What's in their lunch boxes?

[dannii]

Hi ladies!
just wanted to know what you all pack in the kiddies school lunch boxes!
i get sick of putting the same things in the kids lunch boxes all the time, plus my kids are soooo picky! drives me nuts.

When i go food shopping they have a huge range of school lunch stuff, but is all that boxed stuff. LCM's, Dunka roos, tinny teddies, mueseli bars, etc etc etc

So i wanted to know what u all put in!?

[sugar n spice]

My son just started kindy so one day a wk when he has a full day i need to pack his lunch so i too would love some ideas. i suppose other than sandwhiches you could cut up some carrot, make a mini fruit salad, some crackers, i also saw the other day at woolworth theses snack packs which had mini packs for school of either dried apricots , nut or sultanas.

[JenNT]

Hey there Danni:D

I make up ham sandwiches and freeze them 2 weeks at a time.Just put them in those snaplock bags.

The night before school i pack lunchboxes.......

a) take sandwich out of freezer put in box
b) put in a yoghurt
c) put in a banana,or cut up orange etc..piece of fruit
d) one of these as a treat....box of sultanas,muesli bar,rollup,cheesestick,lamington finger(frozen),lcm,cheese and craker......only one of these and only if they have been GOOD but they must eat the other things first.

i figure the have recess which is enough time to eat a yoghurt and a sandwich and piece of fruit for lunch and a treat.

I definately recommend freezing sandwiches, saves me time and money having them already to go.

:chef: j

[caitsmum]

J - thanks for the idea of freezing the lamingtons, I will have to try that one.

I have been toasting wholemeal lavish bread in the sandwhich press. Then I cut them into triangles. My kids think they are chips :p . the middle girl has a salsa dip with hers the other two just like it plain.

Lunches get harder and harder. I understand the no nut products rule but some of the teachers at my daughter's school are starting to become the sandwhich police. One poor little boy in grade one went home in tears the other day because his mum had sent him with honey sandwhiches and one of the little girls in his class is alergic to honey, so he was made to go and sit by himself to eat his lunch. The poor love was very sad about it. Sorry thats a bit off the topic.

[Rell]

My DD eats almost anything so its too much of a task to pack her lunch. Some of the things she has are:
cut up capsicum
fruit
fruit salad
yogurt
cheese
vita wheats
home made muffins- fruit and savory
home made musli bars
zuccini slice
hard boiled eggs
salad
rice crackers
corn thins
lebanesse bread cut up and baked in the oven (like chips)
saltanas
home made dried fruit balls

[Elfin]

I usually pack

Cashew nuts
Yakult
Yoghurt
Popcorn
Nutrigrain (to eat like a biscuit)
Chopped mushrooms and red cap
Dried fruit
Fruit cake
Furit bars
Savoury Biscuits
Corn Thins
Cruskits
Oat bran muffins
Grated Cheese in a small container.
Sliced carrot
Cheerios
Various fruit and sandwiches.

The lunch box is getting harder with the allergy thing. I think that was awful what happened to the Grade one boy. I hope all parents have been told not to pack honey. We don't have this problem at school but at dd's kindy there is a boy with a peanut allergy and one that has a tree nut allergy so it makes it hard. So no cashews for dd.

Rell your fruit balls sound interesting how do you make them:confused:

[Rell]

Fruit balls
1/3 c chopped apricots
1/4 c chopped dates
1/2 c chopped rasins
2 tbl boiling water
1/4 c milk powder (skim if you like)
1/2 c desiccated coconut
1 tea vanilla essence
1/2 c desiccated coconut for rolling

Combine all the dried fruit in a bowl with the water and let stand for 10min
stir in milk powder, coconut and vanilla
Shape into small balls and roll in extra coconut
Refigerate until firm or until you get sick of the kids asking "are they ready yet"

[caitsmum]

I really, really feel for those families living with children with anaphalactic reactions. I don't even think I could begin to understand how difficult it is for them. I definately agree with the no nut products and hopefully there will be better communication from my daughter's school for what they would like us to send for lunches. I would hate to think that something I sent for my daughter's lunch could harm another child. I guess education for all of us is the key. It seems to me that anaphalactic allergies are becoming more prevelant so the more we know the better.

Rell - your fruit balls sound so yum. Will definately have to try them out.

[dannii]

yeah i agree with everything caitsmum said!

thanks for that girls , ive been doin school lunches for a few years now, think id be fine hey! no. :laughing:

anyways some great ideas. just makes it interesting to see what others do, too.

hope to hear from more of you.

the school tuckshop is really pushing the healthy eating, so they don't sell any junk food. after watching Jamie olivers school lunch show, my DD thought he was to blame for their change in menu also haha.

[rynosmum]

DS is only 20 months but still likes variety in his lunches :D

I make up noodle stir frys, pastas, home made chicken nuggest etc and freeze them in small containers. In the morning, I put some frozen veges in the top and pack it in his lunchbox.

He also gets crackers with avocado, sandwiches with vegemite, cream cheese, roast chicken etc, dried fruit and cheese sticks.

I also make him a little fresh fruit salad every day.:thumbsup: