Ok, so my 5 year olds tend to be kind of picky. They're going to summer camp (9 to 3) this month and they'll have to bring a lunch everyday. problem is, I have no idea what to pack! They like peanut butter but I can't pack that, it's forbidden because some kids are allergic (totally understandable). I checked out the vegan lunchbox but there's no way my guys would eat half of those things, no matter how cute and enticing I tried to make it look. :( My mom suggested those lunchable things because the boys make a big deal when they see them in the store but 1) I was hoping for something healthier 2) I was hoping for something cheaper and 3) I don't think they'd actually eat them so it would be a complete waste.
They eat things like spaghetti and homemade pizza but they won't be able to heat anything there and I don't think they'd be able to open the thermos on their own (besides they would lose my silverware, I'm sure). Everything in their lunch has to be something they can open, close and prepare on their own (juice boxes, bottles of water, thermos, etc). They like grapes and apples and I've rarely gotten them to eat something like salads. They like tacos and rice mixes but again I'm not sure how to pack them to stay warm and so they'll be able to actually eat them.
Anybody have fussy eaters? Think I should send easy things like salads and fruit and assume if they get hungry enough they'll eat it?
Good thing it's only a month. lol
Mary

Sorry. I can't relate, really...my daughter will eat pasta or anything else like stir-fries, cold or not (she never uses a microwave etc.) and loves everything vegan that even most adults *here* are wary of.

All I can say is, find what they WILL eat and send that, even if it't the same thing over and over again.

Will they eat hummus, pita and crudites? (carrots, cucumber, celery)

Almond butter and jelly roll-ups (a tortilla warpped up)

Nachos with beans and salsa mixed up for dipping?

Soy yogurts, pretzles and sunflower seeds?

Tofurky sandwiches?

Think I should send easy things like salads and fruit and assume if they get hungry enough they'll eat it?
Mary
Yes! Not just salads though...send them spaghetti and garlic bread, pizza and stews, tacos and rice dishes etc. that they like 'hot'. If it's vegan and prepared safely there is little chance of food poisoning if it's at room temp from late morning until lunch time and if they are hungry, they WILL eat!

I went to day camp from the time I was five or six and I now work at a camp and I've had to bring my own lunch every day. Sending things that need to be eaten hot are pretty much a lost cause since you don't want to use a thermos (Although there will defenitely be a staff member able to help your kids open a thermos if they can't do it themselves. Even if the camp says that they have to be able to prepare lunch themselves, that doesn't mean that a counselor can't spare five seconds to open a container). Hot lunches aren't the best idea though, anyway, because the weather is going to be pretty warm and after running around, hot lunch is probably going to be one of the last things that your kids want to eat.

Try sending trail mix (cereal, dried fruit, seeds, pretzels, etc.) for a snack. If you pack their lunches in lunchboxes with an ice pack you can include pretty much anything that needs refrigeration. Fruits, carrots or other raw veggies with dressing in a seperate container, cheese and crackers (if they are L/O), cream cheese (or tofutti cream cheese) on bread, bagels or crackers, leftovers.

Most leftovers are pretty good cold or room temperature. I like to bring pasta, rice, cooked vegetables, and cold pizza. If you are afraid of them losing your silverware buy some disposable plasticware to send them with. If you're looking to generate less waste tell them not to throw the plasticware out and you can wash it when they get home but it isn't a big deal if it gets lost.

They are going to have a great time at camp, good luck with packing lunches!

if they are hungry, they WILL eat!

This unfortunately, is often not true. I'm going into my third year working at a day camp and I've had several kids not eat their lunch because they didn't like it and then get sick later in the day. Especially the younger children don't realize that if they don't eat they will regret it later.

This unfortunately, is often not true. I'm going into my third year working at a day camp and I've had several kids not eat their lunch because they didn't like it and then get sick later in the day. Especially the younger children don't realize that if they don't eat they will regret it later.
Children at your camp geet sick from skipping lunch? :stinkeye:

What I am trying to say in my post above is that they will NOT starve to death. Children often go on food jags where they refuse to eat anything but the ONE thing they are fixated on and refuse all other food. Eventually, if the parent is consistent and will not buckle, the child will...but that's another thread :-/

Children at your camp geet sick from skipping lunch? :stinkeye:

I work at a camp where the kids are outside the entire day (about 8 hours) and doing physical activities for at least 5 of those hours (hiking, swimming, games, etc.). Especially in July and August when it gets really hot, kids who don't eat lunch often feel sick. There isn't lasting damage or anything, but it pretty much makes them miserable. Some of the kids who aren't eating also aren't drinking enough water, but that's a whole different story.

