[Mort Rainey]

As a mum I am finding it increasingly hard to find healthy food to put in my kids packed lunches.

My kids generally take a wholemeal sandwich (with cheese, ham or tuna), a bag of crisps (I've just switched to buying the baked varieties), a piece of fruit, sometimes an actimel or yakult drink, a chocolate biscuit such as a Penguin and a carton of apple juice.

I still feel that this contains too much "junk" but I'm really struggling to find healthy alternatives that they will eat (if they don't like the taste then they throw it out).

My daughter is easier as she likes salad in her sandwich and will happily eat the fruit but my son is a fussy eater and prefers to stick to the crap.

It is a tough one as all of our little darlings are different but has anyone got any helpful tips?

[mrnick]

that does not contain to much junk! it hardly contains any at all! Compare it with school dinners

[tracyhay]

We've just given up packed lunches...our school have got together with the Dinner Lady School and Ashylns farm so they get scrummy organic dinners. really nice food, I fancy sneaking in to try it. My children love it too so they don't want packed lunch anymore.

We used to have things like tuna pasta, watermelon (huge favourite), grapes, flapjacks, cheese, hummus and crudites, yogurts and water.

We never put crisps or chocolate in (not allowed anyway). Have you thought of trying vegetable crisps or rice cakes instead?

[stud u like]

When I had school lunches i had

Primula and peanut butter sandwiches
Packet of KP Skips
Thermos of soup or orange squash
Tracker Bar or Trio
Apple or satsuma

[Elbewasser]

Originally Posted by Mort Rainey

As a mum I am finding it increasingly hard to find healthy food to put in my kids packed lunches.

My kids generally take a wholemeal sandwich (with cheese, ham or tuna), a bag of crisps (I've just switched to buying the baked varieties), a piece of fruit, sometimes an actimel or yakult drink, a chocolate biscuit such as a Penguin and a carton of apple juice.

I still feel that this contains too much "junk" but I'm really struggling to find healthy alternatives that they will eat (if they don't like the taste then they throw it out).

My daughter is easier as she likes salad in her sandwich and will happily eat the fruit but my son is a fussy eater and prefers to stick to the crap.

It is a tough one as all of our little darlings are different but has anyone got any helpful tips?

Do your kids like cous cous?
Dead easy and quick

[Schism]

At my school, we had a "cafeteria" where you could by a cooked meal, salads etc..would that not be a healthier alternative than a cold halibut and a packet of cheese?

All the kids who had packed lunches at our school were gyppos or had fascist parents.

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by tracyhay

We've just given up packed lunches...our school have got together with the Dinner Lady School and Ashylns farm so they get scrummy organic dinners. really nice food, I fancy sneaking in to try it. My children love it too so they don't want packed lunch anymore.

We used to have things like tuna pasta, watermelon (huge favourite), grapes, flapjacks, cheese, hummus and crudites, yogurts and water.

We never put crisps or chocolate in (not allowed anyway). Have you thought of trying vegetable crisps or rice cakes instead?

You lucky lucky thing you!!!

Our school dinners aren't too bad but I still don't quite trust them so I prefer to stick with the packed lunch for now.

I wish our school would ban sweets, chocolate and crisps, it would make it a lot simpler for us parents who want our kids to eat well.

[indianwells]

A good alternative is to make up a batch of home made tomato sauce(easy).Then cook a load of pasta and let it cool.When combined with the tomato sauce it keeps for 4 or 5 days in a container in the fridge(covered).To this base anything can be added,smoked fish,chicken,grated cheese etc.A healthy alternative to sandwiches is pitta bread,split and filled with hummus,salad,chicken etc.Both these dishes are filling and full of carbs for energy so a piece of fruit and a drink with it should be ample.Leave out the crisps the first week and then both the crisps and chocolate bar thereafter.You never know,they might not notice!

[tracyhay]

Originally Posted by Mort Rainey

You lucky lucky thing you!!!

.

I was quite shocked as it were my suggestion, school have never listened before! http://www.ashlynsorganics.co.uk/
Even better is the fact we also have the cheapest school dinners in our town too. The others pay 20/30p more and still just get nuggets and chips.

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by Elbewasser

Do your kids like cous cous?
Dead easy and quick

My daughter would but my son wouldn't eat it.

He's nearly 17 and all his friends live on snack food such as crisps, chocolate and other crap, I think partly it's because he'd be embarrassed to take somerthing like cous cous in with him, his pals would probably rib him for it. It's tough being 17 (apparently!)

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by indianwells

A good alternative is to make up a batch of home made tomato sauce(easy).Then cook a load of pasta and let it cool.When combined with the tomato sauce it keeps for 4 or 5 days in a container in the fridge(covered).To this base anything can be added,smoked fish,chicken,grated cheese etc.A healthy alternative to sandwiches is pitta bread,split and filled with hummus,salad,chicken etc.Both these dishes are filling and full of carbs for energy so a piece of fruit and a drink with it should be ample.Leave out the crisps the first week and then both the crisps and chocolate bar thereafter.You never know,they might not notice!

