Mustachian school lunches

[chilliepepper]

It's only 3 (4?) weeks into the school year, and school lunches are already eating my lunch! I'm packing three lunches a day: one for DH (fairly easy), and two for my kids, a first grader and a kindergartener.

Between trying to avoid processed foods, avoiding nuts (kindergartener is allergic), including adequate protein and including enough things that they actually LIKE to fill their little antimustachian tummies, I'm about at my wits' end! I spend about 30 minutes per morning packing lunches and I have to admit I'm tempted some days to either shell out $2.50/head for school lunches, or head on over to Safeway and stock up on the packaged barfy kiddie foods that they crave! Or if not that, pay $5/lb (on a sale day) for lunchmeat that doesn't contain nitrates/nitrites.

One of my sons (the allergic one) won't eat beans and can't eat nuts. That rules out two oh-so-useful forms of protein. He gets quite a bit of sunflower seed butter, but it gets old and I hate for everything in his lunch (yogurt, ssbutter are two staples) to contain sugar.

Anybody with me? Anybody doing better at this than I am? What do your mini-mustachians pack to school?

[Saving mom]

Pretty consistently my kids are eating cheese stick and crackers, organic yogurt in a tube (less sugar than go-gurt), apple sauce or grapes, pretzels or goldfish and something dessert like (chocolate pudding, Oreos or a chocolate kiss). They are in K and 2nd. Drinks is ice cold water in a refillable thermos. Sometimes swap out peanut butter for the cheese. Little one eats 1/2 for lunch and the other 1/2 at school release as a snack. The cheese stick, puddings, crackers, Oreos and goldfish are from Costco. My kids are picky and don't mind having the same thing everyday.

[tooqk4u22]

The nut thing would be tough, our kids get PBJ fairly regularly with an apple and once in awhile a meat sandwich (salami is their fav but it has nitrates I am sure). 

Sanwich options with protein
-sliced tofu or hummus or cottage cheese with lettuce/tomato sandwiches,
-cream cheese and jam sandwiches,
-cottage chees with some lettuce in a wrap is good.
-tuna or salmon
-grilled/roast chicken or beef sandwiches/wraps, make a weeks worth (or more to freeze) yourself and slice thin (mustard, EVOO, BBQ sauce, make it fun)
-egg salad

Keep in mind that anything with meat doesn't really need much meat if it is seasoned and you bulk it up with lettuce/tomato.

On the sweet side you can do rice pudding (w/brown rice) or tapioca - if you make it yourself you can manage sugar and you get a lot of protein from the dairy and good bulk so it is filling.

[gooki]

I'm enjoying tuna, mayo, lettuce and cucumber wraps (fry the wraps first). And a couple of pieces of fruit.

[Nudelkopf]

I'm pretty sure I ate Vegemite & cheese sandwiches all through primary school. Then upgraded to egg salad or chicken salad sandwiches in high school.

[totoro]

Oh - finally a question I can answer.

I LOVE making lunches.  Yes, you read that right.  I lived in Japan when my kids were little and I used to buy these neat magazines on Bento - Japanese packed lunches - and really enjoyed making them; however, 30 minutes is a quick Bento!  I have adapted.  I have also overpurchased crazy luchkit accessories.  My two boys asked me to stop cutting out sandwiches in heart or bird shapes - apparently that is not cool in middle school.  The banana keeper was also not a hit: http://www.alleewillis.com/blog/2010/07/26/allee-willis-kitsch-o-the-day-%E2%80%93-japanese-portable-banana-keeper/

Here are some of what I do and it is FAST:

