School lunchs

[missjane2005]

My DD will be starting school in just 15 days!! i was just wondering for those who have kids in school what do u put in there lunch boxes?
Just wanting some ideas of different things
Thanx.

[Kachow]

Hi,

My kids get a range of things in their lunch boxes. Stuff like

fruit
a sandwich
a muffin bar
and a popper

other things to have on hand are

fruit sticks
sticks of carrot or celery
yogurt
dippits ( crackers and chesse dip)

I find my kids are to busy playing them eating lunch!

[broncochik]

some other ideas that are easy,

mini shape packets
chips
le snacks
nutella snacks
biscuits
crackers
ovaltinies
cut up fruit pieces
maybe spoil them once in a while with a chocolate bar

[missjane2005]

With all the healthy eating stuff in schools now are they very stricked at ur schools?

[Kachow]

I sent my daughter to school with a mini choc bar in her lunch box and nothing was said to her. Its only strick at the tuckshops now as they have to adhear to stick guidelines set out by state government.

Other then that teachers dont inspect lunch boxes.. wel at our school they dont anyway.

[missjane2005]

A teacher told my MIL son he wasnt aloud packets of chips at school, DD eats fruit at home and vegies at night with dinner so i dont see why having a treat with there lunches at school is a big thing.

[the_queen]

It's not just about your kid having a treat - some schools have specific policies relating to allergenic foods. If one child has a severe allergy, then no child should be bringing foods of that nature to school.

Chips, chocolates, mini snack things, mini cakes, nutella/cheese snacks etc etc - all a big waste of money and not necessary. If you want to give your kid a "treat", give it to them on the weekends.

A sandwich/roll/wrap with meat and cheese and salad.
A piece of fruit.
A bottle of water.
Maybe some rice crackers or veggie sticks, with some dip (tzatziki, hommus, corn relish dip)

That's all that a child needs. My daughter brings home most of her lunch anyway, not because she doesn't like it but because she says she doesn't have time to finish it - she wants to go play with her mates.

[34me]

I wouldnt send chips, shapes, nutela etc, but thats because I wont even buy them.(basically any pre packaged junk)

things like sandwiches/wraps with salads and cold meats are always a hit
left over dinners like pasta etc
fruit
yogurt
veges(carrot cucumber muchrooms etc) with some cream cheese to dip in or avocado dip
crackers and cheese(easy to buy a block and cut it up and cheaper too)
sultanas/dried fruits
popcorn(make your own and put it in a little bag)
boiled eggs

just be careful regarding high allergen foods like nuts, our schools have no nut policies where you cannot send nuts or peanut butter.

[34me]

You beat me too the allergy thing the_queen!

[Harrys Mum]

Hey missjane2005, I have a great book called School lunces and after school snacks its by Alison & Simon Hurst has some great simple ideas. I have used it alot even though DD5 hasnt started school yet! I has a list of about 80 different sanwich fillers, which helps give you ideas.

Cheers

AL :yelclap:

[Amberlea]

I send my kids with a variety of things.
Their school doesnt have a no nut policy but I am careful to ensure that I try to keep other childrens allergies in mind.

They normally have a sandwhich of some kind, I change the breads to give them variety:
Mountain bread - for wraps
Pocket bread
Wholegrain/wholemeal rolls
Hotdog buns
Good quality low GI breads - helgas etc

I have a variety of fillings:
Bbq chicken and mayo/salad
Cold meats and sauce/salad
(No tomato/beetroot as it goes soggy)
Homemade rissole with cheese, sauce and lettuce on a bun
Cooked sausage with cheese and sauce in a hotdog roll
Vegemite and cheese
Carrot and cheese
Tuna and mayo
Various spreads

I make sure that there is an ice brick in their lunchbox as well, even though they have aircon at the school and their bags are kept inside.

For snacks they take any of the following:

Plain chips
Museli bar
Muffin bar
Baked fruit bar
Fruit salad (tinned stuff put into smaller containers)
Vege sticks
Piece of fruit
Yoghurt (I buy the big tubs and put into little containers)
Rice crackers/cakes
Muffins
Mini quiche
Occasionally a slice of cake that I've made

For drinks they only have water in a refillable bottle.

