Wondering what to pack for lunch now that your child is starting preschool? Well, so have I and in a moment of brilliance, I asked all my smart mommy friends who already have kids in school. Below is a list of their contributions. It’s especially helpful if you, like me, find that your kids aren’t interested in sandwiches yet.
Main Course (sandwich alternatives)
Sandwich Roll-Ups – Flatten bread or tortillas, spread with whatever, roll and slice to show spirals. May freeze slightly to make slicing into wheels easier.
Raisin Bread Fingers – spread with cream cheese, may add apple & dates.
Graham Crackers – spread with cream cheese or peanut butter or topped with cheese, raisins & app
Meat Spread – combine 1 c finely chopped cooked beef, chicken, turkey or chicken livers and 1 c chopped celery or onion in a bowl. Add 2-3T mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
We make “homemade” Lunchables. I use a biscuit cutter and cut out rounds of bologna, thick sliced ham or turkey. I also cut out rounds of cheese. I put these in round, small Tupperware containers and then put crackers in a separate container.
Leftovers that are ok chilled or room temp – pasta/mac n cheese/ cut-up chicken and rice
Hummus and lettuce sandwiches
Egg salad, light cream cheese on wheat bread (sometimes with jelly)
Cooked chicken nuggets or sliced hot dogs (only when past choking age) in a thermos with a side of ketchup
Greek salad (grape leaves, olives, feta cheese with chopped lettuce
Whole wheat pasta with chopped broccoli, olives, feta or parmesian cheese, touch of oliveoil
Whole wheat pasta with chopped egg and a touch of mayo
Lox, tomato and cream cheese on a whole wheat bagel or the english muffin;salmon salad on whole grain bread or on lettuce
Ham or turkey and cheese, cubed, with wheat crackers
My youngest son loves cold pasta (after seeing my first child eating it I know a lot of kids started bringing it to preschool too)…I make wheat elbows or rotini and top it with a little parmesan cheese
Mini whole wheat pitas or bagels filled with: – cream cheese and jelly- cream cheese and smoked salmon- cream cheese blended with raisins- peanut butter and banana- jam and banana- egg salad
“Cracker sandwiches” with stone wheat crackers and turkey or peanut butter
Breaded chicken cutlets (leftover from dinner) cut up and cold for lunch
Small yogurts (the mousse kind by Danon sticks best to the spoon for less mess but only comes in vanilla)
In the winter I sometimes give them Chicken Noodle or Tomato soup in a Thermos (I didn’t start this until Kindergarten).
Snacks/Veggies
Celery Sticks, Carrot Sticks, Bread Sticks, Pita Wedges or Rice Cakes spread with- peanut butter- cream cheese, raisins & sunflower seeds- cream cheese blended with apples and dates- a creamy dip or dressing- hummus
1/2 of a pitted avocado… I just squeeze a little lemon on it and send it in with a plastic spoon.
Ants on a log: celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter or cream cheese, with a few raisins on top
Cucumber sandwiches – sliced rounds with cream cheese in the middle
Steamed broccoli or green beans (so they’re softer but still crisp) with Ranch or Caesar dressing or hummus
String cheese, pretzels, goldfish, chewy granola bars, peanut butter crackers, yogurt or yogurt drinks (these can double as main course items if yours is picky like mine)!
Sliced carrots/peppers with a side of Ranch dressing if they want it
Raisins
Graham sticks (Earth’s Best)
Trader Joes rice and seaweed snacks and soy chips (high protein, low fat)
Trader Joes dried apple rings or dry mango
Veggie Booty, Pirate Booty
Shelled edamame is a fun vegetable.
Stonybrook Farm smaller sized yogurt smoothies
Baby Bell cheese (cute and fun for them to unwrap the wax covering)
Corn nuts, sesame sticks, yogurt covered raisins for fun snack
Veggies fries or pita chips
Dessert/Fruit
Cut up strawberries dusted with powdered sugar (they LOVE these), peeled apples with caramel (individual caramel sold in produce dept.- especially this time of year).
Any kinds of berries in season
Dried fruit: apricots, raisins—even prunes! I also pack cut up pears
I also find that any fresh fruit that is cubed and served with a toothpick for eating goes over well. It is the toothpick that is magical, I believe.