1.  I make pizza dough on Sunday evening.  I actually use the cinnamon bun recipe for the dough and double it: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/ooey-gooey-cinnamon-buns/
2.  I use the cinnamon bun dough to make... yes, cinnamon buns.. which I use for breakfast or snacks for lunches.  The rest I use to make mini-pizzas or calzones for the lunch boxes.  I also make pizza and cheese buns.
3.  I have a rice cooker.  I make brown rice and make rice balls (onigiri) for lunches in the mornings: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/onigiri---japanese-rice-balls/
4.  Sometimes they get brown rice with furikake: http://sybarite.us/puertorico/2008/06/18/furikake-funky-rice-toppings/ with korean grilled seaweed that is actually very tasty: http://www.thesaladgirl.com/2009/10/02/dragon-fruit-roasted-seaweed-friends/
4.  I have thermoses for my kids.  They like pasta with butter and cheese.  I make this in the mornings, warm the thermoses with boiling water, dump out and add the hot pasta.
5.  My kids like soup. I make a quick soup with Better than Bouillion or Miso in thermoses and pack cooked noodles separately for them to add so the noodles don't get mushy.
6.  I mix up a largish batch of pumpkin pie filling using pumpkins or sweet potatoes.  I cook individual pumpkin tarts in the mornings as a side.  I freeze extra filling so it is always fast.  I also make fruit tarts and pecan tarts.  Extremely easy and fast.  Banana bread is always popular.
7.  I have a garden.  The kids get raw vegetables as a side.  Right now it is peas, purple beans and tomatoes.  When the garden runs out they get cucumbers, peppers and baby carrots from the store.  They pick them from the garden in the morning.
8. I pack fruit each day in their lunches.  Whatever is in season.  I get a lot of it from the garden (strawberries, apples, plums, blackberries and raspberries).  Otherwise I buy it - mandarin oranges are really popular.
9.  I buy big tubs of Greek yoghurt and put it in smaller containers.
10. I have found this style container useful for ensuring variety and freshness: http://www.allthingsforsale.com/bento-box-lunch-box/2171-square-bento-lunch-box-food-storage-removable-4-compartments--4905596107712.html.  Having four compartments to fill ensures variety.  I have dinner plates that have a similar effect for covering all the food groups: http://www.etsy.com/listing/104524673/divided-dinner-plates-imperial?ref=&sref=
11. I use leftovers fairly frequently.  I make biggish batches of things like chicken nuggets or meatballs: http://www.thegalleygourmet.net/2012/04/homemade-chicken-nuggets.html or http://allrecipes.com/recipe/the-best-meatballs/ which can be easily baked from frozen and added to the rice or pasta dishes for lunches.
12.  Boiled soybeans (edamame) are a great side for lunches and kids usually like them.
13.  Kids like popcorn.  Package some up from the evening before and they will likely eat it with lunch.
14. Homemade bread is popular.  I make this frequently and use it to make sandwiches: http://www.askchefdennis.com/2012/01/artisan-bread/  My kids also like it with balsamic/olive oil dip.
15.  I use tortillas for fast wraps that are grilled first and usually pizza-like in content (the kids like this).
16.  Hard-boiled eggs.  I can't resist doing this with them: http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-decoration-techniques/fun-japanese-egg-molds

As for drinks, I send water or mango juice in cans bought from Costco.

My husband always gets leftovers.  This week I made chicken with rice, chili and coconut/sweet potato/kale soup.  I package and freeze/refrigerate the containers so I mostly just have to pull stuff out and add fruit and a cinnamon bun or tart.  His lunches are the fastest.

[Tradies wife]

I'm pretty sure I ate Vegemite & cheese sandwiches all through primary school. Then upgraded to egg salad or chicken salad sandwiches in high school.

Very similar. Lunch was the same every day in primary school. Jam sandwich. Water from the tap. That is it. Everyone was pretty much the same.

When I was at high school, (here that is 12/13-17/18years) I was responsible for getting my own lunch. Usually cheese and tomato sandwich. I'd throw an apple in my bag too. Sometimes it was 'special' and I'd have a yoghurt as well. Sometimes, I'd get fancy and make myself a salad.

Now kids are getting 'gourmet' kind of lunches to take to school!!

We don't have a culture of school lunches here. So I guess that is a great thing. Also the list of things you cannot put in kinder lunches these days are huge. Nuts, fruit wraps, muesli bars, anything with chocolate coasting, no yogurt coating (mostly sugar), no cakes/ muffins.

I usually give my daughter a sandwich. Whatever vegies/ fruit/ dried fruit combo with the sandwich a piece of fruit to share (everyone brings a piece of fruit and fruit platters are made up to share by the mum helper) and a water bottle, full of tap water. Sometimes, for a little variation she gets left over pasta bake or zucchini slice.

I'm grateful that we don't have anything 'fancy'. Everything is home made and or no packaging.

I also have issues with food additives and preservatives to contend with. Things like lunch meat, can be made from left over roasts, or even poach some chicken to have the lunch meat on hand.

I make yogurt at home, with a probiotic added. This contains NO sugar at all. I can then add whatever to the yogurt, and divide it up into small containers. I bet kids would have a great time making yogurt (takes all of 10minutes if that) and it's also a great learning opportunity to talk about good bacteria, how it grows and nutrients that it needs. It is kind of like 'magic' for kids. I add, homemade jam to the yoghurt, a teaspoon of brown sugar and frozen berries is a hit, honey, muesli. Whatever I can think that would be nice really. Added benefit to doing it this way, is that you have control over the sugar content. I have a batch on the go now actually.

