Hi, everyone else is suggesting Lunchables. Great idea. I like the suggestion for the Insulated Thermos. I send at least 3 "hot" meals a week for my picky 9 year old. I make her favorite, pasta. I boil spinach, or broccoli in water. Remove it and boil the pasta right in the spinach/broccoli water. She doesn't eat red sauce, so I whip the pasta in parmesan cheese, and spoon it in the thermos. I send lightly buttered bread, a piece of fruit, and something sweet, and a Juice box. Dinner is as much a challenge. I have found many good snacks in the Baby Food isle of the Supermarket, I also make a Pedi-Sure Milkshake (Pedi-Sure & Ice Cream)If nutrition is the problem, these ideas are good. Sometimes I send last nights dinner for Lunch. I make homemade chicken soup (with peas, carrots, corn, rice, potatoes, funny shaped pasta, chicken broth, string beans (buy the frozen mixed vegetables, etc) Campbell's makes a huge variety of Soups! Soups are filling. (you can even add your own ingredients to canned soup, (pasta, potatoes, rice, etc) Keep on trying things (tomato soup cooked with milk instead of water), and a cheese sandwich on Potato Bread (yea, sometimes it's the bread that makes a difference). Try a sandwich on a Crossiant. Always try to be creative. Yuk to Bologna...try very thin sliced turkey, or ham. Shred some lettuce make a sandwich with very little meat, a pinch of lettuce and some shredded cheese. Make those sandwiches FUN!! Try making little sandwiches on Bisquits! Ritz Cracker sandwiches are fun! Pita Bread and those pita pockets (use your imagination to stuff those)!! I even let my daughter make her own sandwich for school sometimes! How great would that make your son feel!!! Let him participate in making his Lunch, and choosing the sandwich he wants! Let him choose "things" for his Lunch in the Supermarket, too...Watch how excited he'll become to make and eat his Lunch!
I worried about whether she was getting enough nutrients so I use to buy the baby food & (the desserts, I would spoon fruit on a small piece of pound cake add alittle whipped cream), I even enjoyed that myself. Try using cute little colorful containers with lids. Maybe he's a visual child? What about egg salad? Cheese and Crackers, Grapes cut into small pieces, Apples cut into small pieces, Applesauce, Pudding Cups, The list goes on.
I think I finally got my picky eater under control, with years of out-smarting her...Keep in touch!