I’ve been sharing my kids’ school lunches on facebook quite frequently this year, and in an effort to put all those pictures in one easy-to-reference place they have all been reposted below (2018 update: There are so many of these updates now that I’ve put them together on a School Lunch Roundup Series page).
Also, I seem to get a lot of comments/questions/etc. when I share these on facebook so I’d like to start off by addressing a few of the more common ones…
- I’ve written a post that includes everything you could ever want to know about the colorful “freezie pop molds” that I use frequently to add smoothies to their lunches.
- All of the school lunch supplies we use including the divided lunchbox containers, thermos cups, and freezie pop molds are detailed on my kitchen essentials page. The lunchbox containers fit nicely (with a drink cup) in both Lands End and Old Navy cloth rectangular lunch boxes.
- Some readers ask if these lunches provide enough food for my children and while I am probably not spot-on with portion size 100% of the time, the short answer is “yes.” First of all, “real food” is a lot more filling than highly processed food (especially the refined grain stuff like white flour). Secondly, portion sizes are getting out of control in America and have unfortunately skewed the public’s view of what is appropriate. Thirdly, my children are children (ages 7 and almost 5), and my 1st grader has little more than 15 – 20 minutes to eat (and socialize of course!). Lastly, both my children eat after-school snacks, and my older daughter has oatmeal (in a thermos) for her morning snack everyday less than an hour and a half before lunch. Okay, got that off my chest. :)
- A few occasionally ask if these lunches have enough protein. First of all, part of eating a “real food” diet means you no longer have to count calories, fat grams, protein, carbs, etc. You simply eat a variety of whole foods (including lots of veggies) without “overeating” and the rest will just fall into place. It’s kind of nice not to have to worry about that stuff anymore. But, if you aren’t quite ready to forget about your daily protein intake please know there are MANY sources high in protein aside from just meat products such as yogurt, eggs, cheese, cream cheese, nuts (including peanut butter), seeds (including sunflower butter), and beans. When we switched to a “real food” diet we purposely reduced our meat consumption.
- I make most of the pictured baked goods (like muffins and pancakes) in advance and store them in our freezer. So when I am packing school lunches the night before I just pull out what I need so it can defrost in the fridge overnight. Almost all of the recipes I used can be found on the blog…just use the search box at the top right of the page to find what you are looking for!
- Also, I’d like to note that my 1st grader goes to a peanut/tree nut-free school so I often use sunflower butter and cream cheese as an alternative to peanut butter.
So without further ado here is the School Lunch Roundup! And please feel free to share you “real food” school lunch ideas in the comments below…
These are great! Thank you! And I have a dumb question. You show frozen peas and corn. Do you just put them in frozen and then do they thaw by lunchtime?
Yes, they’ll thaw by lunchtime :) – Nicole
This looks way better than the stuff they used to serve us in school. I remember my school would gives us cinnabuns for breakfast with even more sugar packed juice.
About four years ago, I found your “School Lunch Roundup,” and there were dozens and dozens of lunches. There are many idea here, but where did those other archives go? I loved looking through them for ideas.
They are still there if you do a search for school lunch roudnup. This should get you there: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/?s=school++lunch++roundup
Just wondering your thoughts. A lot of people I know are doing the Paleo diet and I just was curious about your take on it. Thanks so much! Love your site.
Hi there. Lisa loves her whole grains so Paleo is not a way of eating she would choose for her family. Personally, I feel better if I don’t eat many grains or much meat but strongly believe that everyone’s physiology is very different and you have to make the choices that work for you.
You are blessed your kids eat so little, my 5 kids by age 4 would eat more than is in any of those lunches lol By 7 my kids eat a grown man’s portion, none are fat, have way too much energy and we eat whole foods. Ah well, c’est le vie. Someday I ll have leftovers again without cooking double meals lol
When you are eating whole foods you are filled up way more than when you eat processed foods. So it might look like a little amount but you will feel more full if you eat whole.
Your kids are very lucky :D I’m sure they feel very loved! Beautiful & healthy ideas, thanks for sharing.