I've tried, believe me, I went through a phase for about 6 months earlier this year where I stopped buying crisps, chocolate or anything that contained sugar. All they had to eat was a wholemeal sandwich, rice cakes, cheese, pro-biotic fruit drink and fruit.

My son who resisted the most is very skinny and very fussy about his food, he sometimes brought almost the whole lunch back home with him and I eventually had to start giving him stuff he would actually eat because I could see him starving himself otherwise. He's not a foodie, and eating is something I have to encourage him to do properly or he just doesn't bother.

[Elbewasser]

Originally Posted by Mort Rainey

My daughter would but my son wouldn't eat it.

He's nearly 17 and all his friends live on snack food such as crisps, chocolate and other crap, I think partly it's because he'd be embarrassed to take somerthing like cous cous in with him, his pals would probably rib him for it. It's tough being 17 (apparently!)

How about pasta salad (wholemeal) as Indianwells suggested for him.
Or homemade burger (meat and veggie mix).
Stick the meat in a blender and mix with minced veggies bind with flour and egg, freeze and use as needed.
Serve with wholemeal roll.

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by tracyhay

I was quite shocked as it were my suggestion, school have never listened before! http://www.ashlynsorganics.co.uk/
Even better is the fact we also have the cheapest school dinners in our town too. The others pay 20/30p more and still just get nuggets and chips.

That really does sound terrific. I have got Jeannette Orrey's book and have found it very interesting and made quite a few of the recipes from it.

I heard something on the radio this morning about guidelines for packed lunches but was still half asleep and missed it.

If only all schools would take the advice that your's did, especially as it works out cheaper.

I hope Jamie Oliver keeps up the good work, I think he may be our only hope!

[indianwells]

Originally Posted by Elbewasser

How about pasta salad (wholemeal) as Indianwells suggested for him.
Or homemade burger (meat and veggie mix).
Stick the meat in a blender and mix with minced veggies bind with flour and egg, freeze and use as needed.
Serve with wholemeal roll.

Good idea,surely a burger would be "cool" enough for his mates?

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by Elbewasser

How about pasta salad (wholemeal) as Indianwells suggested for him.
Or homemade burger (meat and veggie mix).
Stick the meat in a blender and mix with minced veggies bind with flour and egg, freeze and use as needed.
Serve with wholemeal roll.

I might try that burger thing as a "meatball" recipe to mix with pasta. I don't think he's like it as a burger because he's not into burgers (and has never eaten chips in his life - hates them!)

I have tried it before without much success because as I have mentioned earleir I think it's partly his "image" that he's concerned with. Taking in a healthy "proper dinner" type lunch might cause him some ribbing from pals.

[Sheels1979]

I have a five year old grandson (who lives with me) and he is happy to eat;

thin, organic rice cakes spread with peanut butter
cucumber and tomato salad
pitta bread with salad and hummous
home made mini pizzas (I put roast veg on the top)
cheese and tomato tarts
pasta salad with peppers, cucumber, grated carrot
various fruit (kiwi, strawberries, pineapple, grapes as well as apples etc.)
cashew nuts, apricots and raisins
sugar free jelly with fruit in the bottom
Yoghurt
cartons of organic orange / apple juice or water more often than not

I am no saint, but I NEVER buy crisps (mind you, he goes bonkers if he goes to a party and stuffs himself silly) but I would find it hard if I hadn't been firm about his lunchbox from the very start - it's hard to stop the nice things (crisps) if they are established!

It's obvious that you think about the fruit and veg intake, which a lot of parents don't as they're more worried that their children won't eat it and it's the balance that counts. I hope this is helpful and not sanctimonious (sp?)

[magicmover]

My friend's mother used to fill my lunch pack up with loads of things I didn't like and I ended up given them to my other friends. I didn't like to tell her in the end.

[Little Ali]

Originally Posted by A Bloke

At my school, we had a "cafeteria" where you could by a cooked meal, salads etc..would that not be a healthier alternative than a cold halibut and a packet of cheese?

All the kids who had packed lunches at our school were gyppos or had fascist parents.

Unfortunately, some parents can't always afford the £70-odd per month for cooked school dinners (that's for two kids).

Mine are little sods when it comes to eating packed lunches - my daughter won't eat sandwiches, they're not allowed crisps, chocolate, cakes or anything similar (which is a good thing but as a poster above said, it sometimes means they bring the whole lunch home practically uneaten).
Foods which would normally be in a refrigerator until they eat them (yoghurts for example) just don't taste nice when they've been in a lunch box for half the day.
My kids eat pretty healthily but most of the stuff they eat at home they won't eat when I give it to them for packed lunch
It makes life so difficult!

