[dzhope]

I was reading about fixing lunches since my kids are so picky and school lunch has gotten expensive when I ran across this article...Its from 1999 but man, is it scary...who'd have thought that 1 oz. of bugles has as much artery clogging fat as a Big Mac? And that cheese and whole milk are not as healthy as we thought??

Here's the linky if you're interested in the article:

http://www.cspinet.org/new/school_lunch.html

Which leads me to wonder what are some of your great ideas for lunches that are healthy, affordable and don't get dumped in the trash?

I love the Chiquita fruit bites but even with the $.75/1 coupons that're out there $3.25 is a little steep for me when I can get a bag of apples for two bucks. Is there any way to make your own version of these without the apples turning brown?

I hate to think about the lunches my students bring...especially after reading this. And I sure don't want my own children's teachers to wonder wth is wrong with me, LOL!

Here are some cool tips from Fine Living:

Plan a menu with your kids.
It's a good idea to plan a weekly school menu ahead of time. This will help you avoid the early morning panic that leads to poor last minute lunch choices. Letting the kids in on the planning process will also help guarantee that they get lunches that they like.

Get creative with food options.
Think outside the sandwich "box". Kids love healthy, tasty alternatives like chicken skewers or colorful pasta salad.

Try finger foods for fun.
Try a finger food smorgasbord. Fill a plastic container with different small bites that kids will enjoy munching on at the lunch table.

Pizzas are popular.
You might also try a little homemade pizza on a bagel or English muffin. Once they cool, they're ready to pack, and your child will be the envy of the school lunchroom.

Try new packaging ideas.
To make the lunch period a little more fun for kids, find creative ways to package things. Put an oatmeal cookie on a stick, or several cookies in a paper towel holder wrapped in some colorful tissue. Putting trail mix in a waffle cone is also a weird and wild idea.

Include a little love or encouragement.
Hiding a sweet note in your child's lunchbox is a great way to remind them that you love them. Of course, another way of doing this is by packing our kids the healthiest lunch possible.

[LyndaSLP]

I will share what was in M's lunchbox last year:

Perdue chicken nuggets -- the ones in the fridge section (near your fresh chicken); not the ones from the frozen section: yes, he eats these cold. Never complains and actuallly requests this in his lunch.

He actually requested chicken nuggets most of the year -- until I found an awesome deal and stocked up! Then he complained he was bored with that food (well, go figure... eating chicken nuggets M-F from Sept to Feb WOULD be boring! )

Other main foods:
ham sandwich
cheese and crackers

Sides:
applesauce
mandarin oranges
raisins
fig newtons
cheese sticks
yogurt
sliced apples -- I just didn't worry about them turning brown. If you cut them that morning they shouldn't be too too brown by lunch.
banana
sometimes goldfish -- but I tend to send the bag in to the class for snack more often than keep in the house for his lunches


drink: he buys milk (and knowing him, it is chocolate milk) at school

Yep... I am one of 'those' moms. I think the most unhealthy thing that appeared in M's lunch all year were fig newtons and gold fish. If he'd eat raw veggies, I put them in. I have tried -- they are always untouched. Although, if I send a bag of baby carrots in for snack, he will eat them with his class.

We are lucky b/c there is a fridge in M's classroom -- so I can pack cheese sticks/yogurt w/o worrying that they might be warm/go bad.

[Trish]

I know I'm not a parent, sorry for eavesdropping on your forum.

You can keep apples (and bananas) from turning brown by squeezing some lemon on them. The fake stuff works too. Just don't use too much (experiment a little to see what is the smallest amount you need). I've done it when I've served fruit trays and it works well. HTH

ALso: Core an apple and stuff the inside with peanut butter. Top with raisins, nuts, sunflower seeds or toasted coconut. The filling will keep the cut apple from turning brown.

[heavenly]

Ds -
he loves his PB&Js.
so I'll make him those. I try to change w/ turkey & roastbeef.

drink - sunny D or capri suns

snack - I let them pick. he goes for the chips. we buy the huge box of baked lays variety. sometimes he'll pick a fruit roll-up. he does try new things much.

DD -
she loves her turkey & roastbeef sandwiches.

same drink choices.

she loves fruits & veggies. I buy her those carrot w/ ranch thingys.
she get apple sauce, grapes etc. she also loves pretzels.



thats it, I only give them 1 snack. I've seen what kids throw away !!

[riffparker]

Here's some advice.

Every day from K-5 my mother gave me

Peanut Butter on Rye or White Bread
Hawaiian Punch

Look how great I turned out.

Don't let your kids grow up to be like me, make sure to feed them HEALTHY and WELL BALANCED meals.

[dzhope]

We buy Capri Sun and Sunny D too but after that article I think I will limit those. I might as well send Coke or Mountain Dew, LMAO! I would never do that as I had a parent that did it last year for snack and lunch whose child wouldn't nap and had to tinkle all day long!

Trish, how could you eavesdrop?? LOL. Okay, so will the lemon make it taste sour? A tad of brown sends him into an anxiety attack, so even the little amount that would surface before lunch is out of the question. Also would it make it soft?

I buy uncrustables when they are super cheap. I bought some different cookie cutters and I cut out shapes from their sandwiches since they won't eat the crust anyway.

[smile4me]

( Core an apple and stuff the inside with peanut butter. Top with raisins, nuts, sunflower seeds or toasted coconut. The filling will keep the cut apple from turning brown.)

What a great idea!!