That's also important, Mary, make sure to send them both with cold water bottles

I work at a camp where the kids are outside the entire day (about 8 hours) and doing physical activities for at least 5 of those hours (hiking, swimming, games, etc.). Especially in July and August when it gets really hot, kids who don't eat lunch often feel sick. There isn't lasting damage or anything, but it pretty much makes them miserable. Some of the kids who aren't eating also aren't drinking enough water, but that's a whole different story.

That's also important, Mary, make sure to send them both with cold water bottles
Yes, dehydration and heat exhaustion seem to be the real culprits in most of these cases.

You must be a really cool counselor. I bet that the children really look up to you, especially any veg*n kids. My daughter goes to a Girl Scout camp every summer and returns to one in particular mainly because there's several counselors who are vegan and look out for her (plus the kitchen caters to them and they make it so easy for her!).

try some cold pata on them at home and see if they like it...my son ( apicky eater, too) loves leftover pasta straight from the refrigerator...also, someone mentioned almond butter--if they can't take peanut butter, you can still make a sandwich with some other variety of nut butter...you could try making your own lunchables (little crackers and cheese/soy cheese/tofurkey--my son loves it when i use little cookie cutters to make fun shapes with his cheese and stuff)--i'm not even sure if they make a veggie lunchable, do they?...try sending a variety of healthy "snack foods"--granola or dry cereal, nuts, their favorite fruits, cheese/soy cheese, etc...good luck--remember, its only one meal for one month, you can make up for it at breakfast and dinner...if the lunches are going to be kept out in the heat, a good tip is to freeze a juice box or pouch and put it in there--keeps the food cool and is defrosted by lunch time...

What does he eat for lunch now? Is he vegetarian?

What does he eat for lunch now? Is he vegetarian?

They only eat meat rarely, mainly when we're out somewhere like a restaurant.
I can get them to eat almost any dinner I make (though I've had to pull out the trusty ketchup a few times) but cold lunches are almost a lost cause for them. They don't like sandwiches (except grilled cheese and PB). I've tried cold cheese sandwiches but they won't touch them.
I can get them to eat things like pretzels, cheese, crackers, apples, grapes and I even got 1/4 of a tempeh "tuna" sandwich in one of them. They've eaten salads for me but they don't seem fond of lettuce, I was thinking of trying something like spinach instead. I've got lunch bags and ice packs for them so keeping something cold isn't an issue for us. I could try a different nut butter, does almond butter taste similar to PB? They actually don't mind eating nuts at all, they eat cashews with their dad, so if it's a little nuttier flavored it might not be too bad. I guess I assumed no peanuts meant nuts were a bad choice all around. I didn't realize people who are allergic to peanuts aren't to other nuts.
They have those Capri Sun water drinks to take and the camp is actually run out of a now shut down elementary school so it has working water fountains. I would give them their sports bottles but I'm pretty sure they won't come home with them. They have bus transportation to and from the camp so going to get it might prove impossible if it's gone (let alone if they throw it away, they tend to do weird things like that).
On a side note, they noted in the camp literature that soda will be sold during lunch hours. 5-12 year olds and they're going to sell soda?? No choices either, no water or soda or juice, just soda. :rolleyes:
I was just worried that sending them with something like pretzels, cheese and crackers and an apple wouldn't be enough? I guess I get hung up on the whole "main dish and a snack deal". :think:
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Mary

I was just worried that sending them with something like pretzels, cheese and crackers and an apple wouldn't be enough? I guess I get hung up on the whole "main dish and a snack deal". :think:
Thanks for all the suggestions!
Mary
That is TOTALLY enough for a summertime camp meal. Nutrients matter, not categories and titles :) Throw in some 'safe nuts' and some grapes too (since they like those :) ) and make sure they have a water bottle (you mentioned Capri Sun 'water drinks' but I don't know what to say about that or what is in them. I don't have a good feeling about them though :juggle: but if your kids and you like them, that's your choice...I only want to say to make sure they have do thier own bottle of pure water (children with an actual bottle of water are more apt to drink it!).