Eggs are also a great form of protein. 

Olives, sun dried tomatoes, cheese and a couple of crackers are also kind of cool and easy to chuck in.

[chilliepepper]

Oh - finally a question I can answer.

I LOVE making lunches.  Yes, you read that right. 

Wow---I wish you were my neighbor so I could watch and learn! And your garden sounds amazing. Somehow with my three kids and very little sunlight on our property, a garden is still but a distant dream for me...but I really do want to do it.

[twinge]

My son now makes his lunch (he started that at 8-9) and my daughter eats at her daycare.
This is the routine from this year and half of last: son will usually make a loaf of  a fairly high protein oat bread in the bread machine (has multiple eggs, cottage cheese, and oats--only about 1/2-3/4 cup of flour) on Sunday that is for the week (it might make it to Thurs) and make:

ss butter and jam sandwich
cream cheese and cucumber/lettuce whatever is on hand sandwich
humus and veggies sandwich

if we have leftovers he likes that are good room temperature he might bring those

Other things that might go in the lunch or replace a sandwich if enough of them:
olives, edamame, tofu cubes we cooked/seasoned earlier, carrots, sweet potato cubes, whatever fruit is on hand, roasted seaweed

[chilliepepper]

I'm pretty sure I ate Vegemite & cheese sandwiches all through primary school. Then upgraded to egg salad or chicken salad sandwiches in high school.

Very similar. Lunch was the same every day in primary school. Jam sandwich. Water from the tap. That is it. Everyone was pretty much the same.

Now kids are getting 'gourmet' kind of lunches to take to school!!

We don't have a culture of school lunches here. So I guess that is a great thing.

This is a helpful perspective for me to remember, as contrasted with the other extreme (also much appreciated) described above. In the case of my kindergartener who is not only allergic but also flatly rejects cream cheese, cottage cheese, tofu, hummus, most vegetables, and any kind of non-processed meat (grrrrr), I may need to just try to find one thing he likes and stick with it. So far he will usually still accept a sunflower seed butter and jelly sandwich (without the jelly it sometimes comes home untouched). I'm not particularly excited about giving him that much sugar, but what can ya do. I guess there comes a point where I have to just let him dig his own grave...and also realize that he may well eventually snap out of it.

He also loves oatmeal, so I could send that in a thermos (again high sugar content because he will only eat it with brown sugar). I hate to give him the same high-carb food for both breakfast and lunch (sometimes he will accept eggs or a "banana shake" in the morning, but often oatmeal is the only thing he will eat), but again---I guess there is only so much I can control.

[chilliepepper]

My son now makes his lunch (he started that at 8-9) and my daughter eats at her daycare.
This is the routine from this year and half of last: son will usually make a loaf of  a fairly high protein oat bread in the bread machine (has multiple eggs, cottage cheese, and oats--only about 1/2-3/4 cup of flour)

Is there a recipe for this that you could copy here or post a link? It sounds fabulous. (Resisting antimustachian urge to drop everything and go buy a bread machine RIGHT. NOW.)

[twinge]

Is there a recipe for this that you could copy here or post a link? It sounds fabulous. (Resisting antimustachian urge to drop everything and go buy a bread machine RIGHT. NOW.)

It's something my son figured out by experimenting with a couple of recipes--I'll ask him for it and post it later.  (I had told him it wasn't healthy to eat so much bread and he needed more protein so he explicitly worked to make it higher protein. But he also just really likes the taste--his favorite pancakes are ones made with primarily cottage cheese and eggs and just a little flour  OR oat cakes so he was going for a way to combine those tastes).  When we use our bread machine we always bake it separate in a cast iron loaf pan in our mini-convection/toaster oven so I don't know how it would turn out in the machine--probably fine.  You can usually find a bread machine on Craig's list pretty cheap. 

[Irishmam]

Wow Totoro!! Thanks for all the great links! Our school lunches were getting a little predictable and the ranks were starting to grumble, so I'm glad I have a few new tricks to keep them happy!

[tooqk4u22]

This is a helpful perspective for me to remember, as contrasted with the other extreme (also much appreciated) described above. In the case of my kindergartener who is not only allergic but also flatly rejects cream cheese, cottage cheese, tofu, hummus, most vegetables, and any kind of non-processed meat (grrrrr), I may need to just try to find one thing he likes and stick with it.

A lot of kids eat much of the same stuff every day, so I wouldn't stress too much about it but a multivitamin for the kiddo might makes sense if you are not already giving one.

