Back to school lunches (yuck) is what I hear. I have a 6 year old starting grade 1 who doesn't like sandwiches, soup, cheese and crackers and not much fruit. Very fussy. Anyone have some good creative ideas that would appeal to this fussbucket? Thanks.
My daughter was the same way. She's 18 now and off at college. Still pretty picky. Anyway, I found I had to move outside the mind-set of normal "lunch" foods. She liked some breakfast items, like biscuits, bacon, etc. She got those some days, in little biscuit type sandwiches. She liked cottage cheese, so I often packed that in a small Tupperware container. I sent little apple juice containers, frozen (my only real lunch splurge for her), and the cottage cheese stayed cool 'til lunch. She liked macaroni and cheese at room temp, so I did the same thing with it. Peanut butter sandwiches worked with her. She didn't like any other kind of sandwich, but would eat cheese cubes and hotdog pieces, cold pigs in blankets, homemade trail mixes or granola.
If she liked what we ate for supper the night before, she took some leftovers for lunch. It took time, but after a while she got pretty good about eating a slightly wider variety. She also was quite a hit with the other kids, who saw her fussbucket lunches as cool. Basically, just think outside the normal lunch time fare, and send whatever she will eat. Kids are smart. They will eat when hungry. Her pediatrician always told me not to sweat it so much, just make a variety available, and over time she'd widen her likes. (09/04/2001)
Lauri
How about a thermos of spaghetti, stew, chili, chicken and dumplings, or hot dogs and baked beans. Does he like tacos? Mix everything, meat, tomatoes, lettuce, etc. up together in a container to eat along with a bag of taco chips. You can always try scaling down the amounts on some of the things he likes eating for dinner. (09/05/2001)
KayD
I've been making my own trail mix to take to work for lunches. Finger food ought to appeal to a six year old as much as it does to me, even though I'm somewhat older. Mix up a batch in a canister or Tupperware like container from which the youngster can fill a Ziploc bag to take to school for lunch. Some suggested ingredients: cashews, raisins, M and Ms, chocolate chips, Cheerios, and dried banana chips. A mix with any or all of these ingredients will be quite filling and provide an energy boost. Be imaginative. There are probably a host of other ingredients that might be appealing. Dineen (09/05/2001)
Dineen
Tell her that she eats what you pack or she doesn't get lunch. Our picky son knows that if he doesn't eat what we feed him, he doesn't eat. I mean, come on, doesn't like any sandwiches? Sounds way too spoiled. (08/01/2004)
By Ann
I also feed picky eaters. I often pack hot dogs, pizza, chicken nuggets, and Hot Pockets. I invested in several bowls that you heat with hot water, they help to keep the food warm. Whenever we do fast food, I save the packets of ketchup for the lunch box, some times I ask for extras. I buy the snack size pudding and Jello that does not have to be refrigerated. And I try to pack a piece of fruit. If I have a melon, I'll put it in a bowl with a ice pack under it and send that. Her best friend told me to be sure to send enough melon for her on melon days. I hope some of this helps. (08/02/2004)
By Lisa
How about cereal? My son, who is also picky, often asks for a bowl of cereal for lunch or snack. Put it in a bowl, send a container of milk and a piece of fruit. (08/20/2004)
Make a fruit smoothie with milk or yogurt and put it in a thermos to keep cool. (09/13/2004)
My daughter was a picky eater when she first started school then the nurse gave me an idea. Let them fix their own lunch. It worked. I would let her decide what she wanted for lunch (within reason, no junk food) and I have never had a problem. She also did not drink enough water so I bought her some individual packs of Crystal Light to put in her bottled water. (08/14/2007)
By Filicia
I have the pickiest son ever. He does not like sandwiches of any kind. He says the bread gets soggy. So since he does not like much lunch meat, I give him either salami or pepperoni in a plastic bag. Then give him sliced cheese cubes in another. He buys his milk. For snack he has pretzels. You can also get Go-Gurts and freeze them and put the in their lunch. (08/14/2007)
By mom
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