Sandwich of whatever sort.

Apple or pear

Whichever granola bars etc. he chooses.

I gave up on the well planned healthy lunches a few years ago. They didn't get eaten. He won't eat leftovers anymore, either.

Anonymous wrote:I'm not American, and I think typical American lunches are absolutely disgusting. The sandwich bread is THE WORST.

We're lebanese...hommus, stuffed grape leaves, pickled vegetables, lentils and rice in a thermos, tabouli, various dried meats and cheeses, yogurt salad, leftover grilled chicken/lamb, olives, hard boiled eggs...basically mezze. I just empty the fridge of random stuff we have.

Thanks for sharing. I think your Lebanese lunch sounds disgusting.

Jesus...you couldn't just share your lunch suggestions without being a bitch about it?

I'm not American, and I think typical American lunches are absolutely disgusting. The sandwich bread is THE WORST.

We're lebanese...hommus, stuffed grape leaves, pickled vegetables, lentils and rice in a thermos, tabouli, various dried meats and cheeses, yogurt salad, leftover grilled chicken/lamb, olives, hard boiled eggs...basically mezze. I just empty the fridge of random stuff we have.

Do your kids get to heat up their lunches? My kids would never eat some of this stuff cold.

Tortilla rollups with turkey/salami/pepperoni and cheese. My kid would eat 2 of these. Sometimes I would use peanut butter and apples-he can pretend it's a sweet dessert.

Home made chicken/meat/spinach nuggets-I pretty much blend some vegetables and mix it in with the ground meat, form, with panko and put them on the pan to cook.

Rice balls - I roll the rice (jasmine rice, not fluffy Rice a Roni type) into balls of rice. sometimes I roll them into blended spinch, seaweed, nuts or panko. you can even add cheese in the middle.

I do all gluten free lunches. It does take some planning, creativity and time.

Aftercare Snacks:
Non-messy fruits: Apples, grapes, bananas, dried fruits, cheese sticks.

Most days of the week:
PB&J or Avocado on whole wheat
A fruit
A vegetable
Something extra with some protein (yogurt, cheese stick, trail mix, ants on a log)
Sometimes I throw in a treat

When I'm trying to mix things up, I'll replace the sandwich with any of the following:
Homemade muffins or bread (zucchini, banana) with cream cheese or PB
Pizza "cups" - wonton wrappers baked in mini muffin tins with tomato sauce and mozzarella. I make a variation with diced apples, sausage and cheddar and freeze in big batches.
Cheese melted on cracker sandwiches
Quesadillas or burritos
Other leftovers in a thermos (pasta, rice and beans, baked beans, empanada)
Meatloaf sandwich

Today's lunch:

Plain or everything bagel with plain cream cheese
Goldfish
Apple slices
Water

Snack- applesauce and Bugles

Pepperoni or salami because that's the only meat she likes
Pasta sometimes
Grapes, Apple, banana or blackberries/strawberries, just depends what we have that week
A cheese stick , maybe a yogurt
Maybe some crackers if she got meat instead of pasta
Graham cracker, Fig Newton or something like that as a treat.

She will not touch a vegetable so I stopped bothering.

It varies:

Bento
Brown rice with:
Protein- red beans, chick peas, fish cakes or tofu omelet.
Steamed veggies- carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli & cauliflower plain or with sweet soy sauce

Soup
Tomato, clam chower, chicken n stars or chicken noodles

Sandwiches
Peanut butter, garden burger or turkey

Raw veggie
Carrots, grape tomatoes, cukes

Snacks
Halos, oranges, strawberries or apples

Anonymous wrote:I guess I am the only honest parent here:

My kids (ages 8 & 7) take lunch and 2 snacks (AM/PM)

Lunch: sunbutter/jelly sandwich, pasta w/ cheese, tofu hotdogs
fruit/veggie: apple/pear/grapes/plum/carrot w hummus
treat: fruit by the foot, snack pack of cookies, gushers
"salty" snack: popcorn, chips, cheese-its, multigrain crackers
pseudo-healthy snack: frozen yogurt tube, dried fruit strip, cereal w milk, bagel w cream cheese

Not sure why you assume that. Just b/c I didn't list any treats doesn't mean I am not being honest.

DS is thin and not the best eater so I never pack treats. If I pack a treat it will get eaten and the actual lunch I want him to eat will sit in his lunch box.
He gabs thought most of his 20 min lunch so I give his a small healthy meal that he can and will eat.

We are not anti treat, just anti treat when I can't be sure he's eating his meal.
I am sure when he gets older I will add in a snack here and there. He is 7 and growing like a weed.
When is is older I am sure I will pack a sack of food and hope it sustains him till be comes home.

Anonymous wrote:Is this thread a joke? Your kids eat better than I do. Brooke chicken with blue cheese dip?

PB&Honey on whole wheat. Skinny pop/Booty, blueberries/strawberries/apples and baby carrots. Maybe a fig bar if I'm feeling fancy.

It is funny you say that, I was thinking the same thing when I packed my son's lunch last night.

Fancy hard salami, thinly sliced gouda, red peppers, carrots and apples. Plus sparkling apple juice.
I am not sure how we came this. I used to get wonder bread sandwiches, with a piece of fruit, a small bag of chips (remember those little ones with 8-10 chips in them) and a yoohoo. A freaking yoohoo.

As I packed DS's "charcuterie plate" I was just shaking my head and smiling. Still not sure if it was pride or embarrassment.

Chapati roll with cream cheese and veggies, chapati quesadilla with chicken and corn, black bean, onion
Vegetable pulao with yoghurt and chickpeas
Spinach dal and rice with cabbage thoran
Ravioli with pesto
Tomato, peanut and sesame rice with green beans, yoghurt and mint raita

Sides - crackers, roasted nuts, seaweed

Mine is basically the same menu every week.

- sandwich (pb&j or mock turkey slices)
- Mac and cheese
- mock chicken tenders
- tortellini or ravioli (usually leftovers)
- mini pizza on English muffin or a pita

Repeat and mix up as needed. I add a salty snack like pretzels or veggie chips and a fruit (berries, grapes or apple slices) and that's it.

I guess I am the only honest parent here:

My kids (ages 8 & 7) take lunch and 2 snacks (AM/PM)

Lunch: sunbutter/jelly sandwich, pasta w/ cheese, tofu hotdogs
fruit/veggie: apple/pear/grapes/plum/carrot w hummus
treat: fruit by the foot, snack pack of cookies, gushers
"salty" snack: popcorn, chips, cheese-its, multigrain crackers
pseudo-healthy snack: frozen yogurt tube, dried fruit strip, cereal w milk, bagel w cream cheese

Turkey pepperoni and Brie cheese wedges are a favorite right now.
Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.
Cheese tortellini and pesto.
Turkey and pesto pinwheels.
Hard boiled egg and black olives.

I add a blanched veggie with each meal. rotate corn, peas, green beans, broccoli, carrots, sugar snap peas.

Sometimes baked beans or hummus as a side.

V8 juice.