How do you stop the fruit going brown. Peeled apples and banana’s always go brown in my kids lunch boxes and melon is always off by recess.
Not sure about the bananas or melons, but to keep apples from turning brown just squeeze lemon juice on them. It works perfect every time.
These are so inspiring! I’m having to pack lunches for my preschoolers, and this is really going to help me up my game.
Great post! Thank you so much for your excellent ideas. This is a big help. :)
d is Very Good Food Thank you
It is good to see such a beautiful Eaters ;)
Sadly, a lot of these lunch ideas contain nuts/peanuts/peanut butter and that’s forbidden in schools where I’m from due to allergies.
She mentioned in the post that most of the “nut” butter she used was sunflower butter- her daughter is in a nut-free school.
I noticed that all of the lunches featured were in plastic containters. By now everyone knows of the evils of BPA, so I am sure the containers are BPA free. However, “BPA-free” plastic contains other chemicals that are simply not good for humans, especially growing kids:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/03/tritan-certichem-eastman-bpa-free-plastic-safe
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bpa-free-plastic-containers-may-be-just-as-hazardous/
Hi
I am recently starting as a cook at a daycare, early education center and could use some healthy recipes/ ideas to start my job off on the right foot, while bringing new creations to a somewhat redundant boring menu, any info would be great thanks!!!!
Can I have your bagel recipe? I want to try to make my own and aside from using organic whole wheat flour, I’m not sure how to make the traditional recipe more friendly on my toddler’s system. If that’s the best change I can make, then that’s totally fine. Unless there is organic yeast that I’m not aware of. Thank you!!
Hi there. Lisa does not have a bagel recipe that she feels she’s perfected enough to share. :)
Hi Michele. Lisa’s girls don’t mind if the apple brown a little. You could always use lemon juice or another citrus.
Ooops…I see that the same question was asked earlier, just saw the answer. Thanks.
I love all of your lunches. They look fantastic. I am wondering about the apples. How do you keep them from turning brown & yucky? Please advise.
Thank you.
Hello, I’m looking for suggestions for teenage boy real food lunches. My boys are very active with football, wrestling, baseball, cross country, and any other sport they can find time to play. They can afford larger portions and need the energy. Many of the meals above would work I’d just have to triple the serving sizes? They pack food for lunch and after school before game nights
What do you put on your apples to keep them from turning before lunch? Lemon juice seems to not really hold.
what type of thermos really keeps food warm all the way to lunch?
Hi Cat. I find lemon juice works best but many readers use pineapple juice. Lisa doesn’t worry about the browning and her girls do not mind. :) You can find the thermos brand that Lisa uses here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. ~Amy
I’ve looked, and looked and looked! Is there a recipe for the whole-wheat cinnamon raisin bagel??
Hi Danielle. Sorry, we do not. Lisa has not perfected her bagel recipe. ~Amy
Oh, darn! I’d take imperfect haha I love my bagels
Thank you these are great ideas. We are trying to become more of a “whole food” family my daughter does not like meat and I haven’t pushed her. I love all your ideas for pancake and healthy muffins because these are staples for lunches here I make a lot of zucchini bread for lunch.
Lots of great ideas, however most schools have pb and other nut bans to consider. Parents should check out their particular school’s policies before sending those and possibly harming another child.
Great ideas ~ Especially the apple & pb sandwich… my kids will love that one! Where did you get your bento box? I like the simplicity of the one you used :).
Hi there. It is a Ziplock divided container. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. ~Amy
Where did you get the smoothie tubes? Those are great! What else do you put in them? Thanks
Hello. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. They can be used for any smoothie or popsicle combination. I also sometimes freeze just yogurt in the tubes. ~Amy
I’ve been searching the site for a product you used a while back to hold pizza sauce for a homemade pizza lunchable. It was a reusable clear plastic tube with a zip-lock at one end. I would love to find them!! Thanks…LOVE your site!!!
Hi Andrea. They are called Zipzicles: http://zipzicles.com/. :)
Great ideas – just in time for another school year! Thank you and I hope you don’t mind that I share this post!
