Preschool Lunch / Snack Ideas

Hi. I have a child in vpk at my older childerns elem school. I find finger foods a great snack or lunch. I cut different granola bars up, mix different crackers together, softer nuts (like cashews), raisins, banana chips, yogart covered things and pretzels are a great snack mix. You can also take puff pastries and make different little pockets with things she likes in them. I do love to cook and am teaching my three younger childern different ways to make something taste good without it being bad for you. Oh and in the mix I just typed you can also add alittle candy to it. (they do have sugarless if need be). I hope this helps and if you need anymore ideas please let me know. (I have two picky and one adhd) so I'm always trying new things.

L.

you are blessed that she will eat such a variety! I used to cut my son's lunchmeat sandwiches into shapes with a cookie cutter. Same food....different presentation. Like snowflakes in winter, pumpkins in fall, stars for anytime, etc.....

Hi K.,

Twice a month we email an e-newsletter to moms and dads which includes a lunch box menu. Email me your email address if you want to receive it or sign up for it on our website which also contains lunch box recipes/menus (www.familyfoodexperts.com).

In addition, this Friday, on our internet radio show, we will be talking about lunch ideas with Chef Lynn Battles. You are invited to call in with questions. Go to www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com at noon EST to listen. Call in number: ###-###-####. I will be talking to Chef Lynn this afternoon and will ask her your question about methods to keep food warm. Sure understand the desire for warm food - it is COMFORT FOOD! Most kids and adults prefer warm over cold. Also, the flavors are more vivid with the application of some heat.

You can always email me directly with more questions. Sounds like you are doing a great job of feeding your daughter healthier food!

Here are some of my 4 yr old's preschool lunch favs:
Peanut butter sandwich crackers
boxes of raisins (the tiny snack size)
yogurt raisins
yogurt
fruit cups (peaches, pineapple, mandarin oranges...)
granola bars
lunchables (the ones with whole wheat crackers, turkey & cheddar)
PB&J cut into fun shapes (stars, etc)
Cheese sandwhiches
mac n cheese or chicken nuggets (when put into a thermos while still hot, they usually stay warm!)
carrots with ranch dressing

Hope this helps!

Red bell pepper strips (keep chilled so they stay crisp)
Apple slices (we use granny smith apples, and I dip them in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown) - you can also include a small peanut butter cup (Jif makes prepackaged ones) to dip the apple slices into.
A whole banana (they are inexpensive, so if she doesn't eat the whole thing, throw out whatever is left), it is already "pre-wrapped", lol.
Popcorn in a ziplock baggie.

what about hot soup in a thermos? When I was a kid I loved soup for lunch and there is a huge variety of healthy soups!

will your child eat room-temperature food? I make some things in the morning and by the time they eat it, it's room temperature- this includes things like fish sticks, chicken nuggets, mini pierogies, and 'squares' (frozen- Amy's brand has bean & cheese as well as spinach feta and Health is Wealth Brand has Spinach Munchees)

also:
hummous. costco now sells a box/case of little individual packs- send some w/ veggies to dip in it

how about beans? my son used to eat (orgainic) canned beans! garbonzo, kidney and cannelli. strange, I know!

nuts (almonds, cashews)
nut butters (almond, cashew, sunflower!)

I would like to know what you hear also .. I am in the same boat. I tried to find the thermos brand soup container in camping gear at Walmart but they were out of the brand. I will have to go see other stores. I also do not want a huge container otherwise kids won't take them to school.
Thanks
S.

Wrap a piece of ham or turkey around a cheese stick

Crackers, pretzels, goldfish crackers

graham crackers, any kind of crackers, or celery with PB or cream cheese

As for keeping food warm, I wouldn't try it with grilled cheese because it may just get soggy -- but for stuff like chicken or pasta, you can get Thermos brand short fat containers at Target

olives, cold corn on the cob, turkey pepperoni, dried fruit and trail mixes, yogurt covered raisins, mini muffins, cinnamon raisin bagel chips. I also make a low sugar oatmeal walnut choc chip cookie which is great for a snack.

Dried fruits are awesome too.

Dried veggie chips
Beans and rice
Pigs in a blanket (hot dogs wrapped with cresent roll)
Muffins (You can hide all kinds of things in muffins!)
Yogurt (so important for probiotics)
Empanada (make whatever filling she loves)

http://www.recipezaar.com/cookbook.php?bookid=93092

Hope this link helps!

To keep things hot, you'll need to splurge and get a thermos (appx $15). They really are the best to keep things hot until lunch time.

Good luck!

you can get a thermis container at targetand toys us that will keep the foods warm. they work and come in fun designs. (sponge bob, dora, princess, spiderman, etc.) they cost approx. 12.99- 14.99

i have to make lunch for my 2 preschoolers 4 times a week and it is hard to come up with ideas, especially if they are picky eaters. we use some from your list and we also do some of these:

peperoni with crackers
magrine oranges
gold fish crackers
pizza rolls
chicken nuggets
corn
green beans
cheese sanwiches
rice
baked beans
fish nuggets/sticks
corn dogs ( cook in the morning and wrap in foil)
yogurt (we put in a baggy with ice packs to keep cold).

Goldfish, granola type bars and raisins are a few we also use! Some fridays, if we have them, I'll let him take a cookie!
Also yogurt, if you freeze it the night before it will stay cool but not be hard when it's snack time at preschool!
My son goes 5X a week and I usually let him pick!

Sounds like a great list of foods she will eat. Stick to it. I think we get more bored packing it but they love eating the same things.

I'd love to have a child that was picky in this way. Of these items, my child will only eat PB&J and the corn chips. But it sounds like you have gotten some good ideas from others on this board. I would second the thermos from Target. It works pretty well. My son likes Chef Boyardee.

I'm guessing they have a fridge atlast so here are my ideas.
sliced cucumbers and ranch
rice
buttered noodles
pasta salad (my son just prefers elbow macaroni and miracle whip :/)
cheese ravioli

Cheese can handle room temperature for some time as long as its pretty fresh, mozzarella cheese is pretty good for you especially for girls (the calcium and all), my daughter will always eat it, plus it will go w/ that fruit. Its loaded with protein too which keeps hunger at bay.