Preschool Packed Lunch

I like the fabric lunch boxes that come with a pouch to slip a freezer pack into that keeps the lunch cold. Maybe you could do little sandwhiches made of up deli meat and/or cheese on crackers. Or use cookie cutters to make different shapes from bread. Cheese stick, some cut up fruit that she likes, or baby carrots, celery, or grape tomatoes with ranch dip or hummus if she likes them.

Our preschool is nut-free... here's what I sent with him today:

- cold pasta salad with diced zucchini, carrots and cheese
- rolled up turkey slices
- honeydew melon
- Teddy Grahams

We also send:
- sliced grilled chicken
- sliced cheese with apples
- egg salad sandwich
- any fruits
- any veggies with dip!

Most lunch boxes are just fine, I do think the character ones tend to be made a little cheaper though. They have really cute ones available almost everywhere now that are for girls and look like purses!
Meat and cheese sandwich or wrap
fruit
cheese stick
frozen go gurt

Search for "Lunch" in the search field in the top right corner of this page. There has been lots of these questions lately since the start of the school year.

mini bagel pizzas ( i make w/ whole grain bagels, tomato sauce and cheese)
blueberries
sliced oranges
crackers w/ cheese cubes
frozen water to keep food cool and for drink when it melts
homemade carrot cake w/o frosting

Sandwhich
Pack a lunch, that you KNOW your child will eat.
This is not a time to experiment. If not a child will not eat even if hungry and they will be on an empty stomach since breakfast time.
This will affect their mood/demeanor and stamina.

Just pack something that you know your child will eat.
I have seen many kids, NOT eat even if hungry, because it was not something they liked.

When my child was in preschool and even for school age field trips they requested paper bags - that is what I would do! then they just throw it all away.
In terms of lunch - a juice box (frozen, so it serves as double duty) you can get "all natural" juices; a meat and cheese roll up with hummus on a whole wheat tortilla pinned with cute little cocktail toothpicks:) celery or carrot sticks for some crunchy and heck - throw in a little sweet tart or fruit roll up :)

bynto by http://store.goodbyn.com/. Not only is it cool but it is good for the planet.

My 2nd grader uses the original. We bought it for 1st grade and it still is working great for 2nd.

I just bought the bynto for my kindergartner.

I pack what my kids like and simply do a mental check list of veggies, fruits, grain and protein

broccoli
red pepper
yellow squash
english cucumber

grapes
apples
mangoes
bananas
plums
nectarines

whole wheat waffle
whole wheat bread
crackers
pasta

hard boiled eggs (kids only like the whites)
almonds
peanuts
peanut butter
cheese
yogurt- danonino or greek ( we stay away from the candy flavors)
salami (i know but just occasionally)
all beef hotdog

As far as drinks we stick with water

Fun stuff***
Spider Dog
-cut hot dog in 4 or five short cylinders. Skewer ea cylinder through with 4 spaghetti (raw) pasta. Boil in water until pasta is aldente. about 8 mis from boil. You can add sauce if you want.

I use the 'fridge in a bag'. It has a flat ice pack and is easy to pack. I generally send in 4 items (I often don't do the entree and sides idea). They are generally a protein or sandwich and then either 2 veggies and a fruit, or two fruits and a veggie.
Sandwiches/proteins - grilled cheese on whole grain, yogurt with chopped fresh fruit, chick peas, edamame, humus and brown rice cakes, peanut butter on whole grain (you could use sunflower butter) or on veggies. Also anything left over from the night before - cooked chicken, pasta, etc.

Veggies - really anything, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, corn, beans, carrots, celery (yeah, he likes it), kohlrabi

Fruit - really anything - peaches, plums, apples, melon, bananas, figs, grapes

www.easylunchboxes.com

tons of ideas, and a great product too! We have 3 boxes--one goes with dad to work, one goes with my son to preschool, and one goes with my daughter and I while we're out and about.