These were fun to look at and gave me many great ideas for my lunch. As I was diagnosed with PCOS (Poly cystic ovarian syndrome), it is vital that I eat healthier and cut out processed food. Thank you!
What is your opinion on Hormel All Natural Pepperoni ?!?? Yes or no ? Thanks :)
http://hormel.com/Brands/NaturalChoice/Deli-Meats/HORMEL®-NATURAL-CHOICE®-Sandwich-Style-Uncured-Pep.aspx
Hello again. Lisa’s choice is typically Applegate Farms brand: http://www.applegate.com/ because of their practices.
Thank you !
I noticed you had lunch boxes with at least 3 snacks which means 3 snacks a day? . Basically, we prep a lunch box for lunch and one for snacks?
Hi Michele. Lisa only packs a lunch and one snack, too. ~Amy
Hey- love these ideas.
Where are the recipes for the lunches listed above? I’ve clicked on the pictures and looked around and I can’t find where they are, sorry.
Thanks :)
Hi Megan. Most of the lunches are mix and match from the recipe index: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/recipe-index/. You’ll be able to find others in Lisa’s book coming out next month: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2014/01/02/upcoming-real-food-cookbook-august/. :) ~Amy
Everything looks very good, but won’t the apples turn brown by lunch time? How do you prevent it?
Oh, sorry. I just found the answer. thank you.
:)
I put lemon juice on my apple slices and it doesn’t turn brown.
I’m so jealous that u can send nuts and nut butters Our schools have banned both claiming that it’s too hard to tell if it’s a seed butter or a peanut product – so my vegetarian kids lunches end up looking a tad odd. Thanks for great ideas!!!!!
Sorry – I found the answer in an earlier post! I’ll try pineapple juice. Thanks!
I love all the sliced fresh apple recipes! My daughter loves apples, but because of losing her front teeth, can’t bite into a whole apple. I tried slicing it and splashing it with lemon juice, but she turned up her nose at the “lemony taste” to the apple. Any suggestions on what I can do to the apple slices to prevent browning, but not have them taste lemony?
Hi Lindsay. While lemon does the best at keeping the brown away, many readers has suggested using pineapple juice. ~Amy
The 5th one doesn’t have a caption! Can you tell me what is the white part of the skewers?
I don’t know what happened to the caption – thanks for pointing that out! It’s mozzarella cheese :)
I love the lunches and the fruit, how do you prevent them from browning, just lemon juice?
Hi Toni. Lisa doesn’t usually do anything. The girls don’t mind a bit of browning but lemon will certainly do the trick. ~Amy
Just a question..sorry if Im repeating…..where did you buy those smoothie froze pop holders??? Im in Canada so it might not help but just had to know where you got them.
Hi there. You can find the link to them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/03/19/real-food-tips-4-hints-for-using-freezie-pop-molds/. ~Amy
Hello! This question may have already been asked, but there are 450 comments and I’m hoping you don’t mind answering again, so I don’t have to go trough them all.
My son was intrigued by the picture of the pizza lunchable (I think it is the 11th pic on this post). Is that just slices of homemade baked (plain) pizza crust? Do you make your tomato sauce or buy it?
I went through your recipe index, but could find this exact picture only on this post. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Hi there. Those are whole wheat pita bread cut into triangle and you can use any organic tomato sauce or make your own. Lisa does both. :) ~Amy
I was wondering… what about gluten free ideas?
Hi Christi. You are welcome to adapt any of Lisa’s ideas to work for gluten free needs. This blogger mom has lots of idea, too: http://thepaleomama.com/2013/08/40daysofglutenfreelunche/. ~Amy
Great article…just a quick question where did u get your containers for the lunches?
Hi there. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. :) ~Amy
I’m sure you get this one a lot just like the protein question but the there seems to be a lot of high sugar items in a single lunch. Even though they are natural sugars I do try and limit my daughters sugar intake.
Do you find that cutting out the processed stuff helps balance this out?
