For the first time in years, I'm not dreading the task of making back-to-school lunches. I usually start the year with good intentions and a mental stash of all the fabulous things I'll make for the boys to eat. And then. Real life sets in, work gets busy, I forget to make lunches before I go to bed and before I know it, all of my plans have unraveled and I'm stuck with six months of a task I just can't get excited about it.
But now I'm ready. I've made a 30-day lunch plan, stocked up on some super cute bento-style lunch bins and have some ideas for how to keep lunch fun and nutritious. Oh, and I've also saved my list of foods that went into our lunch plan in a PDF format so if you're interested you can print it off as well. I've made this with my kids' taste and likes in mind but if it can offer you any form of inspiration for your lunches, please feel free to use it.
You're sooooo lucky if your kids will eat everything listed! We were on a sandwich (ham or bologna and cheese) and mini bagel rotation for the entire school year last year. Any other 'main' dish would come home untouched. The only saving grace was that he would eat healthy 'sides' like veggies, fruit, cheese and yogurt. How do you get your boys to try new things and expand their eating horizons?
Posted by: Stacey | 08/31/2010 at 11:27 AM
Hi Stacey - They certainly wont eat every single thing listed, but most of it. I added things to the list that I knew wouldnt work now, but will hopefully work by the end of the school year.
Now that Ben is ten, he is pretty much willing to eat, or at least try, everything. Jackson is incredibly picky but is getting better with age. I never introduce something new in their lunch because if they dont go for it, theyll be hungry all day. I always do it at dinner or on the weekends. I also find that giving them a choice works really well. I can ask Jackson Do you want tuna or egg salad? He might not be crazy about either, but if he gets to choose which one goes into his lunch hes more likely to eat.
Quesadillas or stuffed sandwiches works well because I can hide more in there and if anything has cheese on it, its likely to get eaten. My boys are both partial to thermos foods and more often than not end up with leftovers in their lunch...and it almost always gets eaten. If your son is a better dinner eater, just pack that for him.
Our other FAVOURITE lunch is what we call the Parisian Picnic - breadsticks and crackers, slices of ham, cheese cubes, yogurt, fruit, veggies and piece of chocolate. There is no main but a sample platter of a lot of other things. This always gets eaten. Always.
I hope this helps!
Posted by: Jan Scott | 08/31/2010 at 11:37 AM
That does help, thank you. I'm hoping that thermos lunches will be a hit this year. I only sent them twice last year and when I asked why he didn't eat them he said he couldn't get the lid off and by the time someone was available to help, lunch was over and he was shooed out the door! I like the Parisian picnic too. He likes all of those things separately. We have staggered entry this year and don't start until the 17th, so I still have time to plan it all out!
Posted by: Stacey | 08/31/2010 at 04:37 PM
Great list, thanks for doing the legwork and reminding me of some good "go to" items! Love the blog!
Jennifer
Posted by: Thegoodstuff411 | 10/11/2010 at 12:34 AM
Thanks, Jennifer!
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by: Jan Scott | 10/11/2010 at 10:25 AM
I agree. The old favourites never fail me when I'm restless or just can't settle or have just read a terrific book & nothing else seems right as the next read. Rereading can be blissful.
Posted by: Buy Online Rx | 11/05/2010 at 11:38 AM
Wow, you have a full menu! And I'm actually pleased to see moms like you, who cares of their kid's diet this much:)
Posted by: Healthy Lunch Ideas | 06/03/2011 at 06:10 PM