Lunch Ideas for 3 year old?

Question

Im stuck in a rut! It seems that all I give my kids for lunch is either grilled cheese or chicken noodle soup. I don't know what else to give I tried mac and cheese they don't like it I tried fish stick and they don't like it. Help!

Answer 1

Many children refuse to eat more than a couple of foods for a certain period of time. The age of 3 is normal for this. However, it is important that you be sure the foods they ARE eating are healthy!

Grilled cheese should be made with whole grain bread (Try Sara Lee's smooth varieties, some even look like white bread!!). Also, be sure you're using real cheese, not processed cheese food. You might even be able to slip in a slice of ham or turkey without much fuss. With the chicken noodle soup, go for low sodium varieties, and maybe you can even get them to switch to the "Chunky" soups that contain pieces of veggies and many more nutrients.

Now, for more ideas.....Mac and cheese is great, as is fish, but not if they won't eat it!! Try string cheese, yogurt, and fruit cups. These are all great for little ones. Let's focus on each food group for a moment.....

Dairy - Your children need 3 servings per day! String cheese, yogurt, chocolate/strawberry/plain milk....all are great. The string cheese is fun because it pulls apart. Also remember that even sugar free pudding is a great source of calcium because it is made with milk. Making it at home is cheaper, but buying it at the store in cups means it's easier and already pre-portioned. As for yogurt, try the ones in tubes, they're fun to eat!

Protein - These are easier than most people think. For kids, just one slice of ham rolled up with a slice of cheese provides a dairy and a protein serving. Try beef jerkey if they can chew it. Also, beans and peanut butter, as well as eggs are excellent sources of protein. Rolling the ham up makes it fun and also works with turkey and other sliced deli meats. Also, try slipping some thin slices into their grilled cheese, most likely they won't even notice.

Veggies - These are becoming easier for parents as well. When just serving one or two children at home, at Wal-Mart Super Stores you can buy veggies in serving size cups just like the little fruit cups. They come 4 to a pack and you can get peas, green beans, carrots, corn, etc.....These make lunch easier and more personal. Try dips with raw veggies, too. Also, sneak them in. Grate a carrot and a piece of celery, very fine, into mush, and mix it into meat balls and meat loaf.

Fruit - These are usually the easiest, fruit cups and fruit dips make these easier. Raw apples with low fat caramel dip is good, as are bananas with low calorie chocolate coatings.

Grains - Most kids overdo this group, so just make sure they're whole grains and that they don't get more than 11 servings per day.

Also remember that a 3 year old's serving is about half the size of an adult's. Half a slice of bread, 1/4 cup of a veggie or fruit, and about 1/4-1/2 a cup of cereal, rice, or pasta, and 2 oz of meat.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Make Over 200 Juicy, Mouth-Watering Paleo Recipes You've NEVER Seen or Tasted Before?

Answer 3

Try some cheese and crackers and lunch meat. My kids love these. Also they enjoy corn dogs, pb&j, spaghetti, ravioli, spaghetti O's, yogurts. A hint on the yogurts sticks freeze them, they make great popsicles. Good Luck, I hope this will help!

Answer 4

A fun easy way to make lunch more interesting ways to serve a meal, have a picnic and bring along finger sandwiches and other finger foods. Also if you look online you can find that it is quite easy to make your own chicken nuggets and use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. You could also make your own bowl meal like KFC does with mashed potatoes, some grilled chicken and gravy.

I have a 4 yearold neice and we love that she will try anything so we try to be inventive. Even if it is the same food you can present it in a fun way.

Answer 5

You need to talk to her family about the nutritional value of the food. She should be eating one meat or beans for protein,drinking milk or cheese,apple sauce or fruit and tthen one veggie. A balance diet is important for a child. Tell them you enjoy cooking and would clean up afterwards. When I worked at a child care center they fed the kids swedish meat balls in spaghetti (cut up the meat balls),all white meat chicken tenders,chicken nuggets,minni corn dogs, basically whatever you eat as long as it is not spice is ok. Now remember parents get crabby when you make suggestions even if it is for the best. If they are low income they may be doing the best they can.

Answer 6

aw do they like marmite?
what you do is with bread cut the crusts off and spread marmite and butter on the bread then roll the bread up in to like a Swiss roll then put this n the oven till its crispy an brown then cut like a Swiss roll, yummy! serve with soup,salad etc!
lol this also works with most fillings ie cheese ham jam ect
with the crusts you can put butter an marmite on then out them in the oven and they come out like bread sticks, gd snacks
the kids i look after love it (3-7yrs) and any left over i quite like too!
hopes this helps theres also a page on the Internet BBC cooking for/with kids that have some great recipes xxx x gd luck

Answer 7

You might try tarter sauce with the fish sticks. Peanut butter and jelly is good. You may try hot dogs, pigs in a blanket and potatoes.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Fun shaped chicken nuggetts -- our grocery store has them in dinosaur shapes. Meatballs -- they can dip them in tomato sauce if they want. Pizza bagels -- buy frozen or make your own. Pretzels dipped in peanut butter. Veggies dipped in salad dressing, peanut butter (sounds gross but they might like it!) or anything else they like to dip in. Pieces of deli meat, like ham, rolled up with shredded cheese inside. Keep trying -- eventually you'll find something they like!

Answer 10

grilled cheese sandwiches
turkey sandwiches
salami sandwiches
tuna salad sandwiches
frozen pizza
tomato soup
chicken soup
potato soup
celery, carrots, califlower with dip
cottage cheese
bagel and cream cheese
bagel with peanut butter
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
leftovers from dinner
salad
cheese and crackers
hot dog with potato chips
cheese quesadillas
chicken nuggets and fries
tortellini or ravioli