What to pack in a school lunch for a picky eater?

Question

My daughter is starting 1st grade next week and I am at a total loss as to what to pack in her lunchbox.

She is a VERY picky eater (whoever said that a child will eat when they are hungry enough has never met my daughter).

No bread of any sort (no tortillas, rolls, muffins, etc) which means no sandwiches.

Any suggestions???

Lunchables is a great idea, but my picky girl does not eat ham, turkey, beef or pork. Nor does she eat any kind of cheese other than mild cheddar. And just to top it off, she doesn't eat much in the way of crackers other than Goldfish.

I truly appreciate everyone's input thus far.....Yes, she is picky. Yes, it is a control issue. And yes, it is my fault that it has continued this long. She will go days (not just hours) eating very little if her favorites aren't in the house. She loves vanilla yogurt, strawberries, grapes, tomatoes, banannas, and kiwi. We don't keep much in the way of junk food in the house. She drinks milk, juice, and water and takes her vitamin everyday.

I am looking for suggestions on what to pack in her school lunch, I am not looking for advice on how to parent my child. I take responsibility for my part in allowing her behavior to continue as long as it has.

Answer 1

My son is three, and could be, to a certain extent considered picky.

When we send him off to the big world of daycare we include in his lunch:

Pasta. ( Now I hope that doesn't fit into the catagory of breads-if it does, then I apologize in advance )Tortellni is his fave, and with an ice pack, last until the noon hour pretty well.

Lunch meats-cheese. ( I see you're getting quite a few of these, seems to be a standard suggestion )

Fruit- bananas,apples,raisins,dates,grapes are a few that carry well. Oranges-other highly citrus filled fruits, not so well, but if that's what she craves, just remember a lot of ice.

Veggies- pack a small container of ranch dressing, carrots good to go.

Scrambled eggs with cheese are always a good change too, he digs the idea of breakfast at lunch. (such a rebel)

I hope that helps-it can be frustrating-and you may have already tried a majority of what people are suggesting.

Below are a few wbsites to try out....

Answer 2

My oldest is very picky too. The people who said you decide what she eats are wrong. That's just going to lead to power struggles and MORE food issues. YOUR job is to offer her healthy options. HER job is to decide what/how much to eat.

Here are a few ideas for you:

Lunchables - I am pretty sure there are chicken ones...would she eat that? Also, they have some with chicken nuggets.

yogurt with fresh fruit

peanut butter with apple slices or celery

tuna salad

cottage cheese (they make little single serve ones or you could just put some in a small container)

fruit salad

carrots and celery with dips

slices of cheese with grapes

soups in a thermos as the weather gets colder

mac and cheese in a thermos

What does she eat for lunch at home? Are there things she eats for lunch you can pack? Or leftovers from dinner?

Be sure to check the school menu with her each week to see if she wants to try anything. My picky eater will still do school lunches about 4-6 times per month.

Answer 3

Just out of curiosity have you checked her for food alergies?
Many times little ones do not know how to interpret their own bodies telling them things.
She may have food alergies that make her very uncomfortable when she eats and therefore she just does not eat.
If you ask her she won't be able to tell you.
I would get a refferal from your doctor to an allergy specialist and see if they can help.
Good luck!
p.s. whoever said kids will eat when they get hungry enough have never had a child with food alergies, or a child with autism
my daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's but not until she was 10 years old.
Kids on the scale have food issues A LOT!!
She ate so little that the 4th grader next door worried about her at lunch. It was so sweet the day her mom called me to tell me about it.
The principal used to sit with her while all the other kids went to recess just to try and coax more food into her.
Please don't think I am trying to say that your child has Asperger's, I am just saying due to my exposure to it I have found out a lot about food issues.

Answer 4

Apple dices w/ peanut butter for dipping is good for a snack. Maybe a way to spice up lunch and the cheese problem, make some mini pizzas using english muffins and pizza sauce, etc. Maybe even some hot dogs, mini hotdogs, vienna sausages. Something to try with hotdogs and cheese....cut a hotdog into three small sections, place a little cheese over it and roll it up into biscuit dough and cook in oven. We call em "pigs in the blanket". Raviolli, Spaghetti-o's --- my daughter has taken all of the above to school with her before. I hope this helps a bit.

Answer 5

Lunchables (or chemical lunch as we call them) are a bad food habit to begin. How about a hard boiled egg? That and a fruit cup is enough nutrition for lunch. Or ham & cheese roll ups? Skewer them with a tooth pick. Wal-mart sells small wide mouth thermos jars that will hold spaghetti. A lot of kids at my child's school bring those.

Answer 6

Oh make her, her very own luchables! Cubed cheese that she likes, fruit, Granola bars, and a vitamin shake. Whatever she likes fix it for her! and once in a while let her buy a school lunch. Children tend to eat better when not around their parents. And she will follow her peers. If she sees her friends eating it she will try it. When she is around you she knows you won't make her eat those things, but when with a stranger she may eat those foods.

Answer 7

You may want to talk with a pediatrician, if she is that picky as to where you are unable to provide a lunch for her to take to school. I have heard alot of children are picky about their food because it's a control issue. As a parent you make most of the decisions for her, and this pickiness is letting her gain control of something in her young life. I hope you don't prepare meals around her or make two diffrent meals.

Answer 8

Whatever she likes pack:
get a thermos for soups
pretzels
mild cheddar cheese sticks
chicken drumstick
dry cereal
fruits vegetables
jello squares
fruit in a can
puddings in a can
raisins
cheese cubes and crackers
mac and cheese in thermos
guarantee you once your little one starts school and sees others eating things, she won't be so picky

Answer 9

Try cheese sticks or wedges, apples or applesauce cups, drinks should be 100% juice or milk, peanut butter crackers and if she will not eat crackers have her use the peanut butter as a dip for apples, banana or celery sticks. She also needs a serious attitude adjustment. YOU should decide what she eats- not her. ( I have 8 children and 18 grandchildren and am not a tyrant- just know who should set the rules) Good luck!!

Answer 10

Let the child pick her own lunch out with limited assistance from you. Of course you would want to limit the sweets. Make sure that your child is receiving a nutritional breakfast and evening meal to make up for what she is missing at lunchtime. Let this time away from you in a new environment for your child be as enjoyable as possible. Plus, it makes it easier on the teacher if the child eats her lunch instead of sulking about what is in her lunch bag.