Seeking Lunch Box Tips.

I love the cookbook Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.....easy to follow and great for getting in those veggies into foods they love...like mac n cheese & chicken nuggets. I use this mainly for my husband the picky eater, as my daughter eats everything I love too, broccoli,grean beans, spinach, yogurt, chicken, fish, beans, rice etc. It makes even comfort foods like mac n cheese healthier, lighter and way more nutricious. For my 17 mo olds luchbox I typically pack a fresh fruit like 1/2 a banana or pears, a Yobaby yogurt(with or w/o cereal) a organic applesauce(Sanra Cruz brand has great mixes like apricot-apple or blueberry-apple) and her 1/2 juice 1/2 water mix (and a bottle of organic toddler formula just in case for her naptime) this goes in the main part of the luch box with a cold pack...then I basically heat up what ever was leftover from dinner the night before (that she successfully ate) which might include any of the above meantioned items in a small covered container for her main part of her luch this goes in the outer pouch of the luch box since its warm with little containers of any dry snacks(graham crackers, etc) It enough food for am snack, lunch, and afternoon snack with a few choices and always old favorite standbys........Good Luck! L.

I totally agree with steering clear of processed foods that are marketed for kids. They are usually unhealthy alternatives to a decent snack or meal and the junk foods teach poor habits and the desire for sweets from such a young age!

How about sliced veggies or fruit with a healthy dip or on. Kids usually like finger foods and dipping. Sandwiches cut into fun shape pieces with cookie cutters are fun to eat. Yogurts, cheeses and crackers sound like decent things that she already likes. Raisins are good for dessert or snack. Granola or rice cakes too. The more you try at home, the more you know what she likes, or will accept. Best wishes!

We use a lunchbox from laptoplunches.com that allows you to pack lots of things without packaging waste. It's really great for a picky eater because it gives a big selection each day. The website has some good lunch ideas as well.

Since we now of an epedemic of childhoold diabetes (1 in 3 children), be careful how much white flour and sugar you give her,pasta, cookies, anything white. If she chews good and likes them nuts are great. Also raisens, peanut butter,and all kinds of fruits. This will also not harm her teeth. I work for a dentist and see way too much decay in young children. Mainly from just too much sugar. Watch her drinks too....you sound like a very good,concerned mommy who wants to do the right thing. God Bless you, we need more like you!

My 2 1/2yo son is super picky too. A few thoughts would be tortilla rollups with melted cheese, or peanut butter (our son loves Nutella too in his). Chopped fruit is always good too. Along with some milk and granola and you're all set.

Our son also loves the drinkable yogurt and I make it myself to get away from the high fructose corn syrup and dyes. Just one large container of plain yogurt and blend it with a frozen juice concentrate that is 100% juice. He loves it.

Good Luck. oh...and there's always lots of fun ideas on Flickr... http://flickr.com/groups/muffintinmeals/ or http://flickr.com/groups/kideats/pool/ or any bento box site.

S.,
I just came across your post. Have you looked at Laptop Lunches (http://www.laptoplunches.com/LaptopLunchPhotos.html)? I haven't purchased any of the products but the photo gallery is full of different lunch ideas. My kids like to pick from the photo gallery.
K.

Our daughter goes to day care a few days a week so that she can play with other kiddos and so that I can actually get the house cleaned or do some grocery shopping. She eats so much better now that she's been in daycare

I make mac n' cheese from scratch and usually make a big batch of it so that she can have it for lunch throughout the week, or for dinner if she doesn't like what we're having. She'll now eat sandwiches w/ meat and cheese in them as to her previous pb&j only sandwiches. I always cut a shape out of the center of her sandwich with cookie cutters (heart, bear, flower, hand, angel, etc.) and she LOVES that! We send celery and carrot sticks w/ a tiny bit of ranch dressing to go with it. Applesauce (unsweetened) and fresh fruits make it in her lunch all the time. Our biggest surprise was hummus with pita bread cut in wedges! The kid loves the stuff!

