a picky eater?

Question

my son is a picky eater.what can i pack him for lunch.they cant have peanut products at school,also it has to be healthy.he is 7 years old and has always been a picky eater.i have beeen sending him slim jims,chips,juice and a snack like cookies or fruit rollup.now they check there lunches not only for peanut products,but for a healthy lunch.i have run out of ideas,someone please help.

Answer 1

Well there's still turkey, bologna, pepperoni, salami, or some other cold cut sandwiches you could be making. Using whole grain breads would make them even healthier choices. I wouldn't use mayo on them (unless you have a cold pack for the lunch box), but ketchup and mustard would be fine. Any fruit, apples, pears, bananas, peeled or cut oranges, fruit cups. Cheese and crackers, mozzarella cheese sticks, soup in a thermos. It is pretty limitless. You don't say what your child won't eat, but maybe if you stop catering to him he'll learn to like other things. I'm lucky, my kids eat almost anything I put in front of them, but even if I make something for dinner they don't like they have to try a bite to see if they have changed their minds, before they can say they don't like it. You would be surprised at how many things they thought they hated that they ended up liking.

Answer 2

If he likes slim jims then I'd try pepperoni sandwich. Juice and fruit roll ups are good. Maybe some apples or grapes. I have two picky eaters and I know, sometimes you just do the best you can. I'm sure if you let the teachers know they will understand.

For the person who doesn't understand why they can't bring peanut products if they are not the one with the allergy... It is because peanut allergies can be very severe and a child with a peanut allergy could die from coming into contact with any peanut product. So if that child was sitting next to your child eating a peanut butter sandwich they could have a severe allergy attack.

Answer 3

okay, it's not the school's issue if it is healthy. If they tell him he can't eat it because it isn't healthy, complain to the administration. They can bar peanut products, though. When I was younger, someone had a PB and J sandwich near a kid who was allergic. The kid almost died! I recommend telling him that he HAS to eat the healthy food. Tell him that that is what you made, therefore that is what he will eat. Maybe banana boats (banana sliced in half with tiny bit of marshmallow cream) for dessert? Make sure that he understands that he can't be picky. Try the old "Starving people" lecture. Maybe even ask the teachers to watch him from trading with other kids?

Answer 4

I do really feel sorry for you. I think the school is being a bit intrusive about lunches. Have you tried cooking with him? Kids who cook with their parents tend to be more willing to try new foods. If he tries new foods, he will have more that can go in his lunch. I agree with the person who says that cheese and crackers are a good bet. Do you have a fancy cheese place around you where they have lots of samples? He may have fun picking out a type of cheese he likes to put in his lunch. My son likes to eat carrots. Also, at a dinner try cutting up a lot of different great vegetables, and providing a Delicious salad dressing in which he can dip the veggies. Kids love dip, and that may be another way to eat healthy.

I really like hummus, and so does my son. If he sees you eating it, he may try it. You can cut up a pita into triangles, and dip it. Then, eventually he can have hummus sandwiches on bread.

Answer 5

My almost 8 year old is also very picky and can't take PB&J due to a child with severe allergies in his class.

cheese and crackers (vary the kind of cheese or crackers so it doesn't get too boring.)
cottage cheese and crackers
cereal and milk (I have a nifty little container that keeps the milk cold in the bottom and stores the cereal in the top.)
soup in a thermos
mac and cheese in a thermos
bagel with cream cheese

With one of the above, I usually give him - fruit roll up/fruit snacks, grapes, chips, Jello or yogurt.

He usually has apple juice or one of those flavored water drinks.

Answer 6

my son is also a picky eater. I have been buying him lunchables, or when money is tight, been making my own version. Take into account what he likes and get him involved in making the lunch, that way he can't say he didn't eat it cause he didn't like it. He was a part of the process, that way he can be held accountable for what is in there and what he likes.

Answer 7

Yes but consider that most people in the world don't have near the variety as the western nations you probably eat a larger variety of foods than most of the people in the world. You may be allergic to some of the foods you don't care for or have a bad memory of how they were prepared the first time you ate them.

Answer 8

When you go grocery shopping take him with you and give him X amount of dollars to buy food for his lunches for the week. With the agreement that he should have at least three of the food groups and the food has to be resonable healthy.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

What about some fruits like an apple or orange. Cheese & crackers maybe.