Hi Rebecca. Yes, eliminating most processed foods from a child’s diet, especially that which is marketed towards kids, can greatly lessen the sugar they consume. Of course, you don’t want to offer sweet homemade treats all the time, either. But yogurt, muffins, smoothies and such lightly sweetened with unrefined sugars are okay in our book. ~Amy
Hi! Quick question about things like homemade whole wheat veg quesadillas and pizzas (both of which we love and make regularly), or the quick melts on toast (like a pizza melt). Not sure how to deal with them in the lunch box…I see that you guys seem to serve them cold? Are they ice cold (like, just barely defrosted and kept on ice in the lunch box)? Or are you packing them at room temp? We’ve only ever eaten these foods hot and so trying to figure out how they’ll both taste good as leftovers, and keep safely for the 3ish hours they need to before the kiddos eat them in school. Thanks!
Hi Kat. We use ice packs for anything that we are concerned about spoilage or that just taste better cold: eggs, meat, yogurt, some cheeses, dressings, etc. Lisa’s girls eat cold pizza and cold quesadillas regularly as do my two boys. :) ~Amy
Hi Dear, are you really visiting this web site regularly, if so afterward
you will definitely get nice know-how.
This article is awesome. I have 2 kids and I needed some good ideas for healthy lunches and this is very helpful. Went and got these lunch boxes from Amazon at a discount and free shipping: http://amzn.to/1iHUM6S – I couldn’t be happier. Just had to share this link with someone.
How do you handle nut-free zones. So many of these ideas include nut products and my day care forbids them..
Hi Daniele. These posts should help: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/07/07/convincing-a-reluctant-spouse-to-eat-real-food/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/08/22/an-elementary-school-snack-list-%E2%80%93-nut-free/. As an aside, we do not have a nut-free school. We, instead, have 1 nut-free classroom per grade level. ~Amy
Where do you buy the “container” for the frozen smoothie pops? I have never seen that before.
Hello Allisa. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/03/19/real-food-tips-4-hints-for-using-freezie-pop-molds/. ~Amy
Hi there, THANK YOU for all your amazing ideas! The containers alone have made packing lunch so much easier.
I am sure you have answered this somewhere, though I promise I searched – but do you make popcorn ahead? If so, how do you keep it yummy and for how long?
Hi Danielle. I so love popcorn! :) While it is rather simple to make popcorn as you need it, it will keep fine overnight in the bag it was popped in. You can also put it in an airtight container (once it is cooled) and it will stay fresh tasting for a few days. ~Amy
How do you make the cinnamon raisin bagels? I’ve seen the recipe for the cinnamon raisin bread, but would love to see how you use it to make bagels.
Hi Michelle. Lisa has not perfected her bagel recipe yet. :) ~Amy
What is the bread used for the homemade pizzas lunch? Thanks!
Hi. Those are 100% whole wheat pitas cut into triangles. :)
I didn’t see any, but did you make the wholewheat pitas yourself? If not, I have fab recipe!
Hi there. Do share. I think those came from Trader Joe’s. :) ~Amy
Kids lunches?? Shoot, I’m almost 23 and am making notes from this list about which of these things I’d like to bring for my own lunch at work! :) Love the pinwheel kabobs and heart-themed lunches; again, even at my age, it’d put a smile on my face to open my lunch bag and see that!
Awesome…needed some inspiration! My 6 children are a little picky and I have been trying to pack healthy lunches they enjoy for since the first started school. Thank you! Do the pops stay frozen until lunch or are they drinkable…if so do they ever end up leaking?
Hi Lisa. No, they do not stay frozen but they are cold and sometimes slushie. You have to make sure you wedge them in the container as Lisa shows in the photos on this post or they can leak. ~Amy
Wow, I’m so impressed. We switched schools this year and I have to make lunch every day for three kids with very different tastes. Your school lunches post helps me with my biggest problem – coming up with ideas! Thank you!
Hi Courtney. You can use lemon, lime, or other citrus juice. Lemon seems to do the best. ~Amy
Is there a trick to keeping the fruit from turning brown?
oh and ps..costco has a KILLER deal on Organic frozen choppped mangoes…10$ for a HUGE bag!!they are super good in everything from rice to fruit salad to plain frozen or plain thawed out!
