School packed lunches ideas

goodisongirl

Hi, just putting my 3 children on to packed lunches to try & save myself some money...has anyone any good ideas which will cheaply spice up their lunch boxes? 3 weeks into term & they are fed up of a sandwich or wrap / crisps & yogurt!!

Or, any products which are good for school lunch boxes which are on offer in any of the supermarkets?

Thanks

megsta

they do 5 bags of prepared fruit in asda for £1.50, they cheap flap jack tray is okay aswell, my son isn't allowed crisps or biscuits so i'm always on the lookout for healthy packed luch stuff

carlyh69

what about making some cold pasta salad? filling and cheap!

creditcard123

Left over pasta dishes from night before - my kids fight over who is getting the leftovers:rotfl:
Carrots or bread sticks with houmus
Whatever breakfast bars are on offer

moggitymog

another vote for pasta, we do ours with mayo, prawns, cucumber and sweetcorn

frugalfrancesca

hi how about, veg and fruit kebab sticks, hummous and pitta strips, pickled onions, olives, crackers, fruit salad in tubs, rice dishes, cold cooked chicken with a chutney, homemade pizzas cooked and cold?, mini pasties, sweetcorn fritters, potato cakes xx

vax2002

Buy a sandwhich toaster, they are quite delicious cold...

ragz_2

My kids get a sandwich/wrap, a pot of cheese cut into little squares, a choc mousse for DS1 who doesn't like yoghurts and yoghurt for DS2 who does, a bottle of squash (high juice) and a piece of fruit. I try to vary that as much as possible, sometimes pots of berries/grapes, sometimes apples or satsumas or even dried fruit. Very occaisionally they will get a small pot of crisps or a biscuit. I used to give DS1 pasta, must start doing that again. I tried crackers and cheese a few times instead of the sandwich.
Cold pizza went down really well when I did that once.

goodisongirl

loads of great ideas ...thank you!!!!!

katskorner

Mine get pepperami (either cut in half or a mini one), cheese triangles, small bread crusty rolls with either chicken tikka or ham and chees or coleslaw on. Grapes, apples, berries, squeezy apple snacks, fruit bars, raisin tubs, the odd peguin or choccy roll, frozen frubes (defrost by lunch). That is the general pattern. I mix it up a bit and add oatcakes and cheese spread for a change. They can't have most choc bars and I hardly ever give them crisps. I buy the stuff on offer in bulk checking dates and then stick it in the fridge. My one son is more fussy than the other and is finicky with fruit.

savingqueen

my eldest detests school meals so always pleased to have a packed lunch! he is a fussy eater but loves fruit and salad so lunchboxes are a pretty healthy choice. youngest started staying for lunch last week too.

DS1 doesn't want anything "fancy" (his words!) so I don't do things like pasta salad. However I vary the "sandwich" part eg. different types of bread, seeded, multigrain etc, pittas, different rolls, bagels are a favourite and vary the fillings as much as I can for a fussy eater. Also cold pizza slices and v occasionally a cheese and onion roll (like a sausage roll)

He always has a little pot of salad like toms, cu, peppers, celery, lettuce, carrot sticks etc depending on what I have. Also a pot or piece or 2 of fruit, berries or grapes a favourite or the usual apple, satsuma, pear, banana etc.

Sometimes he has dried fruit like raisins, apricots etc - again in a little tub rather than a pre-bought box (much cheaper and he finds it easier to eat from)

Crisps are a once a week treat, alternatives like breadsticks, rice cakes, plain popcorn, crackers instead or as a substitute to sarnies. Things like currant buns, a slice of fruit bread, scone, banana bread, plain sponge cake etc. usually buy these but recently made flapjacks to go in lunchbags tomorrow (pre-tasted so I know they like them ) going to have a go at making other similar things much cheaper/healthier.

jellies (bought or homemade), pots of fruit salad (supermarkets do or do your own from fresh or tinned fruit)

chunks/strips cheese - can do your own, use biscuit cutters for younger kids.

soup?? cold quiche or tortilla??

look on oldstyle for ideas and the library , you can often get books on packed lunches for kids. I sometimes think of what I would take on a picnic if that helps.

BTW DS2 who is only 4 and not a lover of ANY fruit or veg (an understatment of some proportion!) has happily been eating smaller versions of his big brother's healthy lunches. I am amazed at this. They can only eat what's in their packed lunch box after all - much easier than at home with other naughty things in the cupboards.

Oh and if your children are old enough, get them involved in choosing/making their lunch maybe, eve if its just once a week??

good luck....