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Farm Kitchen:  Healthy Toddler Food for School  |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 05 2008 : 9:33:49 PM
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I need to make Charlie's lunches for daycare. I don't want to do the usual by everything processed and bad for your kids lunch options. I was thinking of making my own mac and cheese, lasagna, stuffing with gravy, cut up fruit, grilled or boiled vegetables.
They said I could bring food and leave it (storage) but I would rather make my own food. I need ideas!!!
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2008 : 9:49:57 PM
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I pack my kid's lunches for school. Some of their favorites are grapes, organic baby carrots and ranch to dip it in, tomato soup in a thermos, cheese chunks and triscuts, homemade trail mix or granola. Sometimes I make tortilla rollups or cut up oranges or send containers with home canned fruit, or dried fruit too. I feel guilty when I have had to have my kids get school lunch. I know it is supposed to be a balanced meal..but I prefer to KNOW what my kids eat.
Your ideas sound great Heather. I got a few little squat wide mouth thermos things to put in my kid's lunches for hot things. They are inexpensive and keep things plenty hot until lunch time.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4745 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4745 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 08:07:12 AM
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I make the following for my 4.5 year olds school lunch, Slice of lunch meat (antibiotic & nitrate free) rolled up in cheese, organic juice box, bottle of kefir, organic apple or pear chopped up with lemon juice drizzled over the it, and a bag of crackers. He has at school a box of organic cereal for snacking. His teachers complimented me on sending such healthy lunches to school. Erik almost always eats his entire lunch.
Dawn in IL |
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ivmeer
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Amanda
Pawtucket
RI
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 10:23:57 AM
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| First of all, if you think simple, most stuff that kids eat for lunch can potentially be really un-processed and healthy. You can send turkey or chicken breast (either deli sliced or home cooked and cut in cubes), cheeses, raisins, whole wheat crackers with peanut butter or sunflower butter, small tomatoes like grape or cherry tomatoes, bean salads or plain beans, pasta salad, etc. It doesn't have to be a hot lunch to be a healthy lunch. |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 10:56:44 AM
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Thanks for all the ideas. Yes, it is sad that simple is often so unhealthy. But, I find homemade is just as fast and 100% better.
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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La Patite Ferme
True Blue Farmgirl
623 Posts
Jenn
CA
USA
623 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 11:14:37 AM
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When my DD was in pre-school I would send her with leftovers from dinner the night before or a combination of small things. I found little tupperware containers, about 1/4 cup size at the thriftstore. She liked olives and was on a marinaded mushroom kick for a while. Cheese and crackers, fruit (fresh and dried), carrots and dip, celery and peanut butter, yoghurt, fruit leather, etc. Sandwiches were usually turkey and cheese. In the winter I'd give her homemade soups, stew, spaghetti, lamb tagine. The teachers use to tell me she had the most interesting lunches.
I was able to buy a milk card at school and when it was warm I made sure she had water.
Heather - check with the school to see if they allow things to be warmed up in the microwave. Some don't because it's time consuming, but ours did and it was so nice for DD to have hot food especially in winter.
I agree with you, it wasn't any more time consuming to make a homemade lunch than it was to throw a bunch of packaged stuff in a lunchbox. And, as he gets bigger you'll be glad. At 15, DD makes very good food choices and pretty much steers clear of the junk. |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 11:19:21 AM
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I don't think they heat stuff up because he is only a toddler and they worry about him getting things spilled on him. I sent him off with homemade mac n'cheese, graham crackers and cut up fruit with a drink box (I think they provide juice, but just in case). I usually do a lot of cut up fruit (to keep him hydrated), some sort of sandwich, and crackers. He is so darn cute carrying that lunch box!!!
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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22shortie
True Blue Farmgirl
329 Posts
rebekah
sulphur
la
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 2:29:57 PM
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Mine isn't in preschool but here are a few things I fix for her snacks and lunches...
Fresh veggies cut up and dipped in ranch, Raisens, boiled egg, crackers with peanut butter, apples with peanut butter, grape halves, bannana and peanut butter mashed togetehr in a sandwich, mac and cheese grilled cheese, yogurt, dry cherrios, slice of toast with jelly, avacado slices, rice with gravey, and sometimes, the fobidden FISHSTICKS! : )
Check out my latest projects and all the news from my chaotic little world!
http://pumpkinseed-unscripted.blogspot.com/ |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 3:05:22 PM
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I can't do peanut butter- he is only 2. Any suggestions for something else??
Thanks.
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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one_dog_per_acre
True Blue Farmgirl
1572 Posts
Trish
Sandpoint
ID
USA
1572 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 3:34:55 PM
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cream cheeese, banana, hummus, bean dip, tahini
Trish
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war!
FREE TIBET! |
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Peanut
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Jennifer
Waverly
Virginia
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 5:05:26 PM
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Off topic a bit, but I thought some studies had determined that delaying foods doesn't necessarily prevent allergies.
Not that I can delay peanuts anyway - they'll be planted all around our house this year but no matter where we plant them, the dust is in the air and all around the house.
My blog: http://thecottonwife.wordpress.com/
"John Deere. We stand behind everything we sell. Except the manure spreader." |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 5:21:20 PM
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He can't have pb in class anyway, due to others with possible allergies, but I agree, I think some things are taken to extreme.
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2008 : 5:33:02 PM
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When I did daycare I remember one mom of a new kid in my daycare, even after filling out forms with big highlighted words asking about food allergies, not telling me that her son was allergic to peanuts for three days!! That poor little guy was so lucky that we didn't have any peanut butter for those days. I did serve it on crackers for a snack every few days, or to dip with carrot sticks. yikes.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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ivmeer
True Blue Farmgirl
409 Posts
Amanda
Pawtucket
RI
USA
409 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2008 : 06:45:55 AM
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Ever heard of sunflower butter, Heather? They sell it at Whole Foods. It's a bit expensive, but it tastes a lot like peanut butter and is totally peanut-free.
www.sunbutter.com |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4745 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4745 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2008 : 08:01:03 AM
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Amanda, does sunflower have a slightly sweet taste to it? My sons school doesn't allow any tree nut products. My son loves peanut butter and it would be nice to find something comparable to it.
Dawn in IL |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2008 : 09:45:19 AM
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I will try the Sunflower- I never heard of it but I will give it a go. Thanks Amanda.
Cheers,
Heather
FARMGIRL #90 |
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Farm Kitchen: Healthy Toddler Food for School |
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Healthy Toddler Food for School
