https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 01:47:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474484 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:59:01 +0000 Kimberlybee 2474484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following for inspiration! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474480 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:58:31 +0000 gingerbebe 2474480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, I've also made these for my son:</p> <p><a href="http://markbittman.com/recipe/vegetable-pancakes/" rel="nofollow">http://markbittman.com/recipe/vegetable-pancakes/</a></p> <p>I just add a tad more flour and add 1/4 cup of grated cheese like Parmesan to make them bind better. I steam/cook/microwave the veggies and squeeze out all the excess water first and then make the batter portion (I usually just use frozen veggies like chopped spinach, corn, peas, some grated carrot, etc). It makes a decent sized batch and with the cheese and egg, its pretty substantial. I make a double batch and freeze them and then pop them in the toaster oven for 10 minutes when I want to eat them. They taste fine at room temp and are dip friendly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474463 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:54:33 +0000 gingerbebe 2474463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: You totally can make the tortilla rolls in advance! You can get whole grain tortillas or Flatout breads, spread them with a spreadable cheese, like cream cheese, Boursin, or Laughing Cow cheese. You can add grated carrots or baby spinach at the bottom of the tortilla, then top the veggies with meat, and then when you tuck/roll the whole thing, the cheese will act as a glue and will also prevent the veggies from sogging up the tortilla. You just have to make sure not to cover the entire surface of the cheese with other toppings so it can adhere to the tortilla portion as you roll. </p> <p>You can wrap them up tightly in plastic wrap and then slice them into "sushi" type pinwheels and even pin them with toothpicks if you like.</p> <p>We use these type of containers for our own lunches and leftovers and they work really well. Cheap enough that if they get lost or broken, no big deal, but they are definitely reusable, freezer safe, diswasher safe, and microwave safe (BPA free).</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reditainer-3-Compartment-Microwave-Container-Divided/dp/B00TUWF6DU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1456422707&#038;sr=8-3&#038;keywords=compartment+containers" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Reditainer-3-Compartment-Microwave-Container-Divided/dp/B00TUWF6DU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1456422707&#038;sr=8-3&#038;keywords=compartment+containers</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474434 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:47:37 +0000 Ms maths 2474434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One other idea for veggies:</p> <p><a href="http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015211-lunchbox-harvest-muffins" rel="nofollow">http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015211-lunchbox-harvest-muffins</a></p> <p>We make these alot and have cut some of the sugar and fat successfully. They are a kid hit around here! And freeze well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474429 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:46:47 +0000 Freckles 2474429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/tortilla-rollups/" rel="nofollow">http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/tortilla-rollups/</a> Mine hated them, but i know other kids who like them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474425 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:45:52 +0000 pregnantbee 2474425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are so boring. Luckily my son will eat a sandwich -- I literally make him a sunflower butter and jelly sandwich every day! Ugh. Need to branch out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474420 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:44:30 +0000 ShootingStar 2474420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We usually do some sort of "main dish" packed in a take n toss container. It usually deli meat, but occasionally it's leftovers from dinner. We'll also pack a cheese stick, a veggie pouch (only way he eats veggies), a yogurt and a fruit cup. </p> <p>Occasionally I'll send something warm, like chicken nuggets. We have a thermos container like this <a href="http://www.target.com/p/thermos-funtainer-food-jar/-/A-14386263#prodSlot=medium_1_7&#038;term=funtainer" rel="nofollow">http://www.target.com/p/thermos-funtainer-food-jar/-/A-14386263#prodSlot=medium_1_7&#038;term=funtainer</a> and we heat up the chicken and throw it in, and it keeps the food warm for hours. Some things he just won't eat cold. When I'm desperate or out of food I do it with hot dogs too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474406 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:41:04 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2474406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: Hmm, good idea. I will have to try it. I bet if I used the big Tortillas I could make 2 big ones and use it for almost 4 lunches. Then I need to figure out what veggies I could sneak in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474401 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:38:18 +0000 Freckles 2474401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Yes, you can make it ahead of time and wrap it with saran wrap to ensure it doesn't dry out. It actually tastes better with some time in the fridge anyways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474371 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:29:39 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2474371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont know that I necessarily care that she gets a "hot" lunch, but I want to make sure she's still getting a good balance of healthy foods and exposure to new foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474367 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:28:33 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2474367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: Thanks! I'm thinking I could have a batch of things like this cooked up and in the freezer so at least one day a week I could pull this out. </p> <p>@Ms maths: I never thought about shrimp but yea that would be easy and a good option. Raw veggies seem to be very hit or miss. AKA she likes carrots but doesn't really choose to eat them unless we make her. Not sure how to combat this. </p> <p>@Freckles: Any idea if a roll up can be made ahead? I'm trying to think of things that I could make up 2-3 and have to pull out. </p> <p>I would love to get a Yumbox but not sure if its worth the cost. We have the Planet Box (annoying to wash all the containers each night). I really like our Easy Lunch kits (3 compartments, 1 lid and cheap so we have a set of 4 of them). So I will probably look to do those. