Typical lunch box

Mrstim

valk_scot wrote: »

I presume you've had her checked over by your GP? If she's still sticking to her growth chart curve and is otherwise active and healthy then I'm pretty sure there's nothing to worry about but it's always good to have this confirmed by a professional.

Ye she was checked about a year ago, they did say she was small but not worryingly. I might go again for peace of mind.

Mrstim

Triggles wrote: »

Lots of good suggestions. I know the baby food is much less hassle, and to be fair, when DS3 was young (and DS2 as well), I used some of them simply to make sure he had a good variety of foods that he was exposed to. I gave them what we were eating part of the time and then used jars for part of the time. But I only purchased the foods that we didn't cook on a regular basis so they had the opportunity to try different foods. So even if you just cut down to half jarred, half what you're eating, it'll save you some money!

Some kids do take large lunches. Our DS2 is 4yo and in reception, and recently his TA (1:1) asked if we could add something to his lunch as he was still hungry after eating his lunch. :eek: He has a sandwich (egg mayo or tuna mayo - it's the only kind he'll eat), raisins, pretzels, orange or grapes (cut up), and 2 small gingerbread biscuits. He has ASD though, and wants this same exact lunch every day, so it's not like we have to come up with much variety. But we buy a big bag of raisins and a big bag of pretzels (store brand/basics) and use snaplid containers for it all so we're not buying little bags all the time. He always takes a small bottle of water as well. DS is very skinny - he's all over the place and I think he burns it off as fast as he takes the calories in. :rotfl: And he eats it all, plus has his milk and piece of fruit midmorning as well. And eats a good sized breakfast, although he doesn't usually eat much at tea time, much of that has to do with his dislike of warm or hot foods.

We always try to put aside things for DH to take in his lunches for work - some chicken off the roasted chicken, slice of beef or ham from roast dinner for a sandwich. Leftover lasagna that was frozen in a single serving last time we had lasagna. Boiled ham from deli counter at supermarket, as it's quite cheap and tastes good. I make scones frequently for him to take with him, as well as biscuits. This week he has been taking portions of breadpudding in his lunches as I had a bunch of bread going stale and used it to make breadpudding the other day. I also make a fair bit of banana bread (loaf) as this uses any extra bananas that are a bit overripe.

We always have a big intake of fruit here - we all love it and I'd rather the boys snack on that, as god knows getting vegetables into them is a struggle. So we're always searching out the best places to buy it - either supermarket or local market.

As always, shopping down a level and buying store brand or basics is a good way to cut money off the grocery bill. If you're using name brand nappies, consider store brand. We use the Sainsburys brand nappies, and they work great. Also watch the stores for sales and on things that are nonperishable, stock up when on sale. We try to stock up when nappies and such are on sale as the stores frequently do 1/3 off baby products.

If you're concerned about your child's (or DH's) reaction to some of the food you're thinking of trying in their lunchbox, perhaps have them at home once or twice and see how it goes. At least then it's familiar and you'll have a better idea whether or not they'll eat it.

Thanks, am going to do that. Mya has always been very fussy but recently she has got alot better so I wil try her with other stuff and see how she gets on. I think she gets a little embarrased at how healthy her lunch box is compared to her pals, but I know she understands why healthy food is important. She told me last night that one of her pals has biscuits and juice for her lunch and thats it!! :eek:

I have tried cheaper nappies but my middle daughters skin reacted really bad to them, I have just potty trained her in the day so may try the youngest baby on some tesco nappies and see how she gets on with them. I got 2 jumbo boxes in asda for £20 last week and I think they should last the month, hopefuly anyway. and things like the youngest has reflux so is vommiting all the time, I must admit I use baby wipes to clean that up and go through loads. I am now making sure I have lots of muslins kicking about to mop it up with so I am not using as many.

Spendless

mrstim- yes you can freeze cheese. My very 1st job was a saturday girl on a the cheese counter at BHS when they still had food halls (showing my age now!) and we often told customers they could freeze cheese.

MsHoarder

Mrstim wrote: »

Ye she was checked about a year ago, they did say she was small but not worryingly. I might go again for peace of mind.