That is TOTALLY enough for a summertime camp meal. Nutrients matter, not categories and titles :) Throw in some 'safe nuts' and some grapes too (since they like those :) ) and make sure they have a water bottle (you mentioned Capri Sun 'water drinks' but I don't know what to say about that or what is in them. I don't have a good feeling about them though :juggle: but if your kids and you like them, that's your choice...I only want to say to make sure they have do thier own bottle of pure water (children with an actual bottle of water are more apt to drink it!).

Yeah, they're sugary but they have less calories than juice and about the same vitamin levels so I just buy them. They do drink regular milk and 100% fruit juice too but they won't touch water. I've tried to put it in every single container imaginable but they've only ever drank it out of fountains (which is gross to me but I've taught them to run it for a second first and keep their mouth away from it which makes me feel a little better). I might try to buy some individual water bottles and see if they drink them but the sports bottles costed me $5 a piece and I loathe to lose them. They're probably more apt to drink water from a fountain. I was debating about buying a cheaper water bottle I saw at Target that had a cute little belt thing with it so they could carry them and seeing if they would find those cool enough to drink water from.
Unfortunately they get the water thing from me I guess. I've tried really hard to not be picky in front of them but I never drink plain water either. Their dad does. Sometimes I wish they'd pick up his good habits instead of my bad ones.:)
(at least they eat nuts lol)
Mary

"I guess I assumed no peanuts meant nuts were a bad choice all around. I didn't realize people who are allergic to peanuts aren't to other nuts. "

you might want to double-check with the camp, but from my experiences, peanuts were often banned from schools because of allergies, but other nuts and butters were fine...has to do with the peanut being a legume and the others being tree nuts...anyway, if your kids like cashews, look for some cashew butter--yum! also, bagels and tortillas are good--even just plain, if they must...if you they eat eggs--a hard-boiled egg...

They only eat meat rarely, mainly when we're out somewhere like a restaurant.
I can get them to eat almost any dinner I make (though I've had to pull out the trusty ketchup a few times) but cold lunches are almost a lost cause for them. They don't like sandwiches (except grilled cheese and PB). I've tried cold cheese sandwiches but they won't touch them.

But what ANY lunches do they eat now, other than a grilled cheese or Peanut Butter? If you give us an idea of the lunches they eat at home (unless thats all they eat), we might be able to make suggestions based around that.

Also, have you tried asking what they'd like for lunch? They may have some ideas. And have you tried wraps? Things are more fun wrapped up in a tortilla.

But what ANY lunches do they eat now, other than a grilled cheese or Peanut Butter? If you give us an idea of the lunches they eat at home (unless thats all they eat), we might be able to make suggestions based around that.

Also, have you tried asking what they'd like for lunch? They may have some ideas. And have you tried wraps? Things are more fun wrapped up in a tortilla.

No, that's pretty much it. Either those two choices or they eat leftovers from the night before. I'm pretty sure they would say they want peanut butter. They're very much *routine* kids.
I'm going to get some cashew butter and call the parks and rec dept to make sure it's ok. My husband suggested I make a salad and cut up my fake chicken nuggets and add them to it so that might work too. My kids are just really boring eaters. The baby especially. lol
Mary

Hey, I've definitely seen kids get 'sick' - lightheaded, disoriented, and nauseaus from not eating - kids that I KNOW were drinking enough but would refuse the foods sent in their lunch - a full day of hard play is too long for an empty tummy!

So...You said they like ketchup. Can you work with that? Send cold veggie-chicken nuggets (or whatever) and a couple little ketchup packets (snag an extra one or two next time you're at a deli counter or *gasp* fast food) ... sorry, but sometimes the novelty of those itty-bitty packets works and they will eat whatever it's with.

Soy-nut butter is similar to PB and is accepted in most facilities where Peanutbutter is not. And the nice thing is (I think anyway) that it tastes a LOT like peanut butter. Some of the other nut butters are VERY expensive... if they like PB sandwiches, send some other kind of nut butter or soy butter - they could have those every day if they want and get plenty of nutrition...