Our daycare has a microwave and so they're capable of reheating her lunches that comprise of leftovers or to heat up chicken nuggets and some veggies. Cheese sticks and crackers are really popular among the kids too. And don't forget yougart! Yourgart is great in a lunch box and the kids think of it as a treat.

These are just a few of the things we've packed for our dd. Hope the suggestions help!

if she is on the fence with PB&J or coldcuts, make it with the whole grain bread, but use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. maybe you can let her help? also, kids love to "dip", show her she can dip her fruit slices or crackers in yogurt, peanut butter, maybe a home made "salsa"(just cut up tomatos!) good luck!

PS:i dont know if shes newly two, or almost three, but the kids in my care lOVE these veggie chips. crunchy and tasty, and healthy!
http://www.terrachips.com/
http://www.flatearth.com/

I use this for my 2 1/2 yr old and my girls that are 5 & 8. Try makingyour own lunchables. Tryout different crackers, different cheeses, lunch meat, or even turkey peperoni. And add a fruit! Simple and healthy lunch that is not a same old sandwich. I also will do cheese sticks sometimes or even make peanut butter crackers a sthe main protein of the lunch.
Another idea...cucumber sandwiches are good and then you can make some for yourself too!
Good luck. C.

My daughter likes baked sweet potatoe with colby cheese. I just buy the potatoe and bake it, cut it open and add cheese brocolli and sometimes peas.

my daughter is 2 1/2 and she goes to school also. I feel good nutrition is very important. send the good stuff and if she is hungry she will eat it. my daughter likes tuna sandwiches. I cut them into bite size peices. also I buy several kinds of fruit (grapes, cantelope, watermelon, strawberries, apples, pineaple) and make a big fruit salad and then divide it into snack bags. I find my daughter will eat stuff when it is presented that way as opposed to one fruit per container. you might be surprised. one day at the park we were eating the mixed fruit and another kid wanted some. I didn't know her but knew it was ok with her mom, then when I told the mom the different fruits she ate the mom was amazed that her daughter ate them. if you don't want to make a sandwich, I buy the natural boars head turkey from the deli and make little rolls and then cut them into bite size peices. also she loves wheat thins. or do Kashi crackers with peanut butter. if you can't send peanut butter to school use sun butter, it is made from sunflower seeds and is ok for use around those with peanut allergies. egg salad sandwiches are good. try with a little relish for added flavor. (I don't like the relish but she does) don't be afraid to get some sprinkes, there is barely any sugar in them and use the tube gel stuff to get the sprinkles to stick. make smiley faces or whatever. also you can steam carrots or zuchini and they'll eat them cold. my daughter won't eat raw carrots yet, but she loves zucchini and carrots. the colby jack cheese sticks are good source of calcium. I've also done a snack bag mixture of cheerios, fiber one cereal, with raisins and sometimes I throw in some goldfish pretzels and the whole wheat goldfish.

that's all I have for now, feel free to send me a message if you want to brain storm any more.

B.

My almost 3yr old is tough for lunch too. He doesn't eat any type of sandwich. I usually send a thermos with a couple of cooked chicken nuggets, a container of 2% cheese cubes and a box of raisins. If you buy a thermos, you can send any hot items she might like. My son's school isn't able to heat anything up so the thermos helps. You could send the mac & cheese in a thermos. The yogurt is also an option if you put a cold pack in there (or if the school refigerates the lunches). I'd love to send healthier things but since I am not there when my son is eating lunch, I'd rather send him with things I know he will eat and make up for any nutritional shortfalls once he is home. When I ate lunch at school with the kids one day, I saw that most moms sent their kids with PB&J sandwiches and various fruit, cheeses, cookies on the side. Hope this helps!

the lunch suggestion are excellent crackers with peanut butter Mac/cheese for protein granola with yougurt and remember when she sees other kids eating she will get the idea don't worry she will eat when hungry provide plenthy of fluids milk water a and good juices ///from a wise old grandma and great grandma