Toddler recipes for preschool lunch? (they will microwave)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I guess I should start saying 2 1/2? OK, gotcha.

She does have a lot of delays, so maybe that's why she cant just eat a sandwich and make my life easier.

We cant do sunbutter because her preschool says it looks like peanut butter. And for some reason unfortunately she won't eat tortillas - I tried quesadillas per a suggestion on here. She does like veggie meatballs, I am waiting for Traders to start carrying their brand again. And she is too picky for leftovers. Ugh, I guess I need more suggestions. .

What preschool bans sunbutter for "looking" like peanut butter? I have never heard that one before. Please tell us so we can all avoid what must be the most ridiculous place on earth. Our preschool uses apple slices and sunbutter as a snack. How ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Roasted beet salad (you can throw in goat cheese). That is actually meant to be served cold. Another one I that seems to do okay cold (can also be heated up) is parsnip mash...1 lb of parsnips and 1 lb of apples cut into pieces and put on the stove with 1c of water. Bring to a boil and then simmer covered for 25 minutes (until parsnips are tender). Drain water if you have a ton left ove (leave some), salt, pepper, and 1 tsp of butter and blend. Looks like mashed potatoes but the kiddos love it bc it is sweeter. put in pork (I do bacon) pieces for a protein. In general I do a lot of roasted veggies...sweet potatoes, various squash, carrots, beets, and I buy a rotisserie chicken and just toss some chicken in if they need a protein. I also do lentils. TJ's has precooked lentils and there is an organic soup mix (Dr. McDongals or something) that DS really likes. Veggie chili is another one.

[Anonymous]

My toddler is younger, but I send just about anything he can chew and not choke on to daycare. Roasted veggies of any sort cut into pieces, tomato "salad" (halved grape tomatoes or cut up plum tomatoes tossed with a bit of EV olive oil, sea salt and frozen basil), cauliflower or broccoli cut into smallish pieces and tossed in a tiny bit of marinara sauce, chunks of sweet or regular potato, sautéed mushroom slices, glazed salmon, grilled marinated chicken (cut into small pieces), cut up chicken/turkey sausage, cheese, hummus, guac, baked lentil chips, crackers, pancakes, frozen waffles, small pasta w/ a bit of marinara, cut up fruit of any sort. DC only just started being able to have eggs (was previously intolerant), so I am looking forward to sending meatballs, quiche, frittata, etc. Last week one day I sent what I called a "Mediterranean feast" - it was leftover chicken kabob pieces, cubes of feta, cut up olives, hummus and pita. DC has no idea what I'm saying when I tell him what food I packed for the day, and DH laughs at me, but I love putting together his lunches.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. Keep em coming.

[Anonymous]

Hummus, bean salad, rice with black beans, scrambled eggs maybe, fruit salad, meatballs. My 2 1/2 yr old refuses sandwiches too. She is able to take bites though and loves just a plain piece of bread. I SAH though so not sure if you would want to pack that in her lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I guess I should start saying 2 1/2? OK, gotcha.

She does have a lot of delays, so maybe that's why she cant just eat a sandwich and make my life easier.

We cant do sunbutter because her preschool says it looks like peanut butter. And for some reason unfortunately she won't eat tortillas - I tried quesadillas per a suggestion on here. She does like veggie meatballs, I am waiting for Traders to start carrying their brand again. And she is too picky for leftovers. Ugh, I guess I need more suggestions. .

What preschool bans sunbutter for "looking" like peanut butter? I have never heard that one before. Please tell us so we can all avoid what must be the most ridiculous place on earth. Our preschool uses apple slices and sunbutter as a snack. How ridiculous.

I thought this was weird too. Did they find out that a parent had been sneaking in pb and passing it off as sunbutter? This is the only reason I can think of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I guess I should start saying 2 1/2? OK, gotcha.

She does have a lot of delays, so maybe that's why she cant just eat a sandwich and make my life easier.

We cant do sunbutter because her preschool says it looks like peanut butter. And for some reason unfortunately she won't eat tortillas - I tried quesadillas per a suggestion on here. She does like veggie meatballs, I am waiting for Traders to start carrying their brand again. And she is too picky for leftovers. Ugh, I guess I need more suggestions. .

What preschool bans sunbutter for "looking" like peanut butter? I have never heard that one before. Please tell us so we can all avoid what must be the most ridiculous place on earth. Our preschool uses apple slices and sunbutter as a snack. How ridiculous.

I thought this was weird too. Did they find out that a parent had been sneaking in pb and passing it off as sunbutter? This is the only reason I can think of.

I'm sure that's part of it. Or just mixing things up or forgetting and sending it.

[Anonymous]

OP, please make sure that the microwaveable container is not plastic

[Anonymous]

Fried rice is surprisingly versatile. Stir-fry rice + veggie (microwave frozen ones or from your dinner night before) + protein (again, meat from your dinner or frozen cooked shrimp defrosted or egg) with a little bit of soy sauce and sesame oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, please make sure that the microwaveable container is not plastic

Isn't BPA free ok or no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, please make sure that the microwaveable container is not plastic

Isn't BPA free ok or no?

No. The chemicals used to replace BPA are likely just as bad. Do not microwave in plastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I guess I should start saying 2 1/2? OK, gotcha.

She does have a lot of delays, so maybe that's why she cant just eat a sandwich and make my life easier.

We cant do sunbutter because her preschool says it looks like peanut butter. And for some reason unfortunately she won't eat tortillas - I tried quesadillas per a suggestion on here. She does like veggie meatballs, I am waiting for Traders to start carrying their brand again. And she is too picky for leftovers. Ugh, I guess I need more suggestions. .

Will she eat the "leftovers" when they weren't leftovers? Maybe it's a matter of them being too close to when she had them for dinner the night before? Some clarification on delays might be helpful, is it a matter of being able to manipulate a sandwich? We actually rarely give our kids sandwiches in their lunches, especially since PBJ is verboten. We've always tried to follow a policy of eat what you're given or you can go hungry for that meal. Tha'ts why I'm wondering if the developmental delays you mention might make it more difficult to do that.

[Anonymous]

Frozen dumplings (Trader Joe's) - you can microwave them and put them in a thermos. Tortellini. Meatballs. Maybe pierogies?

You can also send her with a little container of cut-up cheese cubes, whole-grain crackers or mini pita pockets, fruit, and veggies. How about hummus with veggies, crackers, and fruit? Or some sort of yogurt-based dip?