Packing lunches

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry - I know there are a gazillion threads on school lunch ideas, but I cannot figure out how to do a good search!

We just moved back to the States after 4 years abroad. We are so happy to be back, but....I'm having trouble figuring out how to pack my kids' lunches (4th and 2nd grade). We've been back a week, and they've had peanut butter and jelly or ham/turkey sandwiches with apples/carrots/grapes, etc. At their old school they had access to a microwave, so I could send all sorts of things with them, but now, I'm at a loss. I'd be okay with them buying sometimes, but I just looked at the menu, and yikes! One day the meal is fried cheese sticks with marinara? How is that an option??

Please help me!!

[Anonymous]

It doesn't have to be exciting and no one has time to warm anything up.

Sandwiches work great, so just vary the kinds you give. Then fruit, veggie, a snack or whatever.

One of my kids literally eats the same sandwich every single day and I just alternate the sides.

My other one buys mostly but he goes to a school with decent options.

[Anonymous]

In addition to ham & cheese sandwiches, the follow are in our regular rotation (always paired with sides like grapes, berries, melon, cucumber, carrots, peppers, yogurt, roasted broccoli):

-wheat crackers with "garlic brie" (usually ends up being Boursin), slices of turkey pepperoni
-scrambled eggs in thermos, buttered toast on side
-mini whole wheat bagel with cream cheese
-leftover pizza
-pasta or stew in thermos

[Anonymous]

Yup, thermos for hot things

[Anonymous]

Why are you sending peanut butter to a school??

I pack pasta all the time-I make it that morning and they eat it while it’s room temp. Sometimes I also heat up leftovers and pack them-they can be room temp. Also I put soups in the thermos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In addition to ham & cheese sandwiches, the follow are in our regular rotation (always paired with sides like grapes, berries, melon, cucumber, carrots, peppers, yogurt, roasted broccoli):

-wheat crackers with "garlic brie" (usually ends up being Boursin), slices of turkey pepperoni
-scrambled eggs in thermos, buttered toast on side
-mini whole wheat bagel with cream cheese
-leftover pizza
-pasta or stew in thermos

PP here and I forgot — tomato soup in thermos, grilled cheese on side

[Anonymous]

Soup
Lasagne
Spaghetti
Vegetable soup
Crackers and cheese
Small containers of a variety of things (yogurt, fruit, cheese, cottage cheese, broccoli, carrots), etc.
Ravioli
Roasted chicken
Steak
Chicken tortilla soup
Chicken soup
Chili
Turkey burger

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you sending peanut butter to a school??

I pack pasta all the time-I make it that morning and they eat it while it’s room temp. Sometimes I also heat up leftovers and pack them-they can be room temp. Also I put soups in the thermos.

NP, but some schools actually sell pb&j.

OP - what you are sending sounds fine. You can also get a thermos or Ms/Mr Bento for hot foods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry - I know there are a gazillion threads on school lunch ideas, but I cannot figure out how to do a good search!

We just moved back to the States after 4 years abroad. We are so happy to be back, but....I'm having trouble figuring out how to pack my kids' lunches (4th and 2nd grade). We've been back a week, and they've had peanut butter and jelly or ham/turkey sandwiches with apples/carrots/grapes, etc. At their old school they had access to a microwave, so I could send all sorts of things with them, but now, I'm at a loss. I'd be okay with them buying sometimes, but I just looked at the menu, and yikes! One day the meal is fried cheese sticks with marinara? How is that an option??

Please help me!!

We alternate those types of sandwiches too. And some days the kids buy. You’re doing fine!

[Anonymous]

Did you ask your kids what they want? My kids seem to always want a sandwich, so that's what I pack. I switch up the bread, cheese, and meat. Sometimes, I'll throw in yogurt and a breakfast bar as the main dish, or make a lunchable, or put something hot in a thermos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you sending peanut butter to a school??

I pack pasta all the time-I make it that morning and they eat it while it’s room temp. Sometimes I also heat up leftovers and pack them-they can be room temp. Also I put soups in the thermos.

Because some schools allow it. My kid's school serve PB&J uncrustables. I pack PB&J for lunch on occasion, but no nuts in the snack because its held in the classroom. Kids who are allergic sit at a separate lunch room table.

[Anonymous]

There are thermos containers (thermos funtainers is what they clal the ones at Target) that will keep a hot lunch warm until lunchtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you sending peanut butter to a school??

I pack pasta all the time-I make it that morning and they eat it while it’s room temp. Sometimes I also heat up leftovers and pack them-they can be room temp. Also I put soups in the thermos.

Our school allows peanuts. They manage it on a class by class basis. So if someone has an allergy, that class goes nut free for snack, and the child is monitored at lunch time.

[Anonymous]

We have a Bentgo box for our 2nd grader. Today she has leftover rotisserie chicken ( cold) with ketchup in one of the compartments. Then tomatoes/carrot sticks in another, vanilla cookies and fruit snacks in the last 2 sections.

Yesterday she took 2 cheese sticks as her protein, then 1 fruit, 1 veg, fruit snacks, and crackers.

One day a week she takes chicken nuggets in a Thermos funtainer. I do tomatoes/carrots/cucumber cut up and then fruit snacks

Yes my kid likes fruit snacks...lol Theres like 6 in a pack and they have 100% vitamin C so im good with it.

[Anonymous]

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/664134.page