Hi, I have three kids and I made 100% of their school lunches last year, everyday with out fail. All from whole unprocessed foods…luckily for my kiddos, they get a full 30 minutes to eat and a snack..so I have to pack bigger lunches(and my 7 year old is a rail thin bottomless pit-his lunches are also gluten and dairy free as well)…..for people who think it can’t be done..I have two words-FRUITS and VEGGIES!! filling, easy, quick, healthy, a whole apple, a couple kiwis…carrots and hummus…you can do it moms and dads!! We lived in South Korea for a year, and there is little to no “kid food” there….good job on feeding them such healthy meals..nourishing IS nurturing! which is at the core of parenting…My oldest is in middle schools and they serve greasy pizza, fries and hot cheetos EVERYDAY-plus all sorts of other bad things you can by…little to zero fresh fruit or veggies..and the amount of obese children in her school is —staggering–there is just no other word for. It’s tragic-and the health of children should be a concern for national security IMO.
Where do you find the frozen pops holders ?
Hello Kim. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. ~Amy
Could you give us the recipes for the muffins you use in the kids lunch.
Hi Wendy. You can find all our muffin/bread recipes in the recipe index: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/recipe-index/. Here are a couple: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/real-food-resources/recipe-index/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/02/recipe-whole-wheat-banana-bread/. ~Amy
Enjoyed your ideas for school lunches. I worked for a number of years in the school kitchen, it is disgruntling what we feed the children. I talked until I was blue in the face finally I left the job and I pack all my grandchildrens lunches from scratch. Thanks for the ideas keep up the good work
A quick question about the frozen peas and corn…are they really just thawed out and not cooked? That would really be “easy peasy”!
Hello Lori. Yep, that’s the truth! :) ~Amy
No not all schools ban peanut butter. Honestly I have not heard of any school in my area where it is banned..some classrooms are nut free but not the entire school .HOWEVER my question is regarding the eggs. Are they keep cool enough with just an ice pack? I would love to pack deviled eggs for my child but would worry they would not stay cold enough. Thanks for all the ideas!
Hi there. I always go a little overboard with ice packs when I send eggs. :) ~Amy
Awesome ideas and just what I needed. Thanks!!
Soaking the apples in apple juice should help with any browning issue
Loved the great ideas, unfortunately all school’s ban peanut butter.
That isn’t true at all! My son’s school has no ban on peanut foods. If there were no reported allergies, for instance, why would they ban it?
I love your frozen smoothie idea! Where do you get those molds for them?
Hi there. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. ~Amy
I see you have a lot of fruit in the lunches. How do you keep it from turning? My daughter loves apples etc but they look so gross by the time lunch arrives.
Hi Angela
I dont work for her but i have seen her answer this a lot so i figured i would pass along the answer lol.
She doesn’t do anything to them..her kids dont mind if they turn a little brown.
as for me… we sometimes dip them into orange juice so that they dont turn brown. My kids also dont mind if they turn a little brown. they know that its just how nature works
Lime and lemon juice works as well and I like the flavor it ads to fruit :) I always add lime juice to my fruit salads.
…and another reader recently suggested pineapple juice. :) ~Amy
Great lunch ideas, however I do not know one school that allows peanut butter sandwiches (allergies) our school also does not allow popcorn because of choking risks!
My daughters school does. Not every child is allergic to peanut butter. They have lunch tables for kids with allergies and if there is a kid with an allergy they will put a restriction on that CLASS. But not all schools ban peanuts. My daughter has an allergy to red dye.. should we tell them to ban anything with red dye for the entire school?
My daughter has a peanut/almond allergy and I am so glad her school is Nut Free! I’m sure it is inconvenient for parents whose kid does not have an allergy but it is for the safety of those who are. Red dye allergies are not life threatening
Ok, this may be a dumb question, but I’m curious about the frozen peas and corn. Do you buy store bought bags of frozen peas/corn or do you cook them then freeze them at home? And surely they are thawed in the lunchbox before your kids eat them, right?
