Is anyone so organised as to have a kids lunch box weekly meal plan?

frugalmumof4

Hi,
I need to get into the swing of making lunch boxes again now my 4 year old is starting school in september, my older boy that goes to school has cooked lunch on p.e days and lunchboxes on other days. As primary school for my little one doesnt offer cooked lunches I would like to see if I can come up with a lunchbox meal plan the same as i do my dinner meal plans. Im sure that there must be others on the board that already very organised and do this already, would you be willing to share. I know there are plenty of threads on lunch box ideas, but was keen to see someones week/month plan!
many thanks

little_miss_moneysaver_3

Er...I don't have children but an OH instead. I do a lunch planner for him so he doesn't have to think too much about what to take, or eat half the fridge!
Mainly on mine are sandwiches - with specific filling, or if I know they'll be dinner leftovers i'll put that on. Also i'll put generic things like 1xfruit, or 1xyogurt as I never know what fruit i'll get from the market etc.

Although have to admit I haven't actually done one this week!
LMMS

bluestarrz

I have like an A5 folder thing where I write my work shifts, meal plan and DS's lunch plan on. I then write what days to buy things, for example:
Mon:
work 7-2pm -
dinner - roast chicken -
lunch - gammon sandwiches from previous roast, muffin, juice, crisps-
shops- buy chicken and milk

tue
work- 12-5pm
dinner - chicken pasta
lunch- chicken wraps, fruit salad, juice, scone
shops- buy teabags

you get the idea, and i do this on Sunday night, by buying what i need each day (no car) i get some reduced bargains and also can't really overspend as can't carry too much

I also add in any baking I'm doing (normally on days off) like mon- make muffins- leave out 6 freeze 6 etc and it just means I know when I need to make batches of things and there's very little waste!

cazscoob

i have just asked this question on the parent thread lol!
What would be the best traybakes/cakes to make and freeze in portions?

rosieben

cazscoob wrote: »

i have just asked this question on the parent thread lol!
What would be the best traybakes/cakes to make and freeze in portions?

I used to make tray bakes from any normal cake recipe when the kids were small - plain or marbled sponge, fruit, cherries, choc and sometimes iced them. The joy of a traybake is you can cut into small pieces for little fingers (and bigger pieces for bigger fingers of course! ). I would freeze before icing though. I used to batch bake and freeze them in a tupperware box; really useful for lunchboxes or spur-of-the-moment picnics

and check out the Tray bakes thread

LilacPixie

My kids are too little for school but i have a meal plan for me and OH. I am a serial muffin maker. 12 cheese and tomato every sunday. OH takes 2 a day to work with him as he starts at 5am and its too early for him to manage brekkie so he has his muffins at aorund 6:30. He also takes 2 rolls with either roastbeef and salad, ham and salad or ham and cheese. A banana, apple and a yoghurt.

Itake a roll with either cheese and coldslaw, ham cheese and pickle or tuna mayo. If we are having curry I plan a portion for my lunch as I have cooking facilities at work and he doesn't. I have an apple and a yog and thats it. I plan our lunches along with our evening meals on a saturday to shop on a sunday morning

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Not all schools allow cakes, as part of their healthy eating status (unless, of course, the cakes are bought from the school catering company, but that is apparently different). They probably also ban nut products.

How about you get a six pack of fromage frais with a plastic spoon for sweetness, together with a small bunch of grapes (about 5 -7 grapes per lunch). Then leave out the crisps - give them at home after school if absolutely necessary - and chocolate is likely to be banned too. Put in carton of juice/capri sun and then 1 sandwich - ham & cucumber, cheese spread & cucumber, corned beef & cue, cheese & lettuce, cheese & ham, made with small sized loaf of bread.

The reason why I do is this way is that kids will eat the yoghurt, the fruit and the crisps/biscuit if they have it and then leave the rest. By not having the crisps, you make it more likely that such a little one will actually try the sandwich.

Most food that goes in lunchboxes goes in the bin or comes back after a day in the warmth of the classroom.

chivers1977

There is a planner here: http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/UploadDocs/Contents/Documents/example_packed_lunch_menus3wk.pdf

My son will not be allowed to take squash, only water, pure juice and yoghurt drinks.

HTH

chivers1977

or this one http://www.netmums.com/lc/food/lunchbox_table.pdf

slash69

lilac pixie can i have your recipe for cheese and tomato muffins please..and do you serve them split and buttered??

thanx in advance

frugalmumof4

thankyou for all replies so far and some great links to give me some more ideas.