I know there are few people that are still packing kid lunches, but these could be helpful for anyone, I think.  I pack everyone DS, DD and DH's lunch between q2 nebs overnight when I'm sick so I can focus on important things during the day, DSD mostly fends for herself with my help.  I pack lunch boxes in one section black/clear lid food prep containers.  My kids will eat typically warm foods cold and be happy about it.


DD (currently having tummy issues): Peach Greek yogurt, quarter of a grilled cheese, leftover french fries (yes, she is all about cold FFs), a few quartered grapes.

DS: Chipotle quesadillas (he will eat these cold) - leftover chipotle bowl mixture and cheese made into a quesadilla and sliced, half pickle, ritz sour cream and onion cracker chips, fresh strawberries.

DH: Cream cheese veggie wrap - chive and onion cream cheese spread on a tortilla, filled with spinach, thinly sliced carrot, broccoli, corn salad, chili lime shaved broccoli relish, green onion, red onion, cilantro and diced avocado.  Pepper Jack cheese stick, whole pickle, craisins, grapes.

This was DH's lunch today.  May or may not work for kids, but my kids would eat it and a lot of kids like "dipping" foods.

Just a container of guacamole and a bunch of stuff to dip in it.  Carrots, sliced bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, tortilla chips and some waffle pretzels, grilled chicken strips and some pepper jack cheese cut into sticks.  Stuck a plum in there as well.

He was a big fan, said he would have it again.  Pretty low prep (I would probably use leftover homemade guac if I did it again, I just happened to have a container of the good premade kind that needed to be used.)  Other than that, just chicken on the George Foreman and slicing.  Keeps well with an ice pack, doesn't need to be reheated, can be eaten relatively easily while doing other work.

Just packed DH's lunch.  He isn't a child, but he really should eat with a bib, so I'm going to count it.

Mostly leftovers from party this weekend.
Sweet and spicy meatballs
Vegetable crudite with homemade ranch bacon green onion dip
Strawberries, kiwi, pineapple and a clementine
Cheese (Muenster and Cheddar) and crackers

Today--a LOT, because he'll be at this speech tournament a long time. There will be a lot of food for sale. I want him to have options so he's not tempted to buy.

Havarti and green leaf lettuce sandwich
Carrot chips
Triscuits
Grapes
Strawberries
String cheese
Belvita blueberry cookie
Angie's kettle corn popcorn --I found an individual bag!
Bottle of water

Gerbs are safe for PA and TNA.  we have them on hand regularly.  Good in homemade granola to kick up the protein. 

I'm not sure about finding these safely for nut allergies, but a new favorite in the lunch box here is roasted pumpkin seeds.

I found out today that DH has been telling all of his coworkers that he is jealous of the lunches that I pack for dsd because his Mom did not pack him fun lunches when he was younger.  I have offered to pack him fun lunches for work, but he always wants sandwiches because they are easy to eat at his desk.  He did get a few mini chocolate donuts today as a treat.

I do pack pretty unusual things sometimes, but dsd also likes to eat a lot of things cold that I would never eat at that temperature.  She tells me that a lot of times the other kids are jealous of her unusual lunch food, and she just tells them that they could ask their Mom to make the same thing for them. 

Tomorrow's lunch:
Kabobs with cubed pork roast, cheese cubes, and pickles - I even have fun skewers with pinwheels on the end of them.
Banana
Blueberry Muffin
Small side salad
One mint-filled chocolate

For today's speech tournament. (I also added a slice of havarti to keep the olives in tact.

With peanut sauce. And egg rolls.

I took a tour of the kitchen yesterday and met with the cafeteria manager for about an hour. I like her. And I feel fairly comfortable. But they were going to fey the egg rolls in the same fryer as the French fries (vegetarian fryer) and after talking about how it's common to use a peanut paste to seal them she said that maybe she'll bake them instead.

Ravioli is vegetarian (so is DS---has been for 8 years).

They will move the blue diamond almond packages that DS can eat away from the trail mix.

I probably should take my shower though--in case of reaction.

Hopefully they're leaving the peanuts out, yeah?

We have to cupcake tithe on Day 1 therefore DS1's appetite for a nutritious lunch is shot. Hopefully they'll let DH slide some gum to nom-nom-nom on to unstick it all. I'm not packing a huge amount of cake just a couple of bites.

We worked really hard all summer to put some pounds on him I don't want another year of untouched lunches coming again.

Nothing.

DS is eating in the cafeteria today. They are making ravioli .... and Kung Pao Chicken!

First day of school! 

--wrap (veggie cream cheese, spinach, carrots, yellow bell pepper, {greenish} pickled banana pepper
--honey dew chunks
--pluot
--rosemary and olive oil triscuits
--bottle of water
--2 fig newtons

The fig newtons and pluot are for an after school snack. He'll be at school until 5 or so.

The wrap before I rolled it:

Thermos of Maruchan instant Yakisoba, hummus single, and red bell pepper slices.

Wasn't feeling too creative-- but DD seemed pleased by the offerings, anyway.

Flower-shaped naan slices (Kontos); two tiny bento cups, one with berry cream-cheese and the other with Land-O-Frost turkey (about four slices); 1/2 c of pickled beets, and an individual bag of apple slices.

DD uses reusable lunch containers.  I use a variety-- my favorites are a bento box (sorry, can't find a link for it-- got it at Uwajimaya, it's a double-layer click-and-lock), Sistema containers in various sizes(the baby food set is about right for lunchbox items and bento), and a Rubbermaid sandwich cube.  Obviously, the amounts are fairly generous since she is at work from before 8 until sometime near 5 each day-- and she's 14. 

This week:

Monday-- 5 chicken-vegetable potstickers, broccoli salad (see below), pickled beets (about 1/2 c) and a plum--sliced into wedges.

Tuesday-- melted cheese sandwich made with shredded pizza cheese, a Kontos pocketless pita, sliced into wedges; a 1tbs Bento container stuffed with Land-O-Frost turkey, 1/2 c of broccoli-carrot salad (this is carrot shreds and broccoli florets microwaved in Aji Mirin for about a minute or so), and a bag (~1c?) of sliced apples.  Oh- and a babybell cheese single.

Wednesday-- Kontos naan cut into flower shapes with a food cutter, a Sabra hummus single, broccoli salad, and a bag of apple slices.

Thursday-- 1 c leftover Spanish Rice, 1 c of "fruit salad" (1 jumbo plum, cut into wedges, and a kiwi, cut into slices and shaped with a cutter into "flowers."

Tomorrow-- haven't yet decided.    Might do Soba and fruit.