I’ve been packing my son’s lunch for 4 years now (he doesn’t have enough time to eat the school lunch b/c they spend too much time standing in line). Sandwiches do get old after awhile, so I got him a thermos. Now he can take soup, leftovers, ravioli, etc. I pre-warm the thermos with really hot water for a few minutes before putting the food in it – it helps it stay warmer longer.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

Juice Box

Crackers

Buy a thermal lunch box and small ice pack, or freeze a juice box, and you can make other sandwiches beside peanut butter and jelly. I eat them just about everyday for 6 years. My now first grader choose peanut butter and jelly almost everyday at school.

I bought fish sticks……. would cook them the night before then put them in a baggy. They would heat them up at school. The same thing worked with chicken nuggets as well. I also bought lots of different kinds of fruit cups as well as buying fresh fruit too. I bought plastic containers and would put in one serving of green beans or limas or whatever veggie your child liked. The key is to serve the same things you know he or she will like, but getting it ready the night before takes some planning and the containers take some purchasing. But you end up using them the whole year so you really get your money’s worth. Of course sandwiches always work, but mix it up a bit with a bagle sandwich. Or an “uncrustable.” Pudding packs and fruit roll ups are more of a healthy dessert. Cut up carrots and celery work too IF your child will eat them. Remember….. if he/she won’t eat what you pack, then they’ll just get tired throughout the day when they haven’t eaten. So make it healthy….. but kid friendly!!

Use an insulated bag and reusable ice pack to help keep his lunch cool. Fresh fruit, PBJs, yogurt, nuts (unless he’s allergic), 100% fruit juice, cheese, fresh veggies (like baby carrots, celery, broccoli, etc.), pudding/jello, homemade jerky, dried fruits, salads, “leftover” roast beef, chicken (not fried), graham crackers, milk (unless you can purchase that at the school). You might also want to include individually wrapped waterless hand wipes.

Stay away from the “lunchable” type snacks (look at the nutritional information on the cartons!), carbonated soft drinks, processed lunch meats (unless high quality), boxed “fruit” drinks that are not 100% fruit juice, snack foods like potato chips and other high fat, greasy, or sugary foods.

Peanut butter jelly and a half pint of water. What I use to love was my mom would pick me up from school and bring me to Wendy’s or something like that.

Here’s a site with a lot of good suggestions.

http://parenting.ivillage.com/gs/gslearning/0,,3vwj,00.html

For many years I packed lunches for our 4 kids in circumstances just like yours. We didn’t even have those handy cheese sticks then! Now there are lots of good options, including some of the “lunchable” packs. And if you have a small thermos, you can sometimes include hot soup or something like spaghettios, for a change, if your son would like that.

Do rice ball (Japanese) – cooked rice rolled into a small ball. You can put a little tuna inside.

Cooked spaghetti and its sauce, it can be eaten cold and taste just fine.

Place some potato salad on a large lettuce leaf, roll the leaf and use a toothpick to hold it together.

I like to take a tortilla and put mayo or lite cream cheese on it then fill it with whatever- turkey, lettuce, cheese – what ever your child likes. Then roll it up like a burrito. I even have put salad in one – it’s yummy.

Also another easy idea is just crackers, cheese,sliced meats, fruit , have them make their own little sandwiches with the crackers and cheese.

bologna sandwich, or just jelly or peanutbuter with goldfish crackers and applesauce with a juice-box or a bottle of water. or even easyer you can take a baggie and filll it with cheerios or his favorite cerial. but don’t make it the same thing every day because he will get totally sick of it. my mom did that every day