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This year, instead of paying for the school "hot lunch" for our daughter, we're packing her lunch each day. This is because hubby and I bring our lunches every day and 'lil Tony is starting preschool Tuesday and we'll have to pack his lunch as well.

Soooo, we figured we'd send her lunch along as well to save some cash and get her to eat healthier food. (She goes to a private school so it's not really a traditional hot-lunch program. It's mostly a bunch of mom's heating up frozen taquitos).

Anyway, what are some good suggestions besides sandwiches to send along with her? She won't have access to a microwave to reheat leftovers so only cold-friendly leftovers will be OK.

I'm just trying to come up with ideas to keep us out of the PB&J slumps.

Thanks!!!!!!!

This article actually showed up on MSN the other day.

Fluffernutter. Yeah, it's a sandwich, but it's so much more.

SharkOnLand wrote:Fluffernutter. Yeah, it's a sandwich, but it's so much more.

I actually tried to find real "Fluff" so I could send that with her once a week, but no luck here in Denver.

My son's preschool is totally peanut-free so I couldn't ever send a Fluffernutter with him.

It's been a while. We were talking about this the other day. "Lunch apples" almost always ended up in the trash, but sliced apples were eaten or shared. Go figure that one out. Crackers and cheese were big hits along with burritos. A burrito was defined as anything in a tortilla. Yes, PB&J burritos do exist. Don't forget the dried fruit from Costco. Crasins, (dried cranberries) were another big hit. And being the great Mom you are, I'm sure you already throw in the note

buffettbride wrote:My son's preschool is totally peanut-free so I couldn't ever send a Fluffernutter with him.

And this is why more and more people are becoming alergic to peanuts. Feed the kids dirt and let them build up an immune system!

Will she have acess to a fridge? If so, garden/caesar salads and fruit salads are good changes of pace.

buffettbride wrote:......

My son's preschool is totally peanut-free....

Is that due to worries about allergies? My sister was just telling me that one of the mom's at one of her kid's (Catholic) school was trying to get peanuts banned since her daughter was allergic. It didn't happen since everyone thought it was ridiculous to ban the whole school from peanut butter due to the allergies of a few. Particularly, like you say, because their choices tend to be more limited since they don't have the option of a "typical" hot lunch program.

rednekkPH wrote:Will she have acess to a fridge? If so, garden/caesar salads and fruit salads are good changes of pace.

Nope, but I do send little ice packs in he lunch so salads are a go. She thinks Caesar salads are groovy.

I'm also gonna make a buttload of pasta salad to send 'cause she likes that a lot.

buffettbride wrote:My son's preschool is totally peanut-free so I couldn't ever send a Fluffernutter with him.

That's just wrong.... Although I understand the whole allergy thing... But no peanut butter?

My kids are big fans of PB & banana sandwiches...

What about stuff like pasta salad? My wife makes one with macaroni, chicken, peas, onions and mayo...

Tuna (or chicken) salad and crackers?

buffettbride wrote:

rednekkPH wrote:Will she have acess to a fridge? If so, garden/caesar salads and fruit salads are good changes of pace.

Nope, but I do send little ice packs in he lunch so salads are a go. She thinks Caesar salads are groovy.

I'm also gonna make a buttload of pasta salad to send 'cause she likes that a lot.

Caesar salads are goovy.

buffettbride wrote:

SharkOnLand wrote:Fluffernutter. Yeah, it's a sandwich, but it's so much more.

I actually tried to find real "Fluff" so I could send that with her once a week, but no luck here in Denver.

My son's preschool is totally peanut-free so I couldn't ever send a Fluffernutter with him.

If you want to PM me your address I'll be happy to pick up a container and ship it to you

comemonday wrote:

buffettbride wrote:......

My son's preschool is totally peanut-free....

Is that due to worries about allergies? My sister was just telling me that one of the mom's at one of her kid's (Catholic) school was trying to get peanuts banned since her daughter was allergic. It didn't happen since everyone thought it was ridiculous to ban the whole school from peanut butter due to the allergies of a few. Particularly, like you say, because their choices tend to be more limited since they don't have the option of a "typical" hot lunch program.

