Conference moira::parenting

    
    	You could make a pasta salad with cheeses and or meats in it..
    
    	COld chicken cutlets are tasty..(fried)
    
    	

    Hi,
    
    I send a lot of cold lunches, keep in mind that cold is ok for a lot of
    different foods like mac & cheese and hot dogs that are normally eaten
    hot.
    
    grilled cheese
    pizza
    applesauce
    carrots, celery (with peanut butter)
    jello with or w/o fruit
    rolls, muffins, bagels, etc.
    fruit is great
    fruit rollups
    chewy granola bars
    boiled eggs 
    bacon
    soup in a small thermos
    cheese or PB crackers
    
    Have fun,
    Pat
    
    

Remember that "variety" is not necessarily valued by kids that age. If and 
when you find something that he likes, and if he doesn't complain, don't be 
embarassed if you send the same thing day after day.  But also don't buy up a 
whole summer's supply, because his taste may change.

You still can do some warm stuff.  There are wide mouth insulated containers 
that work fine for stuff like ravioli, spaghetti etc.

Clay

    
    I'm in the same boat where my kids don't particularly care for
    sandwiches.  We send cheese and crackers a lot, Jason likes yogurt, and
    will eat it every day.
    
    Most times for Chris, he gets a "hot" lunch anyway.  I have one of
    those wide mouth thermoses.  In the morning, I pour boiling water into
    it, and SUPER heat his lunch in the microwave, then dump out the water,
    put the food in the thermos, and he says it's always warm at lunch
    time.  I'd much rather him have spaghetti and meatballs or something
    like that, than just cheese and crackers every day.
    
    Things that work well tend to have some type of "sauce" - it keeps the
    food warm longer, and doesn't dry out .... great for leftovers!

    re .3
    
    My son has had peanut-butter and jelly for the last two years
    or more.  We've tried alternates, and they just come back (they
    have crackers at the school for such cases).  We do insist on
    something different at supper.
    
    So if PB&J is ok, don't worry about variety!  
    
    		-John Bishop

    What about spoilage?  If the lunches are not going to be stored in a
    cold, or even cool area - wouldn't things like tunafish made with
    mayonnaise or cold boiled eggs have the potential of going bad?

    ... Of course I may be over reacting - my daughter had a bout with
    salmonella poisoning a few years back.  We never did trace the cause.

    
    	try the Pennywhistle Lunch Box book for a world of great ideas for
    kids' lunches.
    
    				Wendy

    If this has a topic elsewhere, please feel free to move it.
    
    I have 2 kids (4 1/2 and 1 1/2) that I have to provide lunch for at
    daycare every day.  I feel like I fix them the same things all the
    time.  This does NOT mean I send them with peanut butter and fluff
    sandwiches every day.  I sort of have a rule that they get something
    different every day of the week.
    
    So, does anyone have good ideas for lunches?  I'm required to meet the
    state school nutritional guidelines (1 bread, 1 protein, 2 fruit and/or
    vegatables).  Also, there is a restriction that children under 3 cannot
    have carrot sticks, celery stick or dried fruits because of choking
    hazzards.
    
    Irene

    Ok, I'll start off with what I do fix (note I tend to stick to simple
    to fix items)
    
    Main items:
    	Individual quiche (quiche has bread, eggs and spinach)
    	Sandwich (meat or pbj) (bread and protein)
    	Chicken nuggets (bread and protein)
    	Soup (bread, vegatables and protein)
    	Spaghetti and meatballs (bread, vegatables and protein)
    	Bagel Pizzas (bread, vegatables and protein)
    
    Vegatables
    	Carrot Sticks (for the older child only)
    	Cucumber slices
    	Zuchini or summer squash (when in season)
    	Brocolli
    	Corn on the Cob
    
    Fruit
    	Anything fresh, especially grapes, bananas and apples
    	Lite fruit cups
    	Applesauce

    
    I partially cook carrot sticks, then chill.  Then Lauren can have
    them.  She also loves cold canned green beans.
    
    Karen

	Kristen likes cold peas - go figure....

	Anyway, a few suggestions:

	Raisons, yogurt, pear or peaches canned in pear juice (not heavy syrup),
	Turkey and Cheese just rolled up (w/o bread),  crackers & cheese,
	Cold grilled cheese (Kristen likes it?)

	Good Luck,
	Karen T.