Kids' Lunches when School's Out

[autumnmum 2002]

~ ~ ~ ~ This is the "brainchild" of Barbszy!! School will be 'out' soon, and then the extra added job of creating the kiddies a lunch. In this thread, everyone is invited to add their ideas for lunches. Can be anything...... even if it is opening a can! All mommies will be happy for any new, or old, ideas. Summer vacation lasts at least two months, which means, approximently 60 lunches. Many thanks to all that contribute.

[Jeannie]

lots of fresh fruit with cottage cheese, or with a stawberry yogurt as a dip....., special salads like the fast food places make, luncheon meats, peanut butter on toasted english muffins.....homemade pizza muffins...... cut out sandwiches.... good ole tuna salad....chicken salad, egg salad.....Did anyone save the school lunch menus?

[nagymom]

I don't know about school lunches in other places (though from what I read in the news they are as bad) but I wouldn't even go by the lunch menus here. They are fat laden and so predictable that the kids knew by what day of the week it is what the menu would be. Bleah!! After 4 months of ham and cheese sandwiches every Friday they were ready for something new.

Tuna is a hit here with the oldest dgd. Spaghetti-os (yuck) and pizza bites are too. Peanut butter sandwiches, chicken sandwiches with left over chicken and rice any meal.

Jayne

[barbszy]

Besides what has been mentioned:
My kids like Ramen noodles
Grilled cheese sandwiches (& tomato soup)
Bagel & cream cheese

[Abear]

My two DS love bagel pizzas. I spread pizza (or spaghetti) sauce on each half of a bagel. Then put some low fat mozzarella cheese. Sometimes I add turkey pepperoni and sometimes just leave it with just cheese. Heat in a 400F oven until the cheese is melted. These are way better than store-bought bagel bites and much cheaper to make!

They also like grilled ham & cheese sandwiches, black bean & cheese burritos, taquitos (sometimes I make them with leftover chicken, sometimes with leftover taco meat or with just cheese),
corn dogs, hot dogs with chili and frito pies.

My two DS will NOT eat anything in a can from Chef Boyardee! Can't say that I really blame them!

[VKJ51]

My daughters are all now in their twenties, but when growing up their favorite summer lunches were:
1. Bean Sandwiches--Fry a chopped onion with some diced bacon. Add a can of pork and beans and heat until hot and bubbly. Serve over buttered toast with orange slices.
2. Noodle Salads--Any kind, but especially tuna with celery, onions, sweet pickles, and Miracle Whip.
3. Tortilla roll-ups--Flour tortillas spread with Ranch (or other favorite) salad dressing and topped with thinly sliced meat, cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped veggies etc. and rolled up to eat. One of my daughters liked hers the best spread with seasoned cream cheese and topped with chopped fresh veggies!
4. Grilled cheese sandwiches with either tomato soup or chili.
5. Sloppy joes and chips.
6. Fried Spamburgers (I know, I know, most adults don't get this, but kids love them. I did as a child!) Just slice Spam about 1/2 inch thick and fry until crisp on both sides. Serve on toasted buns spread with your choice--mustard, mayo, pickle relish, etc. Add lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc. if you want.
7. Pizza tortillas--Spread flour tortillas with spaghetti/pizza sauce and top with whatever you have--sausage, bacon, ham, burger, veggies--end with cheese. I like these best baked, but kids don't seem to mind them microwaved which saves heating the kitchen on those hot summer days.
8. Deviled eggs and fruit salad--great on those really hot days!
9. Chicken salad sandwiches made with canned white meat chicken. They liked this spread on Triscuits.
10. Layered taco dip with tortilla chips--use any of the hundreds of recipes out there. This was a great thing to make the night before if I had a busy morning coming.

[jns131]

I have never served anything out of a can to my child. Too much salt and sugar and fat. Except may a can of olives or whole tomatos. I serve wholesome nutritious foods to my DD so that it will last her throughout the day. I also serve snack bars, fig newtons and sometimes cheese crackers.
Mine eats a yogurt, banana and milk. Depending on the mood she might have a chocolate kiss. Other then that, I don't plan on rushing thru any of the meals served here.
Busy or not, think about what your children are eating during the summer and especially through out the year. Mine will be going to summer camp, two days a week and I will need to pack a lunch then. Otherwise, looking forward to a busy summer.

[RTNRJK]

The following may sound weird to some of you but you should try them because they are goooooooood.

Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches

Apples cut up with Peanut Butter on them

Scrambled egg sandwiches

Now for lunch I also have the time to make pancakes, french toast, waffles.

Anything from a fruit and vegetable stand. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care ladies, I hope we all have our sanity when September comes rolling around (all too soon).

Teresa

[Songberries]

My kids love homemade lunchables. I bought two containers that have room for a sandwich and two snacks. I put cheese, crackers, meat than any of these, cottage cheese, carrots and dip, ants on a log, cookie, candy, jello, apples and peanutbutter, orange smileys, any kind of salad. My kids just love these! They never ask me to buy lunchables now, they want me to make them.

Carol

[nagymom]

jns131 personally I DO use canned foods always have always will. My kids liked it and now my grandkids do too. My days are filled with house hold chores and kids (I baby-sit all 3 grandkids) needs, especially during the summer. I'll make whatever makes my life easier that I KNOW they will eat. I won't apologize for it either--they're healthy and happy kids. Besides canned foods ARE often wholesome and nutritious. I check labels quite closely since I'm diabetic and buy low carb and sugar, high protein. The diabetes has nothing to do with the canned foods we eat and is entirely hereditary on my father's side.


VKJ51my mom used to make bean sandwiches similar. She would use left over baked beans, add onion and bell peppers and eat on bread or toast.

To each his own I geuss but I DO plan to use many of the ideas here. I want to spend time in the pool with the kids too--and don't plan to be stuck inside trying to concoct some non-canned food that they wouldn't eat anyway.

Jayne