Toddler Lunches

I had to do the same for my 2 1/2 yr old. I would make PB&J sand and Cream cheese and jelly sand, PB and Honey(just a sprinkle) sand, vienna sausages and cut up string cheese, crackers, snackables, toddler puffs. basically finger foods are easiest for him and the teachers.

Good Luck.
M.

I've had to put together snack/lunches for my 4 year old son for 3 years now. I can't say I've been very imaginative, but I usually aim for a fruit/vegetable, a protein, and a bread/grain. So, I cut up things like apples, cantaloupe, carrots and put them in small containers. Then proteins are things like cheese, pasta, hard boiled eggs, nuts, cold chicken pieces or nuggets. Then breads are crackers, animal crackers, tortillas, tortilla chips. Then, of course, milk to drink.

K.

My kids didn't like cold food so I bought a wide mouth thermos. I'd heat up their food in the morning and put it in their thermos and it would still be warm at lunch time. No real prep at mealtime, just empty it into a bowl for them.

How about home made lunchables. who cares if they actually make the sandwhich out of it. Buy some ritz crackers, and they sell the cheese pre cut into little squares, some little round ham slices (sold right next to pepperoni). maybe some fruit. (Sorry its been awhile since i fed an 18 month old) Start out trying it out on the weekends, to see how much fills them up.

I have the same problem with my 2 1/2 year old. Its the same at her preschool. Sometimes she doesn't mind if things are cold, like I will make mac and cheese the night before and refridgerate it, then she eats it the next day. She LOVES peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread, so we do that alot too. As far as other things, I send lots of fruit and veggies and she always eats them. I think they have lunch fairly early and I drop her off at 9. Good luck!

My 3 year old loves fluffernutters, which are peanut butter and fluff sandwhiches. Some stores don't carry fluff, but they usually have marshmallow creme which is almost exactly the same. I use just a little fluff, and put it on whole grain bread so it's healthier.

Mac and Cheese, leftover spaghetti or soup in a thermos
Yogurt
Individual cottage cheese servings
cold cuts and cheese (or cream cheese) rolled up in a tortilla
Fruit jam and cream cheese sandwiches
diced avocados
Grilled cheese (they aren't bad at room temperature!)

I have the same problem, and my son hates peanut butter and cheese so I am really limited. I sometimes send whole grain raisin bread with a little margarine in lieu of a sandwich. He gets a fruit cup every day. (Mandarin oranges, peaches, mixed fruit, pears, etc.) He adores those. I ask the teachers to drain out the syrup before giving it to him which cuts down on the high sugar content as well as makes less mess that way. Nutrigrain bars and fig newtons are also popular. Some of my friends send the Gerber ravioli tubs and say their kids eat them cold just fine. My son won't do that, but it may be worth a try.

Please don't send mayonnaise products or chicken products to school without being refrigerated!!! Not only is it unhealthy for the one eating it but another toddler may nab a bite and get sick too. Cream cheese on bread or crackers, bean burritos, cheddar cheese(why do you think hikers carry it), nutella and bread, pasta with parmesan and very small amount of olive oil or butter(bowties are easiest and finger friendly), veggie and fruit slices.

yogurt, cheese, lunchable, uncrustables

I dont know i wish i could help i am out of ideas too if you hear any good ones please let me know would love to stop sending my son with lunchables.

My two year old likes rolled up ham & turkey. Cubed cheese works well with this.

Also cream cheese w/ or w/o meat rolled up in a tortilla is a favorite around here (can be set in the fridge overnight, then cut into bite size pieces for little ones). They make different flavors of cream cheese too.

Hi K.,

We had to provide meals this way for years. I love the idea of heating food in the morning and sending it in an open-mouth Thermos. Thermos makes a metal container that keeps food hot for many hours. Mom or Dad can try any favorite food at home on a weekend and see what their son thinks. The food might cool a good bit before eating, though, so make sure the type food sent will be safe to eat in that case. My sons especially enjoyed fried rice made with scrambled eggs and ham bits. This can be made the night before, reheated the morning of and sent to school. Instead of using a lot of oil, spray the rice with a no-stick cooking spray to coat the rice!

J. B
Parent Coach

My kids aren't big on sandwiches, so I send chicken salad on crackers. I also put some cheese, meat and bread seperately, they will eat it that way. Also, you can put cold chicken nuggets in a lunch. Both my kids eat them that way and I've seen other little kids eat them too.

Cold grilled cheese sandwiches work too. I like to use a cookie cutter to cut them in fun shapes that seem to make them eat them better. The cookie cutters work for about any sandwich.