https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:53:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1420292 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 12:01:31 +0000 jedeve 1420292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have to pack a lunch, but I'd probably put stuff in there that he wouldn't eat at home just to a) see if he would eat it daycare (you never know!) and b) look like a good mom and have daycare think that he is just picky when he is there. :silly: Because yeah, all he would eat for me is cheerios, pouches, and white bread. Except he is over cheerios now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1420239 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:44:12 +0000 Corduroy 1420239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the input! I'm sure once I get started packing the breakfast, lunch &amp; snacks will just be one more part of my day. It's always helpful to hear from people that are already doing it. Every time LO hits a new phase and there's a new task it feels impossible but then we adjust. I just had a little freak out. </p> <p>Hopefully, I'll stop pumping at work soon so I can use the pump part washing &amp; packing time for food prep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1420224 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:40:54 +0000 Corduroy 1420224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: Good point. I need to ask about allergens. My LO reacted to egg yolk early on so she hasn't had egg, dairy, fish, shellfish, or tree nuts as requested by her allergist. I feel pretty limited but fortunate that she hasn't actually reacted to most of those foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419795 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:28:32 +0000 mrs.cookie 1419795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: absolutely - it's us that are the issue here (Penny is allergic to eggs, dairy, soy and nuts, and is coeliac) but lots of daycares and schools have special rules. My sons kindy is totally nut free. Ironically Tim is allergic to wheat and dairy which are allowed. But we keep a stash of allergy friendly cupcakes in the kindergarten freezer, and he knows not to eat something without asking. Penn on the other hand... That girl is trouble :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419776 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:23:11 +0000 regberadaisy 1419776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.cookie: brings a good point. Check to see what the food rules are at the new daycare.</p> <p>My daycare allows absolutely NO eggs or nuts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419771 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:22:13 +0000 mrs.cookie 1419771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, I also make mini egg muffins (egg, ham, zucchini) for my son, and tiny pies for both kids, in big batches, then freeze them. You can pop the frozen mini pie/quiche straight into the lunchbox and it'll thaw by lunch.<br /> We use the YumBox, the Boon trunk cargo lunchbox (my son's favourite but doesn't fit well in lunch bags) and little tupperwares. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419758 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:18:45 +0000 mrs.cookie 1419758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't be intimidated!! I love doing some fancy bentos sometimes, but mostly it's things that can be put together easily. I do prep bits and pieces for a few days running, such as cut up, lightly steamed veggies. But the usual for my 18mo is:<br /> Protein: sausages, ham, hamburger (cut up)<br /> Grain: we are gf, so gf pasta, rice crackers, rice<br /> Veges: carrot sticks, peas, corn cob or kernel, roast veges<br /> Fruit: berries<br /> I also send a banana, some rice cakes and a pouch, usually a happy baby mama grain or similar.<br /> P is dairy, soy, egg, gluten free... But if I could I'd put in boiled eggs, cheese, etc.<br /> my son the super picky eater gets some cut up veges, but I always put in a nice plain sandwich for him, a banana and a yoghurt pouch. Simple, quick and easy.<br /> I make their lunches the night before and then pack with an ice pack.<br /> And I try my best not to freak if a lot comes home again... That's the hard part I find!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419705 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:55:20 +0000 regberadaisy 1419705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We pack her lunch every day and she eats leftovers like we do for lunch. I use a click tite container plus silicone cupcake liners. One protein, veg, other (usually starch) and a fruit.</p> <p>We keep in the freezer as back up peas, edemame, fish balls. All hits for her when we had enough leftovers. </p> <p>She's 21m but has been eating like this pretty much since 1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419677 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:28:42 +0000 hellobeeboston 1419677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We usually do a pouch (yogurt or oatmeal) leftovers, some cheese, cut fruit or banana, some puffs or something, and frozen peas or veggie burger or something... It's so hard sometimes! I keep a few frozen items on hand that are fast - Dr Praegers veggie burgers and zucchini or sweet potato bites or fishies are a big hit and easy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419669 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:24:34 +0000 mrsbookworm 1419669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about making mini frittatas in muffin tins? You can make them on the weekend and then freeze some. That way you can get some veggies along with your protein. If you send that and some sort of fruit and cheerios, you'd have all the food groups :happy:<br /> My LO will eat them at any temperature... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419668 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:24:25 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1419668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before we switched daycares right around when they turned 1, I had to pack LOs' lunches. Not going to lie, between breakfast, lunch and dinner, it was a lot to prep every night. </p> <p>My go-to staples for protein were skinless polish sausage cut up, frozen turkey burger patties that I could broil, turkey hot dogs cut up, grilled chicken cut up.</p> <p>For veggies, I would do sweet potato fries with olive oil and cinnamon, steamed squash, steamed carrots, steamed cauliflower ... for some reason, they don't care for green veggies as much. </p> <p>I'd also do mac and cheese, veggie pasta noodles, cubed cheese ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419655 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:10:08 +0000 dagret 1419655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually leftovers! I always kept ham and peas on hand in case we didn't have leftovers on hand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419642 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 07:40:41 +0000 travellingbee 1419642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm concerns about this too because we think we are doing day care in the fall and we'd have to provide lunches. Right now (with the nanny) he eats things that need to be heated like leftovers and frozen turkeydogs/meatballs. Not sure they have a microwave for kids lunches... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419631 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 07:22:50 +0000 matador84 1419631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually throw in frozen fruit, frozen peas, a pouch, some yogurt, applesauce, a turkey/cheese roll up, pasta. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419542 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 02:03:30 +0000 pl0508 1419542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Turkey or chicken deli sliced and torn into pieces<br /> Mandarin oranges<br /> Shredded cheese<br /> Sometimes some sweet English peas<br /> When at home I will tear up some bread<br /> Some sort of pouch. Usually applesauce or fruit purée. He usually eats yogurt for bfast but if he doesn't I'll send that instead of a fruit pouch </p> <p>Other mealtime hits : chicken salad and bbq pulled pork </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419536 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 01:41:07 +0000 tysonja 1419536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>oh man... that sounds like a lot of work! huge applause to wohm/d's and especially those who have to pack lunches and snacks for their toddlers...</p> <p>i sah, so i'm usually just grabbing random food out of the fridge as he eats during lunchtime... however, if i were in your situation, maybe i would try pre-preparing a bunch of food for a few days in advance? such as pre cutting/pre steaming carrot sticks, broccoli, sweet potato and storing it in tupperware in the fridge. i'd also buy a huge pack of cheese strings, maybe divide a box of crackers/rice cakes/etc into individual tupperware/baggies, and yes, stock up on puree pouches! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419532 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 01:27:35 +0000 lemondrop 1419532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ha, ha I like the way you think ;) Our main lunch staples: peeled/segmented cuties, yogurt, a string cheese stick, a tub of applesauce. </p> <p>Mine is very moody with food, I'd rather he eat SOMETHING than try to force the perfectly balanced organic diet that we see so often.</p> <p>I found a few good lists on Pinterest for toddler food ideas. If you have refrigeration available, my little guy also loves cottage cheese. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lets-get-real-what-do-you-pack-for-your-1-yos-lunch#post-1419530 Thu, 13 Feb 2014 01:24:45 +0000 Corduroy 1419530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO starts a new daycare at the end of the month and I'm going to have to start packing snacks and lunches. The logistics of this are just starting to hit me. As I took to the blog archive and boards for inspiration and got super intimidated with all the bento posts.. </p> <p>That's all GREAT but I'm looking for more bare bones guidance. I cook every night but I have no interest in making lunches into masterpieces (apologies to my own mother, who made my carrots and cheese into flowers before it was cool).</p> <p>I'd love recommendations on...<br /> Favorite lunchbox/system<br /> Posts/sites about easy lunch ideas<br /> Reassurance that not every kid's lunch is going to look like artwork </p> <p>Is it unheard of to stick a puree pouch and a baggie of cheerios in a paper bag? </p>