School Lunch ideas for extremely picky eaters

debcom Posted: 09-01-2010 10:50 PM

Hello 5 yr old DD is going to be going to full day Kindergarden this year and I am worried about her having to eat lunch at school as she is such a fussy eater to begin with. I have started a list of things I can send with her but any other ideas would be appreciated. She DOES NOT like much fruit other than pear or mac apples  (and only if its peeled & cut up) or veggies/dips/meats lunch or otherwise or any canned pasta or fruit. The only sandwich she will eat is pb & j . She eats other things at home (waffles, bacon, pasta,fries, nuggets , egg) but they are hot foods. We are going to check if she can get milk everyday for lunch, If not I'll send her with water.

Here is what I have so far

• pb & j
• crackers & cheese
• whole wheat pita chips.
• buttered bread or small dinner rolls
• cheese- strings, slices, cheddar cheese cut up,baby bell cheese
• mini bagels, buttered
• pudding cups, kid yogurts
• fruit snacks or roll ups
• granola bars
• animal crackers, cookie snack pack
• raisins, apple slices , pear slices (they will brown ?)
• grapes (she isn't fussy on them)
• ritz, goldfish, ritzbitz
• peanut butter in a small container with a spoon (she likes it like that sometimes)

Thanks Debbie

debcom replied on 09-01-2010 10:51 PM

also dry cereal & milk

joscmt replied on 09-02-2010 7:49 AM

double check that the school allows nuts. more and more these days schools ban nuts.

Pears will brown a little. But you can always dip the slices in acidulated water and that will help.

My nephew is much the same way.. we sent nugs with him though and he ate them room temp. Same with pizza and bacon.

Otherwise, your list looks pretty extensive enough that you could mix and match for days off of it.

dj rayne replied on 09-02-2010 10:26 AM

All you should have to do for milk is contact her teacher and the cafeteria manager. Make sure there is money in her acct and they should either get her milk or show her how to go through line and get it herself. Sometimes they are given a choice between fat levels, flavor or have juice as an option. Lunch with her one day and see what's what. I also found several things on the menu that  my DC likes and on those days (I pay by the month, we review the lunch menu and decide ahead what days he'll eat cafeteria food - I put extra for the I changed my mind days) he goes in line with his friends. Horizons also puts out cases of their flavored organic milk. No Refrigeration needed. It is a little more expensive than cafeteria milk but I know DC will drink it.

BethanyG replied on 09-02-2010 8:14 PM

I think your list is really good...  My son's lunch goes like this:  PB&J, applesauce (or on rare occasions, pears), pudding cup, pretzels, juice.  Every.  Single.  Day.  I wish he would let me do some variety like you've got listed.  He buys on pizza days. 

abrakadabra replied on 09-03-2010 7:10 AM

I'm sure some of these may not be feasable, but here's what we typically send to daycare with DD (I've left off some that you've already mentioned).

cheese sandwich (she'll only eat cheese with a small bit of butter on it or PB no J)
leftover quiche (it can be frozen and it will thaw by lunchtime)
leftover mac and cheese
hard boiled egg
olives
high fibre muffins with fruit
cottage cheese and crackers
peas and corn (put them in frozen and they will thaw)
yoghurt (can be frozen or partially frozen)
cucumber slices

I can't think of anything else at the moment and I would agree with PPto make sure where she is going allows nuts, DD's daycare and most of the primary schools in my area do not allow any nuts or nut products.  Good luck!

debcom replied on 09-03-2010 8:52 AM

Thanks everyone for the responses. Her school is fine with peanut butter- thank goodness as she eats no meats except Bacon which isn't something i would give her daily but i forgot it on my list. Thanks for the tips re the organic milk or checking with the school. I go in for orientation first day so will look into it. Her class had a cafateria day last year and her teacher said she ate next to nothing so I think we will be bringing lunch from home unless they serve frenchfries and she likes the kind they serve, like I said PICKY

I only wish she would eat things like quiche, mac & cheese, hard boiled eggs, olives, cucumbers (or any veg for that matter) She won;t even eat a cheese sandwich, but will eat cheese and buttered bread seperately....

abrakadabra replied on 09-03-2010 9:12 AM

Will she eat baked beans?  DD loves them so I sometimes also send part of a tin and she'll eat them either warm or cold.  We also sometimes give DD just plain pasta.  She'll eat that with cheese or something else on the side.  I know a number of kids that will eat fried rice and it's not too difficult to make.  I wish DD could bring PB to daycare because she loves it (will just eat it off a spoon when we allow it).

abrakadabra replied on 09-03-2010 9:15 AM

I forgot to mention, there's a chance your DD's eatting habits may change as she spends time at school.  DD wouldn't touch a sandwich no matter what I put on it until she saw kids at daycare eating sandwiches.  She then wanted to take theirs and we started trying out sandwiches at home.  She did once eat ham and cheese together, but I haven't pushed them, just allowed her to try it if she wants.

displaced replied on 09-03-2010 4:59 PM

My picky toddler will eat (not reliably but sometimes):

pancakes
sausage
hot dog
hummus
m&c
apple
banana
applesauce
yogurt
cheese
grilled cheese
pretzels/crackers
soups
sweet potato
corn

I know a lot of these aren't on your child's "acceptance policy", but I thought I'd list them anyways.  I ditto PP thermos suggestions.  I do tend to buy or make foods that sneak in other things.  Like, my muffins usually have shredded small carrot pieces or chopped raisins (two foods he would never consider if they were by themselves), juice boxes with vege as well as fruit juices, etc.  Hopefully eating with other kids may broaden her desire to eat more foods, but I wouldn't count on it. 

woebetty replied on 09-06-2010 9:42 AM

your list sounds fantastic!!  My kid's list is about half of what you have. Honest.

Sounds like she can get all the food groups at lunch. For my kids, protein is the hardest to get into them.