what do your kids eat for lunch?

[KrisRV]

we do quesidillas alot
leftover pizza
hot dogs
salads
tacos

[Actressdancer]

There are tons of sites that list kid-friendly lunch options that may help you think up new ideas. The one I found that seems to have the most is http://health.discovery.com/centers/...s/lunches.html

[Minthia]

My kids usually fend for themselves for lunch (I am putting the baby down for a nap, and I am so tired I need to lay down for at least 30 minutes). So this is what they can make without my help:

Cucumber and tomato sandwiches (I let my 9 yo do the cutting of the veggies)
PB&J
apples, cheese sticks and crackers
toast with hot chocolate
air popped popcorn no butter, with carrots and ranch
oatmeal with raisins
toast with jam and a veggie or fruit
salads

We don't have convenience foods in our house. As my kids say "we only have ingredients". That makes it a little harder and limits what they can make. Afew weeks ago I bought 150 pounds of apples (super co-op buy) and they have been eating 3-4 apples a piece every day. They just can't get enough.

[Smiling Dawn]

Great thread! Thanks for asking and for the ideas.

[Birbitt]

Lunches around here are mostly "dippable" foods, sandwiches, and salads.

Veggie salads or creamy salads (like tuna salad)
any kind of sandwich and sometimes quesadillas
and "dippables" (veggies with dressing, fruit with peanut butter, meat cubes with sauce)

[Jennifer R]

Hot ham and cheese are something we enjoy here. Put ham and cheese in a hamburger bun, wrap with foil and heat in the oven until they are warm. We found that 7 min at 325 degrees is perfect. These are a great picnic item. In fact, these are something my mom would make when we were younger. She would pack these when we were going out for the day and didn't want to do take-out. They don't have to be hot to taste good.

[AusCan]

Thanks for this thread, very interesting. I find any meal around our house a struggle, except breakfast when they always want the same thing. I have one particular fussy 4 year old eater who is down to very limited fruit and vegetables and has been for about 2 years now. She will not eat potato in any way shape or form, I mean mashed, baked, as french fries, in cubes with butter.... what kid doesn't like potato??? mine! She also doesn't like meat other than ham. She refuses any left overs for lunch, because "that's not lunch."

It is exhausting, but I refuse to make her seperate meals and just put it on her plate, there are many nights when she goes to bed without dinner.

Having said all that, however, I have found that all my girls love pitas. I just buy the pita pockets and fill them with ham, or cheese, and a choice from my limited vegetable selection. They also love fajitas. I take a tortilla, spread it with left over rice, some cheese, ham and a choice from my limited selection of acceptable vegetables, roll them up pop them in the micro for 30 seconds and they gobble them up.

You could try this w peanut butter and banana perhaps? (skipping the micro step) My girls are not big on PB either.... sigh.... I know it's a control thing.... urgh....

We don't eat much out of a can either and only "have ingredients" in our cupboards too, so that makes it a bit of a challenge.

Katrina.

[bunnytracks]

Originally Posted by AusCan

She will not eat potato in any way shape or form, I mean mashed, baked, as french fries, in cubes with butter.... what kid doesn't like potato??? .

Mine too. My 5 year old will not even touch a french fry. I didnt know that there were kids that didnt like fries.

[bunnytracks]

Originally Posted by Minthia

We don't have convenience foods in our house. As my kids say "we only have ingredients".

"That is our house too. We eat differently too as lunch is our "big meal" and dinner is more of the fend for yourself eat leftovers kind of meal.

Once a month cooking is very helpful for having a stocked freezer filled with good foods that you can reheat for lunches. I love my crockpot too.

[Jo Anna]

Whatever they feel like eating. I don't really plan out lunches, I just make sure there is food and they pick from there.