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by Sheels1979

I have a five year old grandson (who lives with me) and he is happy to eat;

thin, organic rice cakes spread with peanut butter
cucumber and tomato salad
pitta bread with salad and hummous
home made mini pizzas (I put roast veg on the top)
cheese and tomato tarts
pasta salad with peppers, cucumber, grated carrot
various fruit (kiwi, strawberries, pineapple, grapes as well as apples etc.)
cashew nuts, apricots and raisins
sugar free jelly with fruit in the bottom
Yoghurt
cartons of organic orange / apple juice or water more often than not

I am no saint, but I NEVER buy crisps (mind you, he goes bonkers if he goes to a party and stuffs himself silly) but I would find it hard if I hadn't been firm about his lunchbox from the very start - it's hard to stop the nice things (crisps) if they are established!

It's obvious that you think about the fruit and veg intake, which a lot of parents don't as they're more worried that their children won't eat it and it's the balance that counts. I hope this is helpful and not sanctimonious (sp?)

I quite agree, it's a lot better to start as you mean to go on. Unfortunately I was very young when I had my son and knew nothing about nutrition back then. It's my own fault and nobody else's that he has the eating habits that he does. However, now that they are established, it is very hard to change him.

I have managed to make the change from white to wholemeal bread (with a lot of begging and pleading for the old "best of both" along the way) I've stuck to my guns and finally won.

My son loves fruits such as nectarines, strawberries, plums, kiwi, grapes but will absolutely not touch bananas, apples etc.

He will eat most meat (but I'm trying to stay off ham and bacon because of the nitrates), wholemeal pasta and rice, potatoes (in the form of fresh mash only).

I think as a whole, the kids eat better than most but I'm always looking for ways to improve it.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

[Voodoo Child]

If your Son is nearly 17 shouldnt he be making his own packe dlunch? I've been making mince since Year 6.

[magicmover]

Originally Posted by Voodoo Child

If your Son is nearly 17 shouldnt he be making his own packe dlunch? I've been making mince since Year 6.

I've kind of done too but my friend'y mother just kept stuffing my bad full of junk. I don't go to school no more so she can't do it. lol

[Schism]

Originally Posted by Little Ali

Unfortunately, some parents can't always afford the £70-odd per month for cooked school dinners (that's for two kids).

It's a false economy, a packed lunch must be more than a pound a day. I would prefer to give my children the freedom of choice, as well as a proper cooked meal.

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by Little Ali

Unfortunately, some parents can't always afford the £70-odd per month for cooked school dinners (that's for two kids).

Mine are little sods when it comes to eating packed lunches - my daughter won't eat sandwiches, they're not allowed crisps, chocolate, cakes or anything similar (which is a good thing but as a poster above said, it sometimes means they bring the whole lunch home practically uneaten).
Foods which would normally be in a refrigerator until they eat them (yoghurts for example) just don't taste nice when they've been in a lunch box for half the day.
My kids eat pretty healthily but most of the stuff they eat at home they won't eat when I give it to them for packed lunch
It makes life so difficult!

Absolutely!

This is what I find. They eat what I give them at home, but I'm always worried that what they take to school will either come back home again, go in the bin or get swapped with the other kids "crap lunch". I wouldn't be surprised if I'm paying through the nose for healthy food for all the other kids while mine are eating theirs!!!

[indianwells]

1/3 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup diced yellow onions
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped fine
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb ground pork
1/2 lb ground veal
1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3-6 cups of your favorite marinara sauce


Place the chicken stock, onion, garlic, and parsley in a blender or food processor and puree.
In a large bowl, combine the pureed stock mix, meat, bread crumbs, egg, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, red pepper flakes, and salt.
Combine with hands until mixture is uniform, do not overmix.
Put a little olive oil on your hands and form mixture into balls a little larger than golf balls.
Pour about 1/2 inch of extra virgin olive oil in straight sided, 10-inch-wide saute pan and heat over medium-high flame.
Add the meatballs to the pan, working in batches if necessary, and brown meatballs, turning once.
This should take about 10-15 minutes.
While meatballs are browning, heat the marinara sauce in a large pot.
Transfer the meatballs to the pot with the marinara sauce and simmer for one hour.
Serve alone or over your favorite pasta.


Slightly off topic but if anyone is interested this is a fantastic recipe for meatballs.Just use half pork and beef if you can't,or don't want to use veal.Just remember DON'T overmix.I promise you won't be disappointed.

[Mort Rainey]

Originally Posted by Voodoo Child

If your Son is nearly 17 shouldnt he be making his own packe dlunch? I've been making mince since Year 6.

And if I didn't give two hoots about his health, then that's exactly what I would do but if left to his own devices he'd eat junk food all day long!