I am starting to watch another child who is 2.5 along with my two kids, 2.5 and 15 months. I want to put together menus, so I can have a budget and be organized. What are typical lunches for your kids on a daily basis also what do you do for snacks for your kids?
My kids LOVE noodle soup, you can buy about 10 packages for a couple of bucks and I throw in some frozen veggies or cut of pieces of chicken.
I try to stay organic and healthy, but also budget. Typical snacks are seedless grapes (cut into quarters), unsweetened applesauce (you can buy a big generic brand jar for cheap), Mott's fruit snacks (made with applesauce instead of sugar), yogurt, string cheese, sliced cheese on triscuit crackers, slices of turkey deli meat, and mini-bananas.
Lunches are usually a small sandwich of some sort with grapes, applesauce, baked beans, corn...some fruit or vegetable. For sandwiches, I use only a half slice of bread, cut in half, since my little guy doesn't eat a whole sandwich. I also use tortillas instead of bread sometimes. You can make a wrap with deli meat, baby spinach leaves, mayo, and a slice of cheese. Or you can spread peanut butter and jelly in a tortilla, top with thinly sliced apples, and wrap. Super yummy!
One thing my kids eat well is quesadillas. I spread some refried black beans on a tortilla, put a little bit of salsa on top of the beans and then some shredded cheese. cover with another tortilla and just cook on a saucepan on medium heat till tortillas brown a little. You can just make plain cheese quesadillas if the kids dont like the beans/salsa. I think it adds some flavor to it. You can serve with guacamole and sour cream for them to dip it in.
Aarti.
Grilled cheese
Mac n' cheese
Frozen veggies
Chicken tenders (homemade)
Beans
Low sodium ritz crackers
goldfish
Cheerios
Sugar Free Applesauce varieties
Bananas
Blueberries
to name a few...
I think that most of the things mentioned are great for lunch. you could also make a large pot of homemade chicken soup. most kids like that. also, I didn't notice fish sticks. my kids don't like them, but when they went to a sitter, she used to make them for lunch. (of course, when they were there, they always ate them!) you could check out some school menus in your area by looking at their websites. this might give you some other ideas.
I've feed all of the below... I try to give them a fruit or veggie, with all meals... My kids drink a ton of milk and a little juice and some water too.
Spagehetti with / without meatballs
Grilled Cheese
Sandwiches
Burritos
Wraps
Pasta
Noodles (boiled with chicken boulon) with peas & carrots
Mashed potatoes
Chicken Nuggets
Hotdogs
Mac & Cheese
Beans
Carrots
Peas
Salad (1 of mine - the other won't eat it)
Rice w/Veggies
Pizza
Yogurt
String Cheese
Cheese It's or Goldfish
Special K Breakfast bars for snack or breakfast
Pretzels
Fritos
Grilled cheese
Hot dog (Hebrew Nat'l only)
Mini sandwiches (turkey, ham, cheese)
Mac 'n cheese
Soup
Occasionally a fast microwavable Gerber lunch
String cheese
Pasta
Peas w/ melted cheese
green beans
fruit cup
applesauce
Fruit: grapes, strawberries, blueberries
Snacks: Puffs, Cheerios, cheese rice cakes, fruit, string cheese, Auntie Ann's bunnies, goldfish.
For lunch my wife and i buy those banquet tv dinners you can microwave, they come with meat, veg, and mac%cheese or potato. Lots of varieties and depending on local stores can get them 10 for 10dollars or 1.25 not on sale. Make good easy lunches.