Are you (and/or DH) fairly small too? My school nurse referred me to the GP for being "too tall" for my age (concern about hormones), when my dad brought me in, the GP laughed and said there was nothing to worry about.

Just a thought: what bread do you use? I used to live off Tesco value bread and was constantly hungry, then started eating the better bread (Aldi wholemeal bread is very good) and needed to have fewer sandwiches each day.

Triggles

As far as the baby food goes, eventually the baby will move to regular food anyway as they get older, so it never hurts to start introducing some to them now. We started with breakfast, using things like Oatabix (rather than wheat to avoid those pesky allergy issues) and soft or mashed fruits. Lunch and supper we slowly added a spoon or two of our food (obviously not curry or anything like that) to his meal, initially mixed in (like mashed veg of some sort) but gradually having more of our food and less of the storebought.

I don't know what shops are close to you, but we buy our milk, bread, and loo roll at Farm Foods. It is so much cheaper!

Mrstim

MsHoarder wrote: »

Are you (and/or DH) fairly small too? My school nurse referred me to the GP for being "too tall" for my age (concern about hormones), when my dad brought me in, the GP laughed and said there was nothing to worry about.

Just a thought: what bread do you use? I used to live off Tesco value bread and was constantly hungry, then started eating the better bread (Aldi wholemeal bread is very good) and needed to have fewer sandwiches each day.

I am 5 ft 2 and hub is 5 ft 10. She stopped growing in the womb at 36 weeks so I think she may always be a bit smaller than average, its not so much her height its her weight. My 2 year old is less than a stone lighter than her, although she is some kind of monster she was 8lb 12 and 2 weeks early

I do buy wholemeal bread and rolls, normally hovis. am going to make some bread and rolls this weekend as thats normally really quite heavy.

Mrstim

Triggles wrote: »

As far as the baby food goes, eventually the baby will move to regular food anyway as they get older, so it never hurts to start introducing some to them now. We started with breakfast, using things like Oatabix (rather than wheat to avoid those pesky allergy issues) and soft or mashed fruits. Lunch and supper we slowly added a spoon or two of our food (obviously not curry or anything like that) to his meal, initially mixed in (like mashed veg of some sort) but gradually having more of our food and less of the storebought.

I don't know what shops are close to you, but we buy our milk, bread, and loo roll at Farm Foods. It is so much cheaper!

I do have a farmfoods near to me which I buy there frozen chicken breast as they 3 bags for a tenner, I have never thought to get milk or bread though, will check it out today!

linzmac_2

Mrstim wrote: »

That is one thing I miss from moving back to Dundee, the market. I used to live in Nottingham and we would go to donnington market and buy say 25 chicken breast for £30 and huge packs of bacon for a tenner and freeze them and it did us for the month as they were proper butchers meat so no water in them and the fruit and veg stall so much cheaper. I am yet to find a market that is near to do that, which is disappointing. Its quite rural where I live and I thought there would be loads of farms shops but nothing less than an hours drive. There isnt even a fruit and veg shop near.

Where abouts are you? Have you been to Milton Haugh farm shop?

http://www.miltonhaugh.com/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=51

Their fruit and veg is good and fairly cheap. And there are some very good butchers in Dundee. Grossets normally have deals on and the quality is good. Also, have you tried the Asian supermarket in the town?

Mrstim

linzmac wrote: »

Where abouts are you? Have you been to Milton Haugh farm shop?

http://www.miltonhaugh.com/index.php?option=com_contact&Itemid=51

Their fruit and veg is good and fairly cheap. And there are some very good butchers in Dundee. Grossets normally have deals on and the quality is good. Also, have you tried the Asian supermarket in the town?

I live in Monifieth. I noticed a Grossets near the Aldi actually so might try them. Thanks
Where is the asian supermarket? I am going to Dundee today to get teeting powders as I cant get them anywhere, I hate going to town with the 3 girls on my own but am desperate!
No I havent been there, I did search for farm shops in Angus on google and the nearest one it came up with was blairgowrie, which we did go to but wasnt really worth it for the drive. Thanks for the link will check how far away that is!

Mrstim

15 mins drive that farm shop is! Brill, thanks for that!!!