Lunch Box Ideas (Refrigerated & Non-Refrigerated)

[SingleDad]

Hi,

My daughter is entering the 1st grade and will be eating lunch
at school for the first time. I am in desperate need for lunchbox
entree ideas that do not need refrigeration.


Thanks,

Kevin

[ajrsmom]

Hi

Welcome to Family Corner!

Here are a few ideas for you.....


Lunchbox ideas that require no refrigeration

Mozzarella string cheese sticks, oranges cut into wedges, whole wheat carrot muffins

Bagel spread with cream cheese (you may want to try the mini- bagels so as to avoid waste, sugar snap peas, box of raisins

Tortilla rolled up with a slice of mild cheese, fresh green beans, small tangerines (Clementines are so easy to peel that the kids can do it themselves)

Banana bread spread with peanut butter and a little honey, cucumber coins, melon cubes

Cream cheese and apple butter on whole grain bread, veggie mix (baby carrots, snap peas), dried apricots

1/2 pita stuffed with shredded carrot and mild cheese (or peanut butter), small individual cup of applesauce

How about using the following chart to mix and match from? Select one from each group.
Bread :

Pita (either the small individual size or half of a regular round)
muffin
quick bread (banana, pumpkin, apple, etc)
whole wheat bun
bagels
tortillas
raisin bread

Fillings:
peanut butter plain or with: (pick one) honey, banana, jelly, shredded carrot, raisin
cream cheese plain or with: (pick one), jelly, apple butter, mixed with shredded veggies
mild cheese
hummus

Veggies:
baby carrots or carrot sticks
fresh green beans
sugar snap peas
cucumber coins
crisp tender broccoli florettes sprinkled with non-salt seasoning
zucchini sticks

Fruits:
1/2 banana/child
small apples
orange wedges
raisins or other dried fruits
drained pineapple chunks (or fresh)
small applesauce container
melon cubes

Could you use one of those mini ice packs in her lunch? How about a small thermos so that she could take soups or stuff like that? If that is possible, I have a lot of ideas for that. Let me know.

Ill keep looking for other non refrig. ideas

[ajrsmom]

There are some good ideas and recipes on this page:

http://www.familycalm.com/idea/schoo..._recipes.shtml


One thing that I make for my Dh's lunch is to take a loaf of frozen bread dough and cut it into 8 pieces. Roll out the pieces to flatten them and then fill with meat & cheeses... like ham, turkey, roast beef and then cheese ( good for left overs ). You can also make them like mini calzones using sauce, pepperoni and cheese. Roll them up and place on a baking sheet with the seam side down. Bake at 305* until golden brown. These freeze well too. My son loves these!


Heres another idea:

Pizza swirls - Recipe can be located here: http://www.familycorner.com/forums/s...&threadid=8018

[ajrsmom]

Found these too.....

Homemade granola bars

http://www.familycalm.com/idea/schoo...nola_bar.shtml


Veggie Silver Dollar Pancakes

http://www.familycalm.com/idea/schoo...pancakes.shtml

If Using a Thermos --- Baked Potato & Toppings Meal

http://www.familycalm.com/idea/schoo...potatoes.shtml

[leasmom]

My dd started school Monday and came home two days in a roll starving, so I decided that I would put her lunchbox to use, that way I know shes full and isn't looking for dinner at 3:15!!!

This is the suggestions I have found. I would love any more that someone might have, as well...

1. Cream cheese on a bagel/Jam and Flavored Cream Cheese on Bagel
2. Peanut butter and apple sandwich-Try out on child first
3.Chicken Nuggets w/ Pasta Sauce or Cheese Salsa
4. Mini Pizzas on a bagel
5. Peanut Butter/Banana sandwiches
6. Tuna Fish Sandwich
7. Mini Roll-up hot dogs in a Crossiant
8. Tortilla roll-up sandwiches
9. Cheese Quesidillas
10. Mini hero sandwiches in a hot dog bun
11. Cold Ramen Noodles
12. Hard boiled eggs
13. Dry cereal
14. Cold spaghetti
15. Bagel Sandwiches
16. Shish Kabobs-chunked ham and cheese
17. Nacho chips with salsa
18. French toast sticks and syrup
19. Grilled Cheese
20. Mini Calzones

[leasmom]

This is what I packed in her lunch.

1 bagel pizza-homemade pasta sauce or Jar sauce and mozzarella
1 pudding cup-Leftover from when I bought bulk
1 kids Gummy Treat
3 Cheese and Crackers-Crackers with sliced cheese on it.

The only thing she came home with was the cheese crackers cause she said her teacher came too fast. Knowing dd it was because she was talking. But, overall I am very satisfied!!!

[miranda]

I make "cup" meals:
Spread bread dough or biscuit dough on the bottom and up the sides of a greased muffin tin. Then fill with whatever you like: pepperoni and cheese, ham and broccoli, etc. This is a great way to use up bits and pieces. Bake at 350 for about 15 min. Cool and freeze. Grab one and put in a sandwich bag. It will be thawed by lunch time.
Make homemade pudding and dress it up with sprinkles, cookie crumbs, a TB of jam or layer different flavors. Add 1/4 cup peanut butter to vanilla or chocolate pudding while it cooks for a new flavor!
Use pudding, yogurt, or applesauce as a dip for fruit slices, graham crackers, vanilla wafers or animal crackers.
Use ranch dip for veggies or mini bread sticks (make regular bread sticks only smaller for little hands)
Make mini kabobs by putting grapes and cheese cubes on toothpicks. Make a bunch and keep in the fridge for a quick snack. Try different fruits and cheeses.
Make snack mixes by mixing different cereals (cheerios, chex, etc.) with nuts, pretzels, cheez crackers, animal crackers. You can come up with a lot of ideas for this.
I cut up a pound of carrots at a time. That way I have them for several days. Do this with other veggies, too.
Cut up several apples and cover them with pineapple juice (I save mine from cans of chunks or rings). The juice keeps them from turning brown for 3-4 days.
I also use pita bread cut into fourths for sandwiches. We also use tortillas with a slice of lunchmeat and shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled on it. We then roll it up for a fun twist.
I hope these ideas help.

[miranda]

I also make a brownie mix and bake it in mini muffin cups. When cool I put 2-3 in a sandwich bag and freeze them. We call these brownie bites and they are just the right size for kids.

[leasmom]

All these great ideals and no muffin tin! That's another thing on my list!!!

[ajrsmom]

I have made the beef cups before but had forgotten all about them. What a great way to use up leftovers!

Even though my DS wont be taking his lunch yet this year, I want to have lunch ready for him when he gets home. Today he was really hungry and all I had on hand was shredded ham for a sandwich ( which was fine with him) and some ice cream. He was ok with it but thats not something I want to feed him all of the time.

The mini brownies are a geat idea too! Again, Ive made these before but had forgotten all about them. I just made brownies this week ...bought the best brownie mix on sale for 99 cents a box--they are Ghiardelli ???sp???--how bad did I screw that up??

They were dark choc.....actually choc. brownies with choc. chips MMMMM!!!

Im going to my mothers family reunion this weekend and had planned on making these brownies. Now Im going to make them in the mini cups for less of a hassle and mess!

Thanks!!!!



SingleDad---

Are you having any luck with her lunches yet?



Leasmom & Miranda, When you put lunchmeat on their sands. do you include an ice pack to keep it cold? Im always afraid that they will get sick if the meat or cheese gets warm. Have you had any problems?