I'm really trying to get more protein into my boys' lunchboxes (they're in K & 2nd). School just started and they're already tired of deli meats (even if I roll the meats instead of making sandwiches). Tuna isn't working, and even yogurt gets a big "no thanks". They would eat peanut butter every day if it were allowed in the school (apples & peanut butter, PB& J, PB and honey, etc...) They'll eat a cheese stick, but that's about all the protein they're getting all day. Any other idas? Also, I'm trying to stay away from sugar so the lower the sugar, the better.
Sunbutter is a great alternative to peanut butter. Most schools allow it since it is totally nut free.
You can also give them cut up chicken pieces or tofu.
Boiled eggs, or egg omelettes.
I work at my kids' school, and kids bring these. Along with cheese or yogurt etc.
I also see, kids bring breakfast for lunch.
It really doesn't matter, because it is food and it is basically healthy stuff and the child eats it. AND even to me, it looks good! I can tell the parent was putting thought into it, not just sending their kid to school with junk food. Which I also see.
Roasted chick peas (yum), hummus or another kind of bean paste, falafel (fried chickpea balls), soy/almond or sun butter if these are allowed in school and your kid will accept them as peanut butter substitute, meatballs, chicken tenders, grilled chicken, marinated/baked or grilled tofu or fried tofu, handsful of almonds or other nuts if they are allowed in school, hard boiled egg...
Do they like beans? You could make some easy quesadillas with melted cheese and beans. Baked turkey meatballs with cheese are also easy to make ahead of time and package nicely. My daughter rejects most meat, but seems to love veggie meats (tofu based). Her favorites are the smart dogs, boca chicken patties and I also make veggie patties ahead of time and freeze them, then just melt cheese on them when we reheat them ( they have lentils, barley, quinoa, and ground flax seed in them, she loves them). I use all recipes.com for most recipes. Good luck!
I used to mix chick peas w/ kalamata olives in a reusable container.
Can they have any butters? Sun, cashew, almond,etc? The only yogurt my 2nd grader eats is the Gogurt. I freeze and put an ice pack in there....its still really cold and she loves it. Do they eat cottage cheese.....they have individual servings with fruit that stay pretty cold with an ice pack. I suppose there's always pudding although I wouldn't do it.
Do they like hummus? We do carrots and hummus. Mine also eats chickpeas a with a little balsamic vinegar.
What about sending soup? Those thermoses work pretty good, mine just took chili today. I make hamburger or chicken with a little brown rice cooked in chicken or beef broth and that goes very well in a thermos. My high schooler loves to take that as well.
Almonds.
Roll the deli meats up in a tortilla smeared with mustard, and slice it into pinwheels.
Have you tried hazelnut spread instead of peanut butter?
I have similar problems with my daughter... but we don't have any peanut butter restrictions, so that is normally what she does. She also likes to make her own trail mix. (She is 11 though).
cream cheese on apples
cream cheese on celery
cheese cubes
what about using pita bread for sandwiches? our school is now serving sunbutter instead of peanut butter. it's made from sunflower seeds.
Does your school allow things like almond butter, cashew butter, etc? Not only is that safer in terms of allergies, it's also usually lower in sugar, HFSC, etc. Check w/ the school, though -- some have No Nut Whatsoever policies.
ETA, ditto the sun butter suggestion!
Packets of peanuts or almonds. Beef Jerky...Lot of salt, but low in fat and high in protein.
Crazy that peanut butter isn't allowed in an elementary school! I can understand the peanut free table, but not allowed? Peanutbutter is an easy healthy form of protein...give it to the kids for breakfast on toast or a waffle to give them protein in the morning (that's what my daughter eats!).
Because my kids pre-school was/is peanut free (understandable for the real little kids)... I had to be creative as my kids aren't big sandwich eaters other than peanut butter and grilled cheese (my son will eat egg salad and sometimes ham or turkey sandwiches.) Anyway, I got both of my kids small thermous' and put just about anything in them... mac'n'cheese, chicken fingers, pasta and meatballes, turkey/cheese roll-ups etc. What about hard boiled eggs? cold pizza (maybe with a meat topping). Will your kids eat other nut butters, or sunflower seed butter. My kids aren't crazy over it as they prefer peanut butter... but it might work. What about breakfast for lunch... whole grain waffles and turkey bacon? I have shoved just about anything in the thermous and though it may not stay warm it is not cold... and my kids will eat that stuff at room temp! Good luck!
Hard-boiled eggs or egg salad sandwiches
Bagels and cream cheese
Thermoses of pea soup or chili
Other nuts/nut butters, if they are allowed
Edamame
Stir-fry over rice
My son likes a thermos with chicken noodle soup or beef soup. He also loves cut up pieces of roast chicken with a little salt on them in his lunch box. How about a little container of sunflower seeds or edamame?
