Packed Lunches! Aauuggh! Help!

Not that lunchmeat is wonderful but there are more healthy varieties these days... but maybe she would like to have a homemade lunchable? You can have her cut out shapes from the meat with a cookie cutter or something, maybe if she is involved that will help. You can do it ahead of time so you aren't rushing in the mornings. I know she doesn't like almonds but maybe she will like almond butter? Or peanut butter with celery? Sesame seeds? My son loves those. He has honey roasted ones sometimes as a treat. Today I sent Wholegrain goldfish crackers mixed with peanuts, sunflower seeds and craisins as a snack. (he is 2 by the way.) Good luck. Nothing more frustrating than getting these kids to eat I tell ya!

I guess, my big advice is not to let this be a source of stress. You've got a kid who will eat an impressive variety of healthy foods -- you're very lucky in that department.

The one thing you might want to do differently is not feed into the notion that being bored by lunch is a big deal. My line would probably be, "Gee, sorry to hear that. Why don't you finish your boring lunch up so we can do something interesting?"

If you're so inclined, you can put all the healthy, reasonable lunch foods on the counter, and let her pull up a chair and compile her own lunch. Let her solve this problem for herself.

In general, it sounds like she may have picked up on some anxieties you have about healthy diet (a reasonable enough anxiety to have) and is stirring up a big exciting drama about it. It's your job not to feed into that drama.

Will she eat eggs? My girls love boiled eggs in their lunches (served cold).

that's so interesting about the wheat berries! they actually have a decent amount of protein. since she enjoys grains, get her protein-rich ones like quinoa and spelt.
you can also get protein powder and add it to the stuff she will eat. i like hemp protein powder, add it to a smoothie and you never know it's there.
i wouldn't worry about trying to sneak meat in. if she's not crazy about it, she can get plenty of protein in other ways. she actually has a very sophisticated and interesting palate. you can steam the veggies she likes and put them in a wrap, or cut them up raw and send them in with some dip. fruit smoothies with almond milk. peanut butter and fruit sammiches. tortillas with salsa and sauteed carrots and onions.
what a cool kid!
khairete
S.

she likes raw veggies? Hurray! pack some up for her and buy the mini peanut butter packs, add a spoon to her lunch and maybe some crackers. Sounds pretty healthy to me!

Get her on a good vitamin. A B complex too.

In addition to her "boring" lunch" can you add a small portion of something she may or may not like? You don't have to worry about her going hungry, she's got an opportunity to expand her palate, and can tell you what she liked or disliked.

Alternatively, if you are at a loss for ideas, ask her what other kids are bringing in that she might want to have included for her lunch.

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

Well, she eats PB with a spoon and that's protein so why not send her a small container of PB and a spoon or celery she can eat it with...that's better than nothing.

I would look at vegetarian cookbooks and see what you can offer her to give her a balanced diet/lunch without meat. If meat is not her thing, there are other sources of protein. She might enjoy trying out a new food if she cooks it. You might want to get her involved in her lunch in general.

Here is a list of foods that have protein in them.

http://www.highproteinfoods.net/

she might be getting more than you think.

Here is another link that I refer to sometimes for ideas.

http://www.laptoplunches.com/healthy-lunches-bored.php

Cutting foods in differnt shapes makes them more fun..
and PB on the spoon is what we call peanutbutter suckers.. We do them all the time. :)

How about making protein shakes (you can use water or a milk substitute she does like) w/the fruits she loves? I make one w/stawberries, ice & a little sugar.

Keep letting her take the cut up veggies (add a dipping sauce like Ranch if she likes that).

Maybe find a high protein cereal she likes.

Protein bars

Make a whole wheat flour pizza for her at home w/toppings she likes. You
can substitute the cheese out w/olive oil or sauce (tomato or bbq) etc.

Try diff meats like salami. A lot of kids like salami but not other deli meats

What about quinoa? It can be eaten warm or cold.

yogurt, cheese and cottage cheese???

I was going to say quesadilla but your daughter cannot eat cow dairy. It is so easy to microwave, cut up and wrap in foil. Maybe with a non-cow cheese? My girls also love all kinds of nuts.