Any ideas for picnic food??

prettypennies

They have just started selling them in the Uk to at https://www.laptoplunches.co.uk. The postage is a little steep so worth persuading a few friends to buy too. There are discounts available if you purchase more than one kit.

I will soon be ordering one for my neice and for me to take to work (I amd very jealous of my kids boxes!)

With the dollar being so weak at the moment it is worth comparing which works out the cheapest option UK or US depending on what you are buying.

If you do want to by from US the promo code 'Parents' (with a capital P) entered after each item you order will get you 10% off each item.

The shipping cost is based on weight on the US site and order cost on the UK site. You can always stick everything in your basket and progress through the buying process until you get the shipping cost. (confirmation of order comes the page after so no obligation to buy)

prettypennies

I can also recommend the visual guide DVD from https://www.thevisualguide.com. If you enter the promo code: WCWP-LAPTOP you will get 40% of the usual price of $19.95. That equates to $11.95 or approx £6.31 including postage!

The DVD covers loads of great stuff including fun sandwiches and sandwich alternatives, healthy drinks and snacks, fun ways to present fruit and veg and loads more.

The twins took their packs with them to the royal armouries today and this is what I packed.

Melon cars with blackberries

Cheese Straws

Crinkle carrot chips with ranch dip

yogurt coated pineapple pieces

boiled quails eggs (fab for little mouths)

lemon infused water

Yummy!

prettypennies

ooh just remebered the apple tip thing.

Core apples and slice into rings.

Soak pieces briefly in a dish of water containing a soluble vitamin c tablet and then they won't turn brown. Works a treat. I'd tried using lemon juice in the past but the kids weren't keen. This method is a winner and adds extra Vit C into fruit too!

Oh and another favourite - Fruity bracelets.

Get hold of some non minty dental floss (unused!!) Thread blueberries or dried fruits onto it an tie ends together to make a cute and yummy bracelet. A great portable snack.
(Popcorn would also work here)

prettypennies

another link worth a look


http://www.flickr.com/groups/laptop_lunches

jiblets1

We had a lunch box man in school recently - he said it was a good idea to work from what the children already like.
e.g. plenty of kids (certainly in my school) like curry, so he mixed a teaspoon of curry powder in with a little couscous salad.
He also made lots of little tortilla wraps with children's favourite ingredients in. These are a little different and a little messy - so kids tend to like them! Healthy too!!!

jellycat40

My daughter has packed lunches and she is fussy any ideas

prettypennies

As the early poster said, start with things she like and mix new tastes in a bit at a time.

What sorts of things does she like to eat i.e bread, dairy, veg, fruit, salad, grains, cereals, meat, fish, salty foods, sweet foods spicy foods.

Don't just consider typical lunch foods. For example if your child is a fan of breakfast cereal you could put in a pot of dry cereal and gradually mix in other stuff such as dried fruit. Or you could serve a pot of cereal to sprinkle over yogurt.

I will try and come up with some ideas if you give me a few pointers on her preferred foods.

The main rule is to not overface children with a big portion of something new just a little taster. ( maybe one blueberry or one piece of cheese/meat/frittata on a cocktail stick)

thriftlady_2

prettypennies wrote:

With the dollar being so weak at the moment it is worth comparing which works out the cheapest option UK or US depending on what you are buying.

You're right there, the cost of 4 lunchboxes from the US is $119.96 which is £63, and from here they are £70. Haven't done all the calculations with postage and import duty etc though. I suppose I'd get them faster if I bought from here though.

Thanks for all this info, I'm really inspired although it's not actually going to save money:rotfl:

prettypennies

The inital outlay may seem high but I have found I have saved in in long run. Before I was going shopping on a Sunday to buy stuff specifically for pack-ups. Mini this and individual that whereas now I use bits of stuff I already have in the store cupboard or fridge. Last nights leftovers also regularly make an appearance i.e leftover rice or pasta, sliced cold sausage. Not that I was a big one for chucking leftovers in the bin but now anything that's left I visualise in one of those little tubs!!

thriftlady_2

Yes, I can see how leftovers get worked into the box. I've packed lunches for years now without resorting to individual packets of this and that,and I can do it really cheaply too. But, my ideas about what constitutes suitable lunchbox food are a bit staid. This has made me think differently, particularly for my OH's lunch. I'm definitely going to get some, I can't wait till September !:T