https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:52:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866188 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 16:21:52 +0000 MuzzyBee 2866188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6yo gets similar morning tea/lunch/after school snack every day: I have a Tupperware lunchbox that has 1 big, 1 medium and 2 small compartments.<br /> Medium: Baby carrots, baby cucumber,<br /> Small: Boiled egg &amp; either Small biscuit, apricot or small fruit cereal snack<br /> Big: either Cheese sandwich/bread roll, cheese quesadilla or egg roll up (I think it was Mrs Blue that posted about it years ago and it’s been a staple here!!) thin omelette with cheese sprinkled on and rolled up like sushi - have added ham, little bits of bacon, baby spinach as well.<br /> Squeezed in somewhere: Yoghurt pouch &amp; Banana</p> <p>(So this is from 8-4ish every day - but our after school care provider will give her fruit/Pb sandwich if she’s still hungry - sometimes the lunchbox comes home empty and she’s had an apple and a sandwich as well, other times it comes home nearly full) 🤷‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866122 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 10:42:23 +0000 Jellyfish 2866122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: we use the thermos food jar. similar to this one, but ours is many years old <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Funtainer-Ounce-Food-Purple/dp/B00CBFAE5I" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Funtainer-Ounce-Food-Purple/dp/B00CBFAE5I</a><br /> I just fill it with boiling water for 5-10 mins, pour out the water and then put the food in... it seems to stay warm till lunchtime! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866072 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:56:14 +0000 MrsSRS 2866072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today was salami and chicken slices with mustard to dip, cheese cubes, cucumber and bell pepper, pretzels, a rice cake with cream cheese, clementines, and a Hershey kiss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866025 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:52:19 +0000 cake2017 2866025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jellyfish: This sounds like my 18 month old. He won’t do sandwiches. I need to look into getting a thermal. Any suggestions? I’m thinking maybe it’s better than always using the microwave? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866011 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 17:21:57 +0000 periwinklebee 2866011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All great ideas! Thanks everyone for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866009 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 17:10:03 +0000 Autumnmama79 2866009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: My daycare lady strongly suggested leftovers (its hearty and is warmed up) so thats what DS gets. Along with an applesauce or yogurt cup and some fruit or raw veg. Really low prep and it forces me to make a proper meal the night before so that theres good leftovers for his lunch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866002 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:59:09 +0000 Foodnerd81 2866002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5 yo is still pretty picky, so lunches are incredibly not interesting. Luckily her school allows peanut butter. So most days she has either a peanut butter and honey sandwich, or apple slices with a single serve peanut butter container to dip. Or she will eat a bagel or english muffin with cream cheese. I usually add a fruit or apple sauce cup, and a cheese stick. Sometimes I add crackers or an individual pack of annies bunnies.<br /> She also likes when I send cereal with milk. I put the cold milk in the thermos and the cereal in a ziploc. I never had luck warming things up in the morning and putting them in the thermos though. </p> <p>@Mommy Finger: I have similar sandwich cutters as @erinbaderin: and they really are easy. Mine cut almost to the crust, so my kids actually eat MORE because they always leave a border near the crust and refuse to eat the actual crusts. </p> <p>For my 3 yo, she doesn't eat at school, but I often end up feeding her in the car after school, on the way to pick up big sister. It has to be easy to hold, not too messy, and not a big choking hazard. So most days she gets a pbj sandwich (cut into dinosaurs, naturally) and a fruit, like a clementine I already peeled, or cut berries, or a pouch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2866001 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:31:31 +0000 Jellyfish 2866001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS won't eat sandwiches so it makes life very difficult. Usually it's leftover pasta or chicken nuggets in a thermos, diced avocado, string cheese, and a fruit (slice apples, grapes, blueberries). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865970 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 11:43:03 +0000 KT326 2865970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first grader: cut up chicken and apple sausage (previously cooked, he will eat it cold) with ketchup, cucumbers and bell peppers.</p> <p>2 year old: leftover chicken thigh from dinner, broccoli and an orange. I also pack yogurt and an apple for morning snack. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865968 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 11:35:46 +0000 erinbaderin 2865968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mommy Finger: We have these: <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Sandwich-Bread-Cutter-Shapes-kids/dp/B01LYEDBX1" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.ca/Sandwich-Bread-Cutter-Shapes-kids/dp/B01LYEDBX1</a> (or at least, more or less those) - it's so easy! And increases the chance of the food getting eaten by at least 50%. Or else I use small cookie cutters, but that's more of a hassle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865966 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 11:20:43 +0000 Mommy Finger 2865966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: How are you going to call yourself lazy when you cut your sandwiches into shapes! :)</p> <p>DS1 is in kinder so this is the first year I've had to pack a lunch for him. For the first half of the year, he always had a muffin (usually made with veggies), string cheese, a few crackers, 2 hard boiled egg whites, a fruit and a veg. Now that he just went back to school, he asked for a turkey and cheese sandwich, apple slices and frozen green beans that thaw by the time lunch happens. I have the bentgo boxes that worked for the snacky lunch he first had. Now I better use the sort of bento boxes that I got from Ikea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865962 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 11:05:59 +0000 Iced Tea 2865962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really plan lunches in advance, I just throw little bits of this and that into the divided lunchbots containers. My kids don't like sandwiches. </p> <p>Usually one thing leftover from dinner, fruit, cheese, and veggies cut into shapes (this is the only hope my 3 year old will try any). Sometimes I will put yogurt or applesauce into a reusable Squeazie. That's it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865958 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:39:13 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2865958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Usually leftovers - spaghetti, lasagna, meatloaf. If I don't have good leftovers, then a sunbutter and jelly sandwich or a hot dog.</p> <p>I give a side of fruit and a veg. We use silicone cupcake liners to separate if necessary. </p> <p>Kids both handle the food cool as it was in the fridge until we leave and just sitting out at daycare. DH eats a lot of food cold as well.</p> <p>Today was leftover enchilada for the 23 mo old and meatloaf for the 4 yr old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865957 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:25:47 +0000 Beehive 2865957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do bentos, which actually make it really easy - so we'll have whatever protein we have left over from dinner (chicken, turkey, salmon, etc), veggies in a couple compartments (tomato, avocado with lemon juice so it doesn't turn brown, those little snack peppers), cheese cubes, sliced pita bread (when we have it) or cucumber sticks in the long compartment, and a strawberry or a couple blackberries in the middle circle. Sometimes we'll put things like plain pasta with a little olive oil in one of the compartments. It's pretty quick to assemble (especially if you slice the cucumber and peppers on Monday). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865952 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:14:16 +0000 Anagram 2865952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today my kids have homemade fettuccine alfredo with shrimp for lunch in their thermoses (leftovers from dinner last night). For snacks, they have a banana and a granola bar.</p> <p>Every single night, I make extra dinner and pack the kids' lunches for the next day at the same time I plate their dinner. Easy peasy. Tonight we are having crunchy baked fish with sweet potato fries and a brussell sprout saute, so that will be in their lunch tomorrow. If the foods work better if they are separated a bit, I use the silicone cupcake liners to separate the sides from the main. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865949 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:08:36 +0000 cyoung 2865949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yesterday my son had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a banana for lunch. Snack he had some animal crackers. He had watered down apple juice to drink. He doesnt like just water or just juice so I mix them. My son is 2 btw. We try to keep it simple cause he has texture issues and i know he'll eat a sandwich. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865941 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:50:17 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2865941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thankfully daycare has a microwave E is 14 months and fairly easy to please<br /> E today got egg muffins (I make scrambled eggs in a mini muffin tins and bake at 400 for 10ish min then freeze and pull out 2-3 per day) and red pepper slices for breakfast<br /> lunch was shredded chicken sweet potato puffs (tator tots made with sweet potatoes) and green beans<br /> snacks grapes and a cheese stick<br /> Other hits quesadilla, mini meatballs and pasta, leftovers, chicken sausages, ham and cheese pinwheels made with puff pastry<br /> snack usually includes fruit and veggies go with breakfast and lunch<br /> I typically make batches of stuff and then freeze and daycare heats it up </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865938 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:27:08 +0000 periwinklebee 2865938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These are all awesome ideas! LO is very sadly severely allergic to hummus but I'm trying the rest of these! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865936 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:23:54 +0000 hitchhiker 2865936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In addition to many of the things mentioned here, we often put in an individual serving of guacamole with some black beans mixed with salsa (decontructed tacos!). Or half a Tasty Bite package poured into a little tupperware. (Although now I'm wondering if it would be more civilized to give her the Tasty Bite in a little thermos so it would stay warm. But she seems happy to eat them cold, so...) Then she always gets some frozen veggies and a piece of fruit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865935 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:22:20 +0000 SweetiePie 2865935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today we did a turkey sandwich (just turkey and bread), mini sweet peppers (the red orange and yellow ones), strawberries, string cheese and some teddy grahams.