School Lunches for Toddlers

[Singleparentdad]

My son, Michael, is 3 yrs old and attends an Early Childhood program at a local Christian school. The classes run from 9am to 1pm (MWF) but they do not provide lunch. So the nights before he has class, I find myself pondering what to pack for lunch the following day. I want to provide him with a nutritous and balanced meal but at the same time, give him variety of meals that I know he likes. For a toddler, this isn't the easiest task since they have a handful of things they really enjoy eatting.

I've established a routine of providing him a standard set of school lunch 2 (MW) days of the week and something new on the remaining one day (F).

Because the school does not allow peanuts of any kind due to possbile allergies, things like P&J (which he loves) is off the list.

On the "standard" days, I pack one of the following:

Standard lunch #1:

• Chicken nuggets (precooked kind purchased at the grocery that you can pop into the oven)
• Sliced whole wheat bread
• Cheese stick
• Fruit (banana, jarred peach, apple sauce, strawberries, or yogurt)
• Drink (water, vaccum packed Milk, or Tots apple juice..the kind that is half water)

Standard lunch #2:

• Cold cuts (ham, or turkey)
• Sliced whole wheat bread
• Cheese stick
• Fruit (banana, jarred peach, apple sauce, strawberries, or yogurt)
• Drink (water, vaccum packed Milk, or Tots apple juice..the kind that is half water)

Standard lunch #3:

• Mac & cheese or Grilled cheese sandwich
• Fruit (banana, jarred peach, apple sauce, or strawberries)
• Pudding
• Drink (water, vaccum packed Milk, or Tots apple juice..the kind that is half water)

On the "non-standard" day, I vary the menu depending on recipes I may find on the web, time to prepare the night before, and what I plan for breakfast. It might be anything from steak strips to fried rice to hot dogs (although he LOVES hot dogs, I try to limit his intake to once a month due to health concerns...I've read sodium nitrite that is present in almost all hot dogs could have negative health consequences). How much comes back uneatten is a hit and miss but I figure it's a way to expand his menu.

I always wonder what other parents pack for their kids for lunch. If you pack a school lunch for your toddler, I'd love to hear more about your menus!