheddar muffins or pizza rolls (like a cinnamon roll but with pizza) and put those in.

[Anonymous]

I don't send my kid with meat sandwiches to sit in a lunch pail (yuck) so it's hard to see how the meat restriction is a big issue, but I agree it's strange to go camp-wide with something that's not a serious allergy. They aren't eating each other's lunches.

You could do a meat-filled ravioli in a thermos and probably no one would know or care.

[Anonymous]

Is the issue kids trade food and a Kosher kid eats traif?

[Anonymous]

Here are some things my kids like:

Grilled cheese sandwich (yes, they eat it cold)

Vegetarian "chick'n" nuggets (storebought or home made)

Falafel

Vegetarian "meat balls"

Bagel cream cheese

Baked beans

Cubes of halloumi pan fried

Cold cheese pizza

Chickpea salad sandwich

Tofu katsu

Edamame (maybe a side for the bagel and cream cheese or jelly sandwich)

Hummus and veggies (again, as a side for a lower protein entree)

Quesadilla with refried beans, or lentil taco meat

Yogurt or skyr with fruit and high protein granola (we like this one: https://88acres.com/collections/granola?srsltid=AfmBOoqrZRSLvK2CJeIxczI8XNrWoFiJb8_iHcOhYlOXUBqaAT7x1H8u

Beans and rice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the issue kids trade food and a Kosher kid eats traif?

It's likely that they're sharing space with a Jewish organization. Many Jewish organizations only allow dairy/parve foods on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the issue kids trade food and a Kosher kid eats traif?

My kid does some activities at the JCC and this is a pretty common food restriction.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all from OP. I can prob get her to do a cold grilled cheese or cheese quesadilla and she would be thrilled with cold cheese pizza, so maybe that is a strategy -- cook a frozen cheese pizza and portion it out for the week.

I get the nut-free thing but was surprised by the no-meat thing (it is a JCC camp).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't send my kid with meat sandwiches to sit in a lunch pail (yuck) so it's hard to see how the meat restriction is a big issue, but I agree it's strange to go camp-wide with something that's not a serious allergy. They aren't eating each other's lunches.

You could do a meat-filled ravioli in a thermos and probably no one would know or care.

Do they not have cold packs where you live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't send my kid with meat sandwiches to sit in a lunch pail (yuck) so it's hard to see how the meat restriction is a big issue, but I agree it's strange to go camp-wide with something that's not a serious allergy. They aren't eating each other's lunches.

You could do a meat-filled ravioli in a thermos and probably no one would know or care.

I wouldn't send my kid with meat sandwiches in a lunch pail, but in this century kids use insulated lunch boxes.

As for the meat ravioli, they would care. The purpose of JCC is to provide options for the Jewish community, an act that disrespectful would hopefully result in your kid being expelled with no refund.

Cheese ravioli isn't a bad suggestion.

[Anonymous]

My picky toddler loves cold white bean pasta- pasta fagiole. Has protein and fiber.

I’ll try the chickpea butter and quesadillas too- thanks PP. Do folks do cold quesadillas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My picky toddler loves cold white bean pasta- pasta fagiole. Has protein and fiber.

I’ll try the chickpea butter and quesadillas too- thanks PP. Do folks do cold quesadillas?

I am the one who suggested it. My kids are fine with cold quesadilla. One of my kids likes cold refried beans inside, but my other prefers just cheese in the cold quesadilla and hot black beans inside a thermos on the side. They will both eat cold lentil taco meat in a cold quesadilla.