<br /> Other sandwiches we do are ham, sunbutter/jelly, or cream cheese and jelly. If I feel like snazzing it up, I might do a flour tortilla instead of bread. Or cut the bread into a shape. But...that hasn’t happened in a packed lunch more than once. I used to do it for home lunch a lot but it’s too hectic to do that on a weekday morning. </p> <p>Other days I’ll do a homemade lunchable type thing - turkey pepperoni, cheese, seed crackers, very occasionally a hummus cup but that’s hit or miss...a fruit (usually berries, grapes, or watermelon), a veg (usually cucumber, carrots or peppers) and a treat of some sort. </p> <p>This morning he randomly asked for something in his warm thermos so next time I pack I’ll probably do meatballs or the Annie’s version of spaghetti-o’s. Plus a fruit and veg and treat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865933 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:19:21 +0000 MrsADS 2865933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3yo's lunch (he has this probably 2-3x a week!)<br /> - half a turkey sandwich (turkey, whole wheat, a little earth balance butter)<br /> - cheese stick<br /> - baby carrots (he never eats these, but eh)<br /> - small handful of whole grain goldfish/pretzels/crackers<br /> - grapes or whatever fruit I have around </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865932 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:17:04 +0000 erinbaderin 2865932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're pretty lazy. Lunch is usually one of the following: a ham and cheese sandwich cut into shapes, sunbutter and jam cut into tiny bite sized stars, a cream cheese and jam roll-up, cheese quesedillas, chicken nuggets and ketchup, or cheese/meat/crackers. We'll occasionally branch out - sometimes I get a cheese bun or a pizza bun from the grocery store, one day this week he had meatballs - but that's the bulk of it. And then with that there's always a vegetable (usually cucumbers or orange peppers), some kind of fruit, and a little treat like gummies or granola bites. We have a Yumbox so that fills all the compartments. For snacks I try to do a protein in the morning - yogurt or a cheese string usually, sometimes hard boiled eggs - with either fruit or a carb like goldfish crackers or these little apple cinnamon rounds I found, and then the afternoon is a little bit more of a treat - granola bar or mini muffins - with fruit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865931 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:14:38 +0000 Becky 2865931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Yes. I always put ice packs in unless I’m doing something warm in the thermos and then I’ll usually do something like a whole apple or fruit cup/apple sauce, and cherry tomatoes so I don’t need a cold pack. The milk boxes I get don’t need refrigeration. I’m super nervous about food poisoning so always err on the side of caution especially because our lunch is at 1:10pm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865929 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:12:32 +0000 peachykeen 2865929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just started having to pack a lunch for my 4yo when she switched to the public pre-k so this is timely for me. </p> <p>So far we've done cold cut rollups (just ham or turkey rolled for easier eating), sweet potato fries, cut fruit, edamame, or just the frozen mixed vegetables (she loves these)... also I've sent leftovers from dinner - grilled chicken torn into pieces, salad or mac &amp; cheese, corn muffin, etc</p> <p>I will have to try the hummus wrap - bet she'd love that too </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865926 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:06:25 +0000 bhbee 2865926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Similar to @Becky: ‘s ideas my oldest has always loved hummus wraps for the entree! Just hummus or add veg if they will eat it. Our preschool is pb free so I made sure to mention it was hummus since they can look similar. </p> <p>My kids also love “homemade lunchables” - crackers, meat of choice and cheese cut up. When your LO is older it’s fun to add the bento animal toothpicks also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865925 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 09:04:46 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2865925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: does hummus need a cold pack? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865923 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:56:25 +0000 Becky 2865923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Entree: 1/2 turkey or peanut butter sandwich, crackers with cheese and turkey, wrap with peanut butter or turkey, turkey pita, leftover pizza, Mac and cheese or pasta (in a thermos), 1/2 bagel with cream cheese. My DD is in K and no longer likes to take tuna or eggs because apparently they smell—but they were great options before that popped up. She also no longer likes to take pouches but yogurt pouches are a nice entree. </p> <p>Fruit: any type of fruit your child likes. Fruit cups and apple sauce too. I also really like those mini apples. </p> <p>Veg: any type of sliced veg your child likes; peas. Include dip if you want. Hummus could boost your veg to an entree, and maybe throw in crackers, a rice cake, or veggie sticks/puffs</p> <p>Milk box </p> <p>My DD used to like taking string cheese too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865922 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:55:06 +0000 LBarn 2865922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today for 3 yo lunch in a bento box:</p> <p>Cheese and crackers<br /> Red peppers<br /> Mango<br /> Raspberries<br /> Pretzels </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865919 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:41:15 +0000 periwinklebee 2865919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Today for LO's (1 yo) lunch (school provides morning and afternoon snack) </p> <p>a bit of shredded chicken and veggies<br /> sweet potato<br /> cantaloupe<br /> yogurt </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-in-the-lunchbox-for-daycareschool#post-2865918 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 08:38:51 +0000 periwinklebee 2865918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please share! I'm lazy, so extra kudos if it's easy prep :silly: </p>