Tuesday, April 16, 2013

What's in a preschooler's lunch?!?

I have a hard time figuring out things to put in Parker's lunch. When I was a stay at home mom he ate really well, but now that I pack his lunch he has refused some of the things he used to eat like peanut butter sandwiches, cucumber rings, and carrot sticks. There have been times when I open  his lunch container and I see that it's full of food and I'm like "what did you eat???" Uusally when I find something that he will like and then that's what I pack for his lunch for the next week or so until he gets tired of it.

I try to keep his lunches simple, but he MUST have fruit, carb, protein, and milk. If I can squeeze veggies in there then I try even if it's just a few carrot sticks, otherwise, he gets his veggies at dinner time. But, I need ideas! What do you feed your preschooler?


before he started preschool I made Parker a lunch similar to what I was thinking of packing for him: half an apple, carrot sticks, peanut butter sandwich, and a few mini chocolate chips. He also had milk. Note: the chocolate chips were a special treat and he does not get treats at lunch. The beginning of February was the last time he ate a peanut butter sandwich. Every time I pack him one, he doesn't eat it.
lunch all gone!!!

ham sandwich, apple slices, carrot sticks, grapes, cashews...and milk

Parker's fairygodmother suggested using pita pockets to see if he would eat sandwiches. Parker loved the idea, but ate only half a pita. he also had plums, carrot sticks, pecans, and milk.

Daddy packed his lunch: pretzel chips, honeydew, red ants (craisins) on a log. Kevin was so proud of himself for this idea. Unfortunately Parker who normally loves celery ate only a few bites.

grapes, plums, hard boiled egg, carrot sticks, and banana/blueberry/pecan mini muffins. Fairygodmother said the muffins didn't sound too appetizing, but all I tasted was banana and pecans.

pecans, hard boiled egg, blueberries, and muffins

clementines, pretzel fish, pecans, and peanut butter sandwiches cut into teddy bear and giraffe shapes. sandwiches weren't as a big of a hit as I hoped they would be.

strawberries and blueberries, ham pieces cut in animal shapes, colby jack cheese cut into flower, a plain rice cake. This lunch was a huge hit!

pineapple (he normally loves it, but barely touched it!), carrot sticks, ham cubes, rice cake, and milk (not shown)
milk, clementines, pecans, hard boiled egg, granola bar, pretzel chips...most of this was eaten except for a couple of nuts and a few bites of the egg
ham, pecans, rice cake, granola bar, dried mangoes...most was eaten!
diced mangoes, peanut butter crackers, yogurt raisins, yogurt, milk...this lunch was a HUGE hit. Parker's teacher said he was so excited about his mangoes! lol
this was Parker's lunch the Thursday before Easter (he didn't go to school on Good Friday)...he LOVED his blue hard boiled egg. Ate almost everything except the mangoes...guess the newness of it wore off. lol
yogurt raisins, peanut butter crackers, milk, string cheese (he had boycotted cheese months ago, but decided he likes cheese again), cantaloupe. this lunch was ALL GONE!!!

Now please share your lunch ideas for your preschooler! I need some ideas!!!



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