I have a 7 year old daughter that is a VERY picky eater. I’m trying to get healthy ideas of things she will eat!
Hi Kristi. You can use organic frozen peas and corn or buy fresh and freeze. My kids have a definite preference for baby peas. They do thaw by lunch time. :) ~Amy
Hello!
I came across your blog today and loved it!!
I wanted to reach out to you about advertising on your blog.
I am a consultant for Arbonne, a company specializing in
pure, safe and beneficial skincare, make-up and health
and wellness products for the ENTIRE family. I believe
we are THE best kept secret and want to share with others
these amazing products that are formulated without parabens,
animal by-products (EW!), PABA, Gluten, formaldehyde and
petroleum-based ingredients.
The BEST part is that they deliver amazing results for anti-aging,
acne, hyper-pigmentation, age spots, energy, weight loss, hormone
issues, eczema in adults and children, just to name a few.
I’d love to “gift” you with a few samples if you are interested!!
You can also check my website out at:
jeanneshepherd.myarbonne.com
We also have a very generous income opportunity that is perfect
for moms to work into the nooks and crannies of their lives
to build a business that allows them not only financial freedom,
but the flexibility to be there for their family!!
I look forward to hearing from you! Have a wonderful evening!
Jeanne Shepherd
Hi Lisa! I love visiting your website to find fun lunches for my big 1st Grader (*sniff*). I had a question about the frozen peas/carrots you add to lunches sometimes. Do you buy organic or do you consider gmo’s at all? That has become a big consideration in our family lately and just wondered your opinion:) Thank you for all you offer for healthy eating!!!!
Hello, love all the ideas for lunches. I am in the process of planning my kids’ lunch menus. I like the pancake idea and I was wondering if you make them fresh in the morning or make them the night before and freeze them? If so, do they thaw out ok? Are they soggy? I thought I saw a waffle sandwhich on here and that is what we have decided to do but was worried what it would look and taste like by the time my kids got to lunch.
Thanks! :)
Hi there. You can do it either way. I like to have all the parts all ready to go and then assemble the sandwich in the morning. Enjoy. ~Amy
Thank you for so many great options to switch up lunches! For this school year I made a “menu” for my 9 year old to choose her lunches for the week. First day of school today and her lunch was a carrot coconut pancake with syrup, raspberries and oranges, and yogurt. When I asked her how her lunch was she said she loved it — along with the kids sitting next to her who said, “you are so lucky!” That made my day!
i often worry about sending items such as meat, eggs, sandwiches with myo because of temperature issues. Can you offer suggestions on how you maintain proper temps to prevent any food poisoning? especially hard boiled eggs… my daughter loves eggs!
Hi, I am wondering how long your kids are at school for? My daughter is dropped off at 9 and doesn’t get home from school until almost 5pm. She attends the breakfast program there if she wants (it’s a mostly healthy snack), and then has 2 lunch breaks – one at 11, and one at 1:30. This doesn’t seem like enough food to sustain a child (or at least my child) for that long. I send her (mostly) real food and she is still ravenous when she gets home.
I work as a substitute teacher so I’m in and out of lots of different schools everyday, and I see a lot of kids lunches and I can’t even imagine that those kids are not starving when they get home as well. White bread sandwiches with cheese whiz or sugary jam (all schools here are nut free so no peanut butter), and then 4-5 “treats” (pre-packaged cookies, bars, ‘fruit snacks’, jello etc). Or, my favourite, a lunchable – and then, again, 4-5 “treats”! Oh how I despise lunchables! Your posts are an inspiration for the lunches I send.
Hi Keri. Our school day is 7:30 – 1:45 with a morning snack and a lunch break. The kids are typically ready for a hearty healthy snack when they get home. ~Amy
I noticed that you send apples already sliced and “apple sandwiches”, Do you do anything to preserve the apples so they don’t turn brown or are your children not bothered f they brown by lunch?
It’s my question too.
