lunch time

It has been four weeks since my little guy started kindergarten.  He is loving it, and so far (thank goodness) there have been no allergy scares.  For this I have to thank his teacher whom so cautiously checks everything that is around him, and also the rest of the staff that is constantly around him.  I just pray that it continues this way 'till the end of the school year.

Aside from my little guy loving school and our peace of mind, I also have to deal with most mamis every-day dilemmas, like:  WHAT TO PACK HIM FOR LUNCH?!

I want to keep his lunch nutritious, yet appealing enough so he will eat it all. 

  

Before he started school I sat down with him and discussed as to what he would want in his lunch.  We came up with a list: 

*bean and cheese burritos

*mini-pizzas

*our version of lunchables. Crackers with cheese, ham and tomatoes.

*cream cheese and jelly bagel sandwiches.

*and the lunch staple: ham, cheese, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. 

 All homemade, of course, and I would include a fruit, veggie and a treat with each lunch. Ah yes, and a drink.

(Please pretend you don't see the water marks on the planet box.  I seem to be in a hurry every morning and didn't even realize they were there until I edited the photos.  Oops.)

Five healthy lunches.  One for each day of the week.  My plan was perfect.  Or so I thought.  The sandwich was a hit, as were the cheese and crackers, and the bagel sandwiches.  But the burrito idea and mini-pizzas were soon scratch off our list.  "Too cold, mami.  I didn't like it," was his response after I asked him why he had not finished his lunch.  Well, then, now I had to revise my plan. 

Since he didn't like the burritos because they were too cold by the time he had lunch, I started making him ham, cheese, lettuce and tomato rolls instead.  He loves them!  I also started packing zucchini bread slices (we are so running out of zucchini bread fast, since our harvest this year did so poorly), organic cheese sticks, organic yogurt and applesauce (which is our last batch and we need to get to the orchard to pick up apples soon!)  But aside from that I am stuck and can't think of any other varieties of food to include in his lunch. *sigh*

One thing for sure is that when he comes home (so far) his Planet Box is always (or just about) empty!  Making this mami very, very happy.

What do you like to pack for your kids lunch? Any suggestions?  Just keep in mind that it needs to be peanut, tree nut, shellfish and sesame seed free.

And in case you are wondering- I love his Planet Box!  It is perfect  for a 5 year old- keeping all his food separate, yet easy to open, without the fuss of opening individual packages/containers.  I also like that it helps keep less trash off the dump yards, keeping our planet just a bit healthier.  It is easy to clean.  And because it is so darn sturdy I know he'll be able to use it for years to come.  And once he gets bored of  it, I can spruce it up by ordering new magnets for the cover.  Pretty cool, don't you think?  I love, love, love it!  And so does my little guy, which really that is what matters the most.