I used to get so frustrated that my son had so much food left over in his lunch box. That is, until I went and had lunch with him one day. Those poor kids only have 20 minutes to eat! When I saw this, I knew I had to make some adjustments to the lunches I packed him. The kids aren’t allowed to eat their “snacks” in the lunchbox until the main food (the sandwich) is finished. Often, I would find 3/4 of a sandwich and all of the yogurt or fruit that I packed left in his lunchbox when I unpacked it after school. I realized that he just didn’t like to eat the bread.
He asked for Lunchables. I came up with a healthier compromise.
I love the “bento box” school lunch ideas on Pinterest but many of the ideas I find are filled with food he just won’t eat. (I wish he would eat hummus but he.just.won’t). Here are a few suggestions that he does eat. The great thing is that I can do a few substitutions and make “lunchables” that my food allergy daughter can also enjoy.
Banana/Peanut Butter tortilla wrap
Goldfish
Strawberries
Grapes
Turkey Slices
Cheddar Cheese
Grapes
Apple Sauce
Nuts (If allowed by your school. Our school has a “peanut table”)
Cooked Chicken
Apple
Goldfish
Strawberries
Nutella Sandwich
Pretzels
Strawberries
Goldfish
Turkey Slices
Gogurt
Watermelon
Goldfish
Easy to pack and easy for him to eat!
What are a few of your lunchbox ideas?
Limeade Gal says
Love these ideas! I don’t know if your little ones eat rice, but Musubi is always awesome in a bento box! (& it doesn’t have to be spam lol, chicken or beef or hot dog Musubi is good too 🙂 )
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Herchel says
Oh my kids definitely eat rice. They also love spam lol
Rabia @TheLiebers says
Those are the things my kids would eat! They like hummus, but it just doesn’t work in a lunch box for me. Mine usually get sandwiches and piece of fruit. 20 minutes for lunch is ridiculous, but that’s all mine get too!
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Mrs.AOK says
Great lunch ideas!
It’s amazing how fast the schools expect little ones to eat… right?
Thanks for sharing via Mommy Monday!
XOXO
Herchel says
Thanks! My son is such a chatterbox that I am surprised he actually eats at lunch 🙂
Kimber's Navy Family says
I pack lunches for our boys all the time! I love how you have used the silicone cupcake cups! Such a great idea.
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Herchel says
I saw them in Pinterest so got some for a few bucks on Amazon. I am going to keep using them for dry snacks like crackers and goldfish but found some small containers with lids for the fruit. I got complaints for my son about strawberry juice all over his food. He swings his lunchbox around and things get rattled 🙂
Karen @TheMissingNiche says
These are awesome! I have run out of lunch ideas and my kids are so picky, I love how you arranged this! I would eat these lunches! They look so fun!
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Herchel says
It’s all about the packaging when it comes to my kids. I try to give them a bunch of fruits since they will only a few veggies.
Tamara says
You’ve done a great job here!
Isn’t it crazy that they get so little time to eat. My youngest doesn’t like sandwiches. He will eat bread & he will eat lunchmeat & cheese, but not in the form of a sandwich. So I am gotten a little creative with what I send as well. And I have cut back on sending snacks & increased sending fruits & veggies.
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Herchel says
Isn’t that weird? My son will eat some sandwiches but not lunch meat on bread.
Jennifer-Mommy Life After Ph.D. says
Nutella sandwich? YES PLEASE! Great ideas, will have to tuck these away for next year when my big guy starts going full-day!
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Herchel says
Thanks Jennifer. I am going to post more ideas soon 🙂
Echo says
Awesome ideas! I am changing the way we eat in April and lunches are a big part of that!
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Camille says
One of our favorite lunches is sliced hard boiled eggs, frozen Greek tube yogurt, fruit, and crackers. I also like to do “lunchables”- cheese cubes, cute up good for you meat, and crackers with a GoGo Squeez. My kids love these. Thanks for the extra ideas. We can’t have peanut products at our school and when I try to do substitutions, my kids get concerned so we just avoid it altogether so I’m always looking for non nut butter ideas. (I’ve found you via the Parent Link up @What’s up Fagens)
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Kate says
Great lunch ideas! Bentos are so easy & fun! My kiddo loves anything in a wrap lol
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karen says
Great post, I am always looking for ideas for our lunches so we don’t get bored. my son LOVES his peanut butter but at daycare there are many kids with allergies. I wonder if they will have a peanut table for him? Or will residue on clothes be too dangerous. Thanks for sharing. Happy Mommy Monday
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AwesomelyOZ says
These are awesome tips – I’m AWFUL with lunch and my son just refuses to eat much of anything but the fruits he will. I’ll keep this in mind as he just eats the same dang thing during lunch and I’m sure he’s more than bored with it. Great tips Herchel and my son won’t eat hummus either! Happy Monday! -Iva
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Herchel says
Thanks Iva! My son would live on Nutella if I let him. I try to keep it to one Nutella sandwich a week. With him, having small amounts of a variety means he eats more of it. I think he gets overwhelmed when there is a lot of one item.
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