Reader Help: Back to School Lunch Dilemma

By Julie

Monday is the first day of school for my second grader.  He is utterly excited; I am totally stressed out.  One of the reasons is lunch. For the past two years, we have had exactly three lunch options in rotation: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (the odds-on favorite), a hot dog, and, on occasion, a Lunchable (I know how some people feel about these, but I just don’t want him to starve at school). Even though he‘s not terribly picky at home and seems to eat constantly, when it comes to the contents of his lunchbox, he has, ahem, a certain discerning taste.  And it’s driving me nuts. What is wrong with a good old ham and cheese?

Hit me with your ideas to shake things up a bit, please. Otherwise, I’m going to have to take out stock in Skippy.

(Photo Credit: Amazon.com. Yes, this is the lunchbox we're using this year. I just wish it could be as easy to fill it as it was to choose it.)

Comments

[Rebecca]

This sounds completely disgusting but my extremely picky, non-meat-eating (not vegetarian because she doesn't particularly like veggies) niece LOVES when she gets spaghetti-o's in a thermos for a special lunch treat. She also likes "wraps" which is really just a tortilla with cheese or PB and banana.

[Em]

Not sure if this is appropriate for a 2nd grader but when I was in school (many years ago) my mom would sometimes make me a sub with a hot dog roll. She would put bolgna and cheese or lunch meat and cheese and then some italian dressing and sometimes lettuce. It was always a favorite.

[Tara C.]

I know what you mean. My third grader is going to a school now with a no-nut policy AND it's housed in a synagogue's building so the meals have to be kosher, so no pork products or shellfish. Well, I wasn't really going to pack shellfish anyway, but this means no PB&J or ham sandwiches. I haven't figured out what to feed him yet.

[Sarah]

I just started a list so that when we run in to a lunch rut this year and I'm too tired to be creative, I'll have back up inspiration. We have a no nut policy at my daughters' schools so anywhere you see the word PB, we substitute something else like sun butter. Here are a couple of the faves in my house: pb, j, and a banana wrapped in a tortilla; pb&j sushi; mac & cheese in a thermos; baked chicken nuggets (can put in a thermos to keep warm); make your own "lunchables" with crackers, cheese slices, and deli meat; mini bagel sandwiches; hard boiled eggs (you can buy egg molds to make awesome shapes!); nacho bar with tostito scoops, cheese, black beans, shredded lettuce, and whatever other toppings your kids like!
Good luck!