[tobmac]

anything healthy that your child would eat and sometimes i stick in a suprise that isnt junk but isnt super healthy either. But as the others have said dont be upset if they bring home most things, over the first couple of weeks you will get used to what is too much and what is not enough, i find mine goes through alot too drink and we have something callewd "snack attack" at our school were the kids are allowed to graze on food in class (airpopped popcorn, fruit but not citrus, rice biscuits) as our 1st lunch is not until11:15am it is a long time between brekkie and lunch. My rule is though if its safe to still eat, you eat it for afternoon tea (saves wastage)

[missjane2005]

Thank u for all ur great ideas and help!

[3princes]

I make sure that there is an ice brick in their lunchbox as well, even though they have aircon at the school and their bags are kept inside.

For drinks they only have water in a refillable bottle.

Really important to have that ice-brick especially when putting yougurt or meat sandwiches in lunchboxes!!

My DS hasn't been to a school yet where they put their bags/lunchboxes inside.

Current school also calls recess "fruit break" so children are only allowed to bring fruit along. (preferably fresh)

Most important be ready for when they come home because they are usually famished and want to eat eat eat!

[camille]

Here is what I pack for my DD & DS:

In a smash insulated soft lunch box with an icebrick:

piece of fruit;
small bag of dried fruit and nuts;
wholemeal sandwich (2 slices)with various fillings; and
small piece of homemade cake or a few homemade biscuits;Also that all important 750ml bottle of cold water goes in their school bags.

Most parents overestimate what their kids will eat, I did when my DD started school and she always used to bring food home. So now I underpack if anything, so I dont get waste.

[the_queen]

:iagree: and on days when my girl wants a treat, I give her 50c or sometimes even just 20c, they have lollies at the canteen (like, a small choc frog for 10c) and juicy icy poles which they cut in half for the littlies. Whereas if I buy a $6 box of LCM's or something, she ends up eating them after school as well, and they are in the pantry to tempt me late at night too :laughing:

[punkbaby]

They have a policy at my dd9s school about not sharing food and also they wont allow peanut butter or nuts etc or honey.

Most of the time dd9s lunch is a main meal and a snack what she would eat at home, regardless though i always throw in an apple or mandarine or some watermelon just as an extra encase shes extra hungry, or just encase i decide to go shopping after schoo, shes got a snack then too.

Other that that this is usually what sort of things she has

Pita wraps with salad and cold meat
sandwiches
vegemite and cheese on salads
A container of fresh chicken or cold meat with lettuce, tomato cheese carrot and mushrooms
Ceasar salad with the egg too, without the dressing tho she hates it
Sometimes she likes a bowl of fruitsalad (when i make it)
Yoghurt
Sulatnas/Dried fruit mix
Home made meusli slice or savoury muffins or scones
carrot sticks
sakata rice crackers for snacks

I dont give her anything special, what ever she eats at home on her days off she gets at school although at the moment she is over sandwiches and prefers to either take saladas or a salad which is fine with me

[charlen49]

most importantly 2 drinks..one frozen that is thawed a little and icey for lunch......oh and if its there first year at school or last..label everything..lids and bottoms...as a mum and Teacher..its frustrating how much hard earned stuff ends up in lost property!..and if its a drink bottle they've never used before..have them practise opening and closing( ants luv soggy bags!)..if they cant have ur child open ther own bananas..surprisingly a lot of parents do evrything for there little cherubs..and easiest tasks to us are the hardest to the little ones!

[WorkingClassMum]

ducking now - please don't attack me

I'd also now start getting your child to help plan and pack lunch and make sure he can open all serve himself his food.

Now's a really good time to get him to learn to make his own sandwiches.

It's also a wonderful time to discuss food choices and planning and why he should eat all of his lunch

You can discuss recycling - bringing home bags and wrap and containers.

Teach him to recognise his name and the labels on his lunch box and drink bottle.

Also - by the end of the year (or maybe first term:D), he'll come home STARVING, but will hardly have touched his food! Too busy playing

The rule in our house is that the lunch box must be empty by the end of the day, or at least resonably attempted - and there's no food out of the cupboard unless the lunch box is empty.:shame:

I also insist that Banana & Kiwi Fruit skins, and Apple Cores etc come home.