Trail mix with nuts or granola-type bars can be good. I'm not a huge advocate but in a situation like this, how about the Clif bars or Luna Bars? My kids LOVE the chocolate brownie type ones and they are very filling. It'd be like a brownie for lunch - yum!

Do they like yogurt? You could keep it cold with a ice pack or frozen juice bag. How about string cheese?
Olives? cubes of any type of veggie "meat"? Baked beans? (My kids love those cold) Spaghetti-o's? (Blechhh... but my kids love them cold as well...ugh, can't believe I even suggested that!)

I do hear you about the water thing - I work with preschoolers and probably about half of them will not TOUCH water in any shape or form... sad but true.

I think for your kids, the more important thing to do is keep them hydrated and fed right now, if you want to work on changing behaviours that can come at a different time...

Hey, I've definitely seen kids get 'sick' - lightheaded, disoriented, and nauseaus from not eating - kids that I KNOW were drinking enough but would refuse the foods sent in their lunch - a full day of hard play is too long for an empty tummy!

So...You said they like ketchup. Can you work with that? Send cold veggie-chicken nuggets (or whatever) and a couple little ketchup packets (snag an extra one or two next time you're at a deli counter or *gasp* fast food) ... sorry, but sometimes the novelty of those itty-bitty packets works and they will eat whatever it's with.

Soy-nut butter is similar to PB and is accepted in most facilities where Peanutbutter is not. And the nice thing is (I think anyway) that it tastes a LOT like peanut butter. Some of the other nut butters are VERY expensive... if they like PB sandwiches, send some other kind of nut butter or soy butter - they could have those every day if they want and get plenty of nutrition...

Trail mix with nuts or granola-type bars can be good. I'm not a huge advocate but in a situation like this, how about the Clif bars or Luna Bars? My kids LOVE the chocolate brownie type ones and they are very filling. It'd be like a brownie for lunch - yum!

Do they like yogurt? You could keep it cold with a ice pack or frozen juice bag. How about string cheese?
Olives? cubes of any type of veggie "meat"? Baked beans? (My kids love those cold) Spaghetti-o's? (Blechhh... but my kids love them cold as well...ugh, can't believe I even suggested that!)

I do hear you about the water thing - I work with preschoolers and probably about half of them will not TOUCH water in any shape or form... sad but true.

I think for your kids, the more important thing to do is keep them hydrated and fed right now, if you want to work on changing behaviours that can come at a different time...

I wonder if they might eat the veggie nuggets at room temperature. Does anyone know if they'd be ok? I don't think they'd eat them ice cold but they might eat them warmish. We actually have a party store around us that sells restaurant supplies including the little packets of ketchup. lol I could probably buy a case of those, they aren't that expensive, and send the surplus in lunches with my husband (or save them until next year).
Thanks for the heads up on the soy nut butter too. I'll look for that also. Especially for the first day it'll probably be better to give them something they definitely know because the whole day is going to be one big shake up for them!
Mary

i had some thoughts...

skewers (fruit or veggies) are a fun alternative. they might eat cheese if they're on a "fun" stick
pasta salad (cold).
cottage cheese with fruit (i know that most kids probably don't like cottage cheese so this is probably out
"pigs in a blanket" with veggie dogs

As an alternative to peanut butter, you could use sunflower seed butter, which looks/tastes exactly the same. Or they might like tofurkey/foney baloney sandwiches. Also, you could buy lots of Clif bars, because kids like them and they have lots of calories and nutrients and are filling.

Whatever you pack, make sure they help you pick it out because then they are 10x more likely to eat it.

I used to eat cream cheese and jelly sandwiches as a kid because we weren't allowed to have PB, they might be willing to try that (I still periodically make them with tofutti cream cheese now, lol). I make my boyfriend pretty healthy cookies to send with his lunch so that might be a good way to get some extra calories in them, I make oatmeal raisin and use half ww pastry flour in the dough and add quite a bit of blackstrap molasses to it as well. They're still good enough that his friend's steal them and as for more, no one knows there is good for you stuff in there.