Hi there. Lisa uses lemon to keep the brown away. Here is her recipe: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/21/how-to-make-an-apple-sandwich/. Enjoy. ~Amy
Lisa, this post was awesome! I’m a college student that has totally revolutionized my eating habits this summer and I have been looking for lunches I can make in my dorm this fall. These lunches totally inspired me!!
Hi Susan. This post will answer your question: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/24/my-favorite-school-lunch-supplies/. ~Amy
What type of container is used to hold the whole lunch? I’m sure it has already been answered, I am just new to your blog. Thanks :)
My first kid will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall, and I have been having neurotic anxiety about routine and prep. Not only does your blog and all your ideas, including these amazing lunches, make me feel better, but I am SO EXCITED. Thank you for that!
My apologies if I’ve missed it, but what containers are being used to hold the smoothies? Love that idea!
Hi Laura. Here ya go: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/03/19/real-food-tips-4-hints-for-using-freezie-pop-molds/. ~Amy
I noticed that a lot of the meals have pb and the snacks have nuts…but most schools have a no nut/peanut policy…do you have a suggestion for a substitute besides sunflower butter (which would get a bit repetitive as it is already in a lot of the other things)?
Hello Jen. These posts will give you some ideas: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/08/22/an-elementary-school-snack-list-%E2%80%93-nut-free/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/01/recipe-homemade-larabars-4-ways-including-nut-free/. ~Amy
Even organic corn can be contaminted with GMO’s now; we just do not eat anything with corn or any corn. I prefer to make cookies and bread using organic gluten free flour. I am not so optimistic about any type of wheat at all. Again, we use glass containers only. I love how lunches are decorated. They are very nice!
I have been using your pictures and recreating meals for my kids at daycare. I have a question though – what do you do about the cold (frozen the night before) foods such as peas? Do your kids eat them cold or will the school warm them up? That part I am confused on! Thanks!
Hello Jessica. Nothing gets heated at school. Lisa’s girls like the cold peas. :) The things Lisa packs are eaten cold or at room temperature unless she packs something warm in a thermos. ~Amy
I would like the homemade WW cinnamon raisin bagel recipe too! I cant believe I missed it somehow I’ve been following for over a yr!
Hi Jaci. Lisa has not yet perfected the recipe enough to share. Maybe in the future? ~Amy
Can you give me the recipe for your Homemade whole-wheat cinnamon raisin bagel please? I cant find it on your website.
Hi Laura. We’ve not perfected this recipe just yet. When we do, we will share. :) ~Amy
Any tips on how to get my kids to try new stuff? Hard boiled egg? They won’t even eat scrambled :(
Hi Michelle. Lisa has done several posts on picky eaters. Here are a couple to get you started: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/09/09/real-food-tips-12-ways-to-deal-with-a-picky-eater/ and https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/08/19/winning-over-your-picky-eater/. Hope those help. ~Amy
I recently got my 3 yr old to try an egg. I think a lot of it just takes time, but what worked for us was introducing “dipping”. He started off trying all new foods this way. Give him a side of ketchup and he would dip anything (whatever new food it was) into it to try it. Now, he’s getting away from dipping so much, but still does it frequently with preferred foods. Since going gluten free (and eating more real food) he now eats almost 100% of what we give him at each meal. LOVE IT! He was the pickiest kid ever not long ago (before GF and real food he wouldn’t eat fast food at all, french fries, pizza, or anything else kids like). I guess he knew he wanted real food before we did! haha
I use your system and read food ideas for my 2 year old every day for daycare. I usually don’t get to see how well she eats, but last night I made her dinner using the bento containers and real food and took her to a work event with me. I was so impressed that she ate every single bite (organic mashed sweet potato with a little real maple syrup, organic hummus, whole wheat crackers, organic cheese stick, and organic raisins with dried cranberries). She ate this while everyone else had pizza, chips, and soda. I am so glad I always plan ahead.
You are truly an inspiration! I work in child nutrition and it is a constant struggle to get the school lunches anywhere near something of this nutritional caliber. Kudos!