Also, keep in mind that we as parents want to cater to our kids but remember that they like us are just animals (very complex animals, but animals nonetheless) and eventually will eat whatever is there if hungary enough.  We have had some testing of the wills in our house to prove this out, especially when new stuff is introduced.  The routine usually goes with them not eating it at dinner then around bed time they are starving and want a snack/fruit/treat but then the dinner plate they didn't eat gets presented.  So far it is definitely better than 50/50 that they will eat it. 

[kkbmustang]

My son is picky as well and I was concerned about him getting enough protein that wasn't in the form of salami. I started adding vanilla protein powder to his oatmeal and to smoothies. He likes it and I feel better knowing he's getting extra protein.

The smoothies can be frozen in homemade smoothie containers and packed in his lunch. I haven't bought any of these, but I've seen them: http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-431-4-Piece-Silicone-Maker/dp/B0036B9KHO/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1348587917&sr=8-6&keywords=smoothie+containers

For our smoothies, we just throw in frozen strawberries, a banana, a scoop of protein powder and vanilla soy milk. It's delicious and you can play with different fruits/flavors.

My daughter is easier: she loves salad, so a lot of times I'll pack her a salad and put shredded chicken in there.

[totoro]

Love the smoothie idea.  What brand of protein powder do you recommend?

[totoro]

Also, chilliepepper, I'm not the best gardener in the world.  All we did was build six raised beds, put some good soil with compost in on top of cardboard over the grass, plant and mulch like crazy with straw so we don't have to weed hardly at all.  We have a sprinkler on a timer so that is no effort.  The blackberries grow wild across from our house.  Apples are from the neighbour, plums in the back yard.  Raspberries, once planted and trellissed, just grow.  Strawberries not only grow without too much care, they produce lots of runners.  Sun is important though, put it in the sunniest spot and set it up on auto water with loads of mulch and you will be surprised what happens.  We have:  blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, kale, red onions, purple beans, peas, chives, dill, and basil with very little effort apart from the raised beds. 

As far as lunches go, what I listed may sound like a lot of work but it really is not.  Having a plan and doing multiple batches takes the stress out of kids and DH lunches and is less work than you can believe.  While I enjoy cooking, I don't enjoy clean-up, and prefer to make stuff for the week all at once so the rest of the week is low mess and time commitment. 

Also, oatmeal muffins might work for a child who likes oatmeal.  There is sugar in them but you could up the protein by adding dried milk powder.   I also make bigger batches of muffin batter and just pop six in the toaster oven in a lined muffin tin in the morning.  The batter keeps in the fridge for a few days.  You can add frozen blackberries, raspberries or blueberries to the small batches to give variety.  I often use pureed pumpkin or sweet potato in oatmeal muffins, add some cinnamon, and kids generally do like this a lot - good if they don't generally like vegetables.  Here is an easy basic recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/moist-oatmeal-pumpkin-muffins-24617  You could send these with some slices of cheese or a couple of hardboiled eggs if they like them.  Add some fruit they like and could work good.

For adding protein I make energy bites similar to these: http://www.thehealthybeehive.com/little-bites-of-energy-and-an-easter-treat/  I use peanut butter (but you could use non-nut butter), dried milk powder, honey and lots of sunflower seeds.  Mix it all together and roll into balls and freeze.  Take out and add a couple to lunches as needed.

[totoro]

Also, here is a website of Japanese bento-style school lunches done by an American.  They don't take a lot of time if you use leftovers and if you have a set of stock recipes and stuff ready to cook from the freezer:  http://lunchinabox.net/category/containers/food-jar/

She has some good tips for repackaging leftovers.  The Japanese-style containers are better than tupperware I find.  They sort it all out for you and make me think ahead of what to put in different sections.

I think a Japanese rice cooker is a good investment if your family likes rice.  They sell them in Chinatown where I live.

[chilliepepper]

Also, keep in mind that we as parents want to cater to our kids but remember that they like us are just animals (very complex animals, but animals nonetheless) and eventually will eat whatever is there if hungary enough.  We have had some testing of the wills in our house to prove this out, especially when new stuff is introduced.  The routine usually goes with them not eating it at dinner then around bed time they are starving and want a snack/fruit/treat but then the dinner plate they didn't eat gets presented.  So far it is definitely better than 50/50 that they will eat it.

Yes. This has generally been my perspective, and I've refused to accept the role of short-order cook in my home. What I have done, though, is told him (upon his rejection of the dinner I've prepared) that someone can get him something else AFTER we are finished eating. I really haven't wanted to let him go to bed hungry, because my kids are on the small side to begin with. But I like your idea better, presenting the same food again later when he's perhaps more hungry. Definitely going to try this. :)

[kkbmustang]

Totoro- We get the whole foods house brand (365) whey protein powder. It comes in a blue container.  A large container lasts quite a while. The Hubs also uses it directly in soy milk to drink before workouts.