One of the parents at my daughter's (also Catholic) school did the same thing because she had a very severe peanut allergy. Eventually, she switched schools or something. I remember when my daughter was in Kindergarten with this girl that no one could bring in PB anything because just the odor or residue could make her very sick.

If she was at a public school, I'd be all about the hot lunch. It's only $1.80 per day!!! At my daughter's school, it's $3.50 per day. Yikes!

Fortunately, my daughter is not picky at all when it comes to food, and she's willing to give everything a try.

get a thermos for soups, and mac and cheese

pudding cups....we couldnt afford them when I was growing up....so ...nufff said!

And I never remember anyone being THAT allergic to peanuts when I was growing up....why is it sooo bad now that people DIE...if they eat them???

buffettbride wrote:

SharkOnLand wrote:Fluffernutter. Yeah, it's a sandwich, but it's so much more.

I actually tried to find real "Fluff" so I could send that with her once a week, but no luck here in Denver.

My son's preschool is totally peanut-free so I couldn't ever send a Fluffernutter with him.

http://www.marshmallowfluff.com/pages/o ... redit.html

SharkOnLand wrote:

buffettbride wrote:My son's preschool is totally peanut-free so I couldn't ever send a Fluffernutter with him.

That's just wrong.... Although I understand the whole allergy thing... But no peanut butter?

My kids are big fans of PB & banana sandwiches...

What about stuff like pasta salad? My wife makes one with macaroni, chicken, peas, onions and mayo...

Tuna (or chicken) salad and crackers?

For what I pay in tuition at his montessori, they should be serving him prime rib for lunch every day.

I'll send a PB and something-or-other once a week, but it gets really old (this is the second week in a row she's had PB/Jelly except for one day I sent a salad).

rednekkPH wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

rednekkPH wrote:Will she have acess to a fridge? If so, garden/caesar salads and fruit salads are good changes of pace.

Nope, but I do send little ice packs in he lunch so salads are a go. She thinks Caesar salads are groovy.

I'm also gonna make a buttload of pasta salad to send 'cause she likes that a lot.

Caesar salads are goovy.

She won't get Happy Meals at McDonalds anymore. She always gets the Caesar salad with a side of McFries.

mommar wrote:

buffettbride wrote:

SharkOnLand wrote:Fluffernutter. Yeah, it's a sandwich, but it's so much more.

I actually tried to find real "Fluff" so I could send that with her once a week, but no luck here in Denver.

My son's preschool is totally peanut-free so I couldn't ever send a Fluffernutter with him.

If you want to PM me your address I'll be happy to pick up a container and ship it to you

For realsies??????

buffettbride wrote:This year, instead of paying for the school "hot lunch" for our daughter, we're packing her lunch each day. This is because hubby and I bring our lunches every day and 'lil Tony is starting preschool Tuesday and we'll have to pack his lunch as well.

Soooo, we figured we'd send her lunch along as well to save some cash and get her to eat healthier food. (She goes to a private school so it's not really a traditional hot-lunch program. It's mostly a bunch of mom's heating up frozen taquitos).

Anyway, what are some good suggestions besides sandwiches to send along with her? She won't have access to a microwave to reheat leftovers so only cold-friendly leftovers will be OK.

I'm just trying to come up with ideas to keep us out of the PB&J slumps.

Thanks!!!!!!!

We bought our daughter a wide-mouthed thermos with no glass components ("unbreakable"?), because we try to avoid the sandwich slumps too. She routinely uses this to carry hot lunches to school. It's just the right size for a kid's portion of mac&cheese or soup, and the food is still hot (sometimes very hot) when she opens it for lunch.

Also, we use layers of aluminum foil, sometimes with a layer of paper towel, to keep solid food warm, like chicken nuggets, chicken soft tacos, Hot Pockets, etc. This method can also keep cold food cold. Good choices for cold foods include chicken drumsticks, ribs, rolled sandwiches (in tortilla), and cold pizza.
(You can put the whole assembly in a ziplock bag for additional insulation.)

Send a portion of dry cereal in a tupperware bowl. Then your student can pour on some milk for a "breakfasty" lunch.

Pieces of cheese and crackers can be assembled at lunchtime. Pickle slices, lunch meat, or cream cheese can add interest here.