Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me clarify: what do your kids pack? I want to have options for them.

And by the way, there is nothing wrong with packing for your kid. It’s a really nice thing to do if you have a hardworking teen. Mine are way busier than I am, so I sometimes like to do this for them.

Actually there is something wrong with this. You forget that the goal is raise your children to adulthood. Little things like planning out lunches, doing their own laundry, taking responsibility for cleaning up after themselves are all part of that. I guarantee your children are sorely lacking in independence if their mom is crowd sourcing how to make their everyday lunches extra special.

OP here: thank you to the helpful posters! I appreciate the ideas.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me clarify: what do your kids pack? I want to have options for them.

And by the way, there is nothing wrong with packing for your kid. It’s a really nice thing to do if you have a hardworking teen. Mine are way busier than I am, so I sometimes like to do this for them.

Being able to pack a lunch is an important as being able to write a history essay.

I never packed my lunch until I was in the work force and I won a prize in history and went to Yale. Happy?

Dinner leftovers in a preheated thermos.

Potstickers, leftover burger, stew, whatever you have in a preheated thermos.

Caprese salad in a Tupperware container

Quesadillas

Deconstructed nachos (nacho topping in a preheated thermos, tortilla chips separate)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me clarify: what do your kids pack? I want to have options for them.

And by the way, there is nothing wrong with packing for your kid. It’s a really nice thing to do if you have a hardworking teen. Mine are way busier than I am, so I sometimes like to do this for them.

Being able to pack a lunch is an important as being able to write a history essay.

My kid is fully capable of packing a lunch and doing a ton of other things around the house, including fully changing bed linens in a regimented allergy-mined way, scrubbing baseboards, raking 1/2 an acre of leaves, and making fresh pasta then packaging it for the freezer and cleaning it up. If I want to try to throw a sandwich in a bag for him most weekdays as I make my own salad to take in to work so he has a few extra minutes to pack up his backpack after making his own breakfast, and maybe my coffee too, I think that's cool with me. Is it cool with you?

NP here and I get the self-sufficiency thing.

But I mostly pack for my kid. OP, they take a sandwich (deli chicken, lettuce on a club roll), a protein bar, nuts, fruit (clementine, berries, grapes, whatever isn't messy), sometimes chips or a sweet, and a protein shake or another drink. Lately they've been swapping the sandwich for a small everything bagel and bacon (we don't have bacon ready every day though, so sometimes it's a plan bagel).

I personally don't mind packing lunch for my kid and I do it a lot. They apprecaite it. That said, my kid is fully self-sufficient in the kitchen and will often pitch in. They take on elaborate meals sometimes, and I know they can shop and cook and clean on their own..especially with a few years to keep improving before college. They also don't balk at all to do 5 hours of yard work or clean toilets or other choes. So if I can make their life easier and do this as a mom thing it's nothing to me and it helps them. It also means if I say "Hey I can't/didn't pack lunch" because I have to leave for work early or I am behind, they have it ready in 3 minutes. Do what works for your family.

Anonymous wrote:OP, who is packing aside (really, people?), there are lots of good threads on here about the different things their teenage kids tend to take/eat. I'll try to find one for you.

It mentioned things wraps, rotisserie chicken, whole grain crackers with avocado or hummus dips and cheeses, edamame, string cheese, oranges, etc. etc.

Found some:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/981980.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1135903.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/1090354.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/840428.page
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/25/1222069.page

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me clarify: what do your kids pack? I want to have options for them.

And by the way, there is nothing wrong with packing for your kid. It’s a really nice thing to do if you have a hardworking teen. Mine are way busier than I am, so I sometimes like to do this for them.

No worries OP. I packed my kids lunches in HS. I did it not because they were not capable but it just gave me more control over leftover use etc. Turkey is 3 days old. We are going to use it up today. We have 3 kinds of granola bars open. Lets not decide to open a different thing. These leftovers are for dinner. I do not want them to disappear in lunches. They went to college and were completely capable young people.

That said, my kids mostly ate sandwiches so I do not have any brilliant ideas for you. My kids did really like sandwiches on rolls rather than just bread. Might be a change.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Let me clarify: what do your kids pack? I want to have options for them.

And by the way, there is nothing wrong with packing for your kid. It’s a really nice thing to do if you have a hardworking teen. Mine are way busier than I am, so I sometimes like to do this for them.

Being able to pack a lunch is an important as being able to write a history essay.

OP, who is packing aside (really, people?), there are lots of good threads on here about the different things their teenage kids tend to take/eat. I'll try to find one for you.

It mentioned things wraps, rotisserie chicken, whole grain crackers with avocado or hummus dips and cheeses, edamame, string cheese, oranges, etc. etc.

OP here. Let me clarify: what do your kids pack? I want to have options for them.

And by the way, there is nothing wrong with packing for your kid. It’s a really nice thing to do if you have a hardworking teen. Mine are way busier than I am, so I sometimes like to do this for them.

Agree they pack their own. You provide the general guidance. Ours have to have a main/protein, fruit, veg and a snack. Mains can be a homemade lunchable (cheese, pepperoni, crackers), leftovers from dinner (pasta we reheat in the am, cold noodles, leftover pizza, yogurt with a side of granola).

Once my daughter started 6th grade/middle school, she is responsible for packing her own lunch. She makes sandwiches, salads, or takes left overs.

It’s time to stop packing your kids’ lunches.

What do you pack your teenage sons for lunch at school? I’m looking for something other than sandwiches. Any unique ideas?