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474309 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:11:41 +0000 gingerbebe 2474309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Will she do a Lunchables type thing where she'll eat crackers instead of bread? You could send salami or turkey pepperoni and cheese with crackers, or jam and some kind of nut butter with crackers or rice cakes, or hummus with pita triangles or pita chips with other veggies to dip. </p> <p>Cold pasta salads could be good and made in advance in batches. Fun pasta shapes, chickpeas, baked tofu, chunks of cheese, veggies, olives, etc. in a vinaigrette style dressing or pesto. Or an Asian style noodle salad with soy-ginger or sesame dressing.</p> <p>Potstickers taste pretty good cold. As do corndog mini muffins (just make mini muffins using cornbread mix and add a piece of hotdog to the middle before baking and send a packet of ketchup). You can do the same for pancake batter and breakfast sausage with some jam as a breakfast-for-lunch type thing.</p> <p>I agree a Thermos might be worth investing in if you want to send a warm meal for lunch, like mac n' cheese or soup or stew. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2474134 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:23:12 +0000 Freckles 2474134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about tortilla rollups with turkey meat and cheese? It has protein and it tastes good cold.</p> <p>Otherwise i would think about getting a good insulated thermos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473961 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:34:05 +0000 Ms maths 2473961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Proteins that we do--our kids are in daycare but we have to pack lunch for them--deli meat, leftover sausage, edamame, cooked shrimp.</p> <p>Other items include cheese, cheddar crackers, raw mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, fruit (apple slices, chunks of frozen mango that thaw in their bags, clementines, strawberries, blueberries), cooked cold tortellini.</p> <p>Their lunch sacks are insulated, but otherwise they are not kept cool until lunch time. It's only 3-4 hours from taking the lunch out of the fridge until they eat it, so we're not worried about spoilage.</p> <p>We have a Yumbox that seems like a nice set-up for standard school setting. (We got it for LO1 who refuses to use it currently :) Right now, he has small containers that he dumps onto a plate at daycare. We're saving the Yumbox for regular school.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473879 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:00:30 +0000 T-Mom 2473879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I use my DD's planet box a lot to get a variety of foods but not necessarily have big main item. Today she got a small bagel sandwich with deli meat and cheese, half a hard boiled egg, apples, raisins, and some carrot sticks. She doesn't eat sandwiches that well, but she likes it when it's different like a wrap or on a bagel thin. Sometimes we do breakfast leftovers like bacon or pig in a blanket too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473852 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:42:27 +0000 yin 2473852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always pack leftovers for lunch - protein, grain, two sides of veggies, and a fruit. We use a PackIt freezable lunch bag to keep his food cold, and he is used to eating food unheated (one of the things you have to learn when you have food allergies and not having accommodations outside of the house). Sometimes I pack soups and warm foods in a Thermos for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473838 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:36:08 +0000 JoJoGirl 2473838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always pack a protein (grilled chicken/chicken nuggets/cut up hot dog/deli meat/turkey meatballs), a cheese stick, crackers, raisins, and some veggies. The lunch comes out of the fridge at 8am and has an ice pack til they eat it at noon, so the meat doesn't go bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473832 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:34:34 +0000 Mamaof2 2473832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>how about deli meat? turkey, ham, or bologna</p> <p>Yogurt is good</p> <p>DS likes jerky</p> <p>I also give DS Fair Life chocolate milk - it has low sugar and extra protein </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473817 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:30:26 +0000 LBee 2473817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our go-to is pumpkin carrot muffins! </p> <p><a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/carrot-and-pumpkin-muffins-498155" rel="nofollow">http://www.food.com/recipe/carrot-and-pumpkin-muffins-498155</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473816 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:29:46 +0000 winniebee 2473816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to pack a lunch for T and I usually pack: yogurt, piece of fruit, some snack item (granola bar, crackers, cereal bar, pretzels) and often times pack leftovers in a thermos. If you buy the right type of thermos and fill it with hot water first and then put the food in hot, it stays warm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/make-ahead-school-lunch#post-2473809 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 09:27:14 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2473809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm trying to think ahead of school lunches I can pack for DD when she starts K next year. Snacks and sides are easy (piece of fruit, etc), so I'm really looking for the main dish. As far as I know, I would assume it needs to be a cold lunch (no microwave) and something that can just be kept on a ice pack. She's had a hot lunch at school since she was a baby and she doesn't eat sandwiches well. I will check but I'm pretty sure peanut butter and nuts are ok. </p> <p>Thinking things like protein dense muffins, maybe smoothies, etc. Suggestions? What do you pack for lunches? </p>