[totoro]

Thanks - going to try that.  My son plays rugby and he requested it - not sure if it will really boost anything for him but I like that he has smoothies in the morning anyway. 

We are also going to try making bubble tea for him and his friends - all the rage for teenagers where I live and they cost $5 each in Chinatown!  I looked up the ingredients and seems like 50 cents would more than cover the cost - maybe a little more for the fancier types with coconut milk and mango.

I know that these are not just the basics, but food is my "hobby".   I figure it works out well for everyone and we still spend less than most we know.

[nubbs180]

Another way to sneak protein into a heavy oatmeal-eater's diet is to use milk instead of water during cooking.  And if you're worried about sugar content, cooking dried fruits/berries into it also reduces the need for processed sugars. 

[igthebold]

16.  Hard-boiled eggs.  I can't resist doing this with them: http://justbento.com/handbook/bento-decoration-techniques/fun-japanese-egg-molds

Reminds me of this insanity.

PS - my wife will love reading your post. :)

[totoro]

Yep,  you can't pick your parents!  If a twelve year old boy pulls bear-shaped hard boiled eggs out of his lunch - well, I expect he could just say that to his buddies :)

I think the key low stress is to have a set of quick known recipes that your child likes as a "main" for lunches and then a host of options for sides that you choose the Sunday before school starts, along with proper storage for them.  If it is the same thing everyday and they like it - fine - I have a cousin who ate cheese and tomato sandwiches every single day her school life.  My uncle (her father) was the same way.

Many kids appreciate variety - mine do.  I am excited to try those smoothies - I'm going to use the containers kkbmustang showed.  I found a family here that uses them: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/04/19/school-lunch-roundup/  I have used to use these same divided lunch containers that she shows as well.  They worked well and her pictures show some less elaborate lunches that are quick.  I do think those separate sections help tremendously with planning.

[Misstachian]

I bring my lunch almost every day and my mom used to make some great ones, especially since I wouldn't eat a sandwich more than once a week. Totoro is obviously the expert and has covered a lot, but:
-I loved it when my mom made a big pot of soup and I could take that in a thermos with some ritz crackers (no microwave at school)
-Breaded chicken cutlets are good cold; she would slice them into strips and give me a lemon wedge
-Smoothies are always good
-Guacamole salad (tomato/bell and jalapeno pepper/beans/avocados/corn/whatever sounds good tossed with olive oil, lime jiuce, garlic, salt/pepper/cayenne to taste)
-Slices of frittata - corn/basil/zucchini, or swiss chard/garlic, etc, or (anything that tastes good sauteed, with eggs poured on top), usually just as good cold
-Various leftover pastas
-Leftover grilled salmon, roasted chicken, or anything else we ate last night
-Salad with homemade dressing on the side

Useful thread for more brown-bagging ideas!

[flyfamily]

I can relate to things getting a little stagnant, though, I'm not about an upper elementary and middle schooler to break out bento boxes. ;)

Honestly, our kids loathe the majority of school lunches. They're open to pizza day on 1/2 days (so I pay for that, as it's the only day that they will actually ask for). They also like specialty salad days (Cobb, Southwest).

Otherwise, they will actually complain if I had them $2.00 each (our cost for our district).

So, I've actually had no issue with them this school year. They mostly get a sub sandwich, fruit, juice (low sugar), baked chips/popcorn/pretzels. I change it up with Peanut or Almond Butter and jam.

Son has asked for leftover homemade pizza.

I pack my husband's lunch when I pack the kids. His is a little easier, as he'll take the leftovers that he can reheat. Though, he was telling a story from work about a colleague whose child was throwing an apple on the floor.. and I asked him if it was his apple from the day before, and he looked down and said, 'Uh, yes...'  Hmmm, guess I can save the apples for the kids!

[capital]

My parents had me pack my own lunches starting around first or second grade. It was usually a sandwich or soup in a thermos, a yogurt, and a cookie or granola bar.

[CNM]

When I was a kid, my parents had a no-sugar household.  So for dessert, I would get peeled apple slices with lemon juice and cinnamon.  You can add a bit of sugar if you wish.  I LOVED IT.  It was the best dessert snack.

On the protein issue- what about hardboiled eggs? This can be just straight up hb egg or egg salad.  What about jerky?  I've made my own turkey jerky and it is WAY cheaper than the store-bought kind.  Bonus is that no refrigeration is necessary.