Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't be punitive- send shelf stable chocolate milk, sunbutter sandwich, and healthy chips, apple, cookie. He will eat what he wants, and can finish the rest in the car. This way the food isn't wasted. Plus, if he only drinks the chocolate milk at school, that's a decent amount of protein and carbs.

He's not eating because he's got a ton of energy and wants to be playing- it has nothing to do with food. School probably needs to provide more PE or movement breaks. Kids, especially young kids, need to move and play.

Op Here. this is a better diagnosis of the issue than anyone else -- he actually eats super healthy, tons of fruits and veggies at home. He's not begging me for junk food. He just doesn't want to eat at school.

I only pack foods that won't spoil. He eats his uneaten lunch as his snack after school.

I also include a peanut butter sandwich since that isn't allowed in a school lunch.

Glad I am not the only one out there!

Anonymous wrote:When you see the temptation of the playground is too strong, are you telling me that kids can go directly to the playground at any time after they “finish” their lunch?

Or, is there a set lunch time And then a set recess time and he still not eating his lunch within the allotted lunch time?

I was wondering the same.

Agree that they get leftover lunch for snack.

I can picture the kids coaching each other."just hang on a few more days of hunger and soon the Cheetos will start to flow..."

I cook a hot meal for my child but put small portion sizes of everything in her divided lunch container. Whatever she does not eat, if it is not perishable, she will eat after school.

My kid is the same. Lunch room is loud and distracting. Kid also has a much harder time regulating when hungry. We finally relented and sent in chocolate milk in addition to a granola bar and some kind of sandwich.

My child does eat lunch and still loses his mind at pickup. So, solidarity!

Bring protein to pickup any way you can. Even 1/2 a PB&J would probably help immensely.

Anonymous wrote:I've got a kid much more interesting in talking at school lunch than actually eating. I pack quick, easy to eat high calorie food. Muffins with butter, peanut butter and honey in a bowl, cheese and ham in a tupperware, pasta in a thermos. I skip the chips and crackers because they take a long time for her to eat...one small bite, talk talk talk, another small bite, talk, talk, talk....

My kid is the same. Better to pack things he can just shovel into his mouth with a spoon or fork! Fried rice or pasta generally all gets eaten. And strawberries which he can eat quickly vs peeling an orange and eating it segment by segment.

I’ve had luck with nutri-grain style bars and Fairlife Corepower protein drinks (with an ice pack). I bring snacks to pickup to avoid a melt down.

I've got a kid much more interesting in talking at school lunch than actually eating. I pack quick, easy to eat high calorie food. Muffins with butter, peanut butter and honey in a bowl, cheese and ham in a tupperware, pasta in a thermos. I skip the chips and crackers because they take a long time for her to eat...one small bite, talk talk talk, another small bite, talk, talk, talk....

My kids likes things that he can eat quickly. I stopped packing sandwiches because he doesn't like the bread (takes longer). So, I just take some lunchmeat slices and roll them up. Cut off a few pieces of cheese from a block and he'll gladly eat three lunchmeat rolls and 3 pieces of cheese. Alternatively turkey sausage sticks are easy to eat and easy to pack. He likes those, too. Also some apple slices (I put them in a dish with a couple of drops of lemon juice and a spoonful of water, swish them around and pack them in a snaplock container, they won't brown or soften that way). That's usually enough to get him home (my kids walk home from school) and then I can give him more.

chocolate milk is a good option. Nuts if they are allowed, either just a bag of peanut/almonds, or some peanut butter crackers, or a quarter of a peanut butter sandwich.

A small yogurt with granola.
Dried fruit.
Beef jerky or pepperoni or meat stick type snacks.
Cheese chips.
Cold pasta salad.

Anonymous wrote:I would try a reward system if you haven’t already. If he likes Pokémon cards for example, two if he finishes his lunch and one if he eats the protein. Protein could be smoked turkey, a boiled egg, egg + cheese + veggie frittata baked in muffin pan, meatballs, meat patties with chopped up vegetables, dumplings, etc.

It has to be a reward he really likes. Eventually he’ll build the habit and realize that it’s not that bad to sit down and eat lunch. We definitely talk to our kids about how important this is and make it a somewhat big deal for them to finish or at least eat part of lunch.

I wouldn’t do this. The end goal is for kids to listen to their bodies, not to clean their plates. I don’t believe in rewards and punishments based on how much or what you ate.

Anonymous wrote:Hard boiled eggs
Eggs cooked with cheese and veggies in a muffin tin like mini crustless quiches (Google for a zillion recipes)
Hummus with pita or veggies
String cheese
Nuts if allowed, shelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds if no nuts

I was going to recommend this. Your kid needs stuff that he can eat easily and quickly. I also make french toast and cut the whole toast in 4 pieces. He usually pops one or two in his mouth even when he is playin. Similarly, small container of halved grapes. Or a small container of sliced hot dogs or kebabs.