OT, but healthy sack lunches for kids?
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| Mon, 02-28-2005 - 2:28pm |
So I know this is off topic, but I don't see much activity down in the off topic board, so I figured I'd post here. My question is, if you usually pack lunches for your kids, what kind of stuff do you tend to pack most often? I'm running out of bright ideas to pack for my DD's lunch. Here's are some of the lunches my DD loves - any others that your kids love, are healthy, and quick?
English muffin pizzas with turkey pepperoni, corn on the cob, grapes, OJ
Korean potstickers stuffed w/meat and veggies, baby carrots, apple slices, OJ
Turkey or tuna sandwiches on WW bread, steamed broccoli, orange slices, OJ
Rice pilaf w/ chicken breast and assorted veggies, clementines, OJ
For snacks I've been packing Annie's Bunnies, Newman's Own pretzels, Trader Joe's JoJo's (Oreo-type sandwich cookies with all-natural ingredients), air-popped popcorn, occasional Fruit by the Foot.
She sometimes tries to push my tyrannical food rules by buying the occasional Cup-of-Noodles at the school snack bar, but I'm trying to get past my food control issues. :)

i don't have a kid, but here's some ideas for lunches and snacks on the go-
i'm assuming she doesn't have access to a microwave or a refrigerator...
vegetarian deli slices (i like "bologna" flavor) on whole grain bread (i know she likes turkey, but if you want some variety without delving into unhealthy processed meat territory, the vegetarian slices are a good option)
natural peanut butter and no sugar added jam on whole grain bread
no-mayo pasta salad made with whole wheat pasta and veggies. (there are a lot of recipes for that use oil and vinegar as a base instead of mayo and are healthier. i don't have a recipe but i bet you could find one online or maybe sol has a recipe. whole foods makes a really good pasta salad that has artichoke hearts in it.)
for snacks - baked corn tortilla chips, luna bars, dry roasted nut & dried fruit
You're much more creative than I am about lunches!
if you shop at a regular big chain grocery store or a walmart grocery store, the vegetarian deli slices will usually be near the produce section in a refrigerated case. i know, how was anyone supposed to know to look there?! they are definitely a much healthier option as compared to meat bologna or ham slices, etc.
and while i personally think the bologna flavor vegetarian slices in particular taste better than the original meat version, really by the time you add mustard, etc. i doubt even the most confirmed meat eater could tell the difference.
How old is your daughter? It sounds like she is starting to assert her independence in what "she" likes rather than what you want her to eat. Allow her as much freedom in that as you can. Dictating what and how much she can eat could cause eating disorders in the future. I was a sneaker because I wasn't allowed to have, it made me fat.
My daughter (10) is pretty outspoken and independent so I try to include her as much as possible in decision making regarding food. I ask her what she wants, then guide her to healthier alternatives. She wanted tacos the other night. We talked about other things that remind her of tacos and settled on enchillada casserole (made with shredded chicken rather than beef, fat free cheese, fat free beans and lower fat corn tortillas that are baked, not fried) She got what she wanted, I cut the trans fat to nearly zero and the calories by about half.
Both my kids love fruits and veggies. Fruit salad is the most popular lunch item around here. We make our own most of the time and include cheese and crackers and milk. Regular salads are also pretty popular, you just have to pack the dressing seperately so it doesn't make them wilt. Things like croutons and sunflower seed kernals add something special and make the kids more interested in them. I also put in mandarin orange slices and local wuntun crunchies. My kids are less interested in meats. My daughter is an occassional vegan, we switch to tofu and fake meats for her when she decides meat is wrong.
The old Peanut butter sandwich is a staple of son's diet... and dried crunched up ramen noodles which I've decided are the lesser of many evils out there. He would rather have them than chips. They are good crunched over salads too.
Ok, well, I know I'm not much help. My kids have always been pretty good about eating. I allow them more freedom to choose now than I did when they were really small. And, I do allow the occassional lunchable because I think that outright denial causes all sorts of problems and that having one now and then as a treat takes it out of the "everyday" food category and keeps them on track.
Good luck.
~K~
~Kiervin~
Co-author of: MONSTER'S INK HORROR ANTHOLOGY By Cyber-Pulp Press
Oh yeah.
If she isn't a fan of fruit you can ease her into it...
Mix one tub of fat free cool whip with one half of a small can of sweetened condensed milk (you can get it fat free too) and some food coloring.
makes a great dip for fruits. Granny smith apples are the favorite in our house with it. you just ease back on the milk to cut calories.
My gf at work brought her son in for her baby shower. He's 13 and rarely would eat fruit. He tried it and ate almost all of the fruit plate. I gave her the recipe and he eats fruit all the time now. She said he is even eating it without the dip, which was the original goal:)
~K~
~Kiervin~
Co-author of: MONSTER'S INK HORROR ANTHOLOGY By Cyber-Pulp Press
Thanks for your post! My daughter is 5. The whole snack bar thing is new for her, and I think the experience of buying something with her own money itself is a huge step towards asserting her independence. That said, I was joking when I said I was tyrannical about food - I do explain to her why cup of noodles, candy, soda, chips, etc. are unhealthy, and I do assure her that even if she does buy these things I won't be mad. I think that when she does buy them, it's largely out of wanting to fit in with her other classmates, because at home she never asks for these things and happily eats everything I put in front of her.
Also, I'm definitely fully aware of the dangers of possible ED's if parents are too strict about food with their kids. And, having been on the borderlines of ED's before (though not because of my parents) I do not in any way want to push my kid in that direction. But thanks for the reminder!