Lunchbox ideas

[buzzbee]

Hi all
I know there is an old thread about this topic in the forum, but I thought maybe I would start a new one for 2014.
One of my resolutions for this year is to try to make more interesting lunchboxes for my kids - they get bored and I get bored! I thought perhaps the lunchboxes would be less of a chore if I tried to make them more varied. And then there is more likelihood that the lunch would get eaten.
So far I have tried:
* Steaming and then shredding chicken in the TM - freezing this in portions and then using it to make chicken mayo wraps/pitas
* Making and freezing the bolognaise rolls from the 'more munch in your lunch' recipe booklet - these are a big hit, and my kids don't seem to mind eating them cold (I wouldn't want to, but it doesn't seem to bother them!)
* cooking chicken shnitzels (not in TM  ) and then freezing these and popping a shnitzel in the lunchbox
* making TM hoummous and packing a small container of hoummous with some crackers/cucumber sticks
All these ideas are working well, but I am looking for more good ideas, esp for things that can be made in the TM and then frozen in portion sizes.
Neither of the children have facilities for reheating, so it needs to be things that can be eaten cold.
Thanks! 

[astarra]

Ok, my girls each have a thermos which greatly enlarges the variety of food I can send them for lunch (they have no heating facilities either.)


Basic outline as below:
Fruit-
purees (in TM - freeze well) either single fruits or combos
whole
portions
fruit salad

Morning tea -
Muffin -always homemade and frozen
slice - always homemade and frozen
piece of cake - always homemade and frozen
custards (EDC) - frozen

Lunch, cold -
sandwich/wrap etc- homemade bread always gets eaten better than shop brought
scrolls
zucchini slice portions
pasta or potato salad
pizzas/calzones (I wouldn't eat them cold but they seem to like it!!)
shredded chicken

Lunch, hot -
spaghetti (TM made) with or without sausages/meatballs/whatever
meatballs
cocktail franks (TM heated in basket)
salmon/tuna mornay with rice/pasta
party pies (Go soggy bit they like them)  
ravioli in bol sauce
mince dishes
chicken dishes
soups -they especially love the chickpea soup from the varoma demo.


Well that is all I can think of at the second, know there are oodles more.....

Would recommend a good quality Thermos food flask to anyone wanting to give their children/spouse/self a nice hot lunch.  

HTH somewhat...

[cookie1]

Astarra that is a very comprehensive list. Wow. 

[judydawn]

Very lucky little girls with such scrumptious lunch boxes astarra.

[Halex]

What do i do...

Cp has a tupperware comtainer with 4 sections, each section must be full.

On the side
Lettuce, cucumber, carrot
Apple/banana/grapes/watermelon

Main event - Summer
Wraps, rolls, sandwiches
Amys quiches
Cold pizza
Nigellas nuggets
Scrolls
Sausage rolls

Frozen juice

Main event - winter

Spag bol
Lasagna
Fried rice
Beef dianne
Pasta
Mac n cheese

Plus any summer item

Treats
Brownies
Cake
Muffins
Hot x buns
Pikelets
Cheese & crackers

The last section

Can be filled with any of the above.

Also can have shop bought muesli bars, rice crackers & items like that from time to time.

Heaps more ideas i do, but cant think atm.
Tomorrow

Chicken breast roll,
On the side, lettuce, cucumber & carrot
Hot x bun
Banana

[judydawn]

More nice lunchbox ideas.

[Itsnotartitsdinner]

We do sushi, leftovers Ie meatloaf, wraps, Pizza, sausage rolls, chicken bites, marinated wings, fried rice, won tons, rice paper rolls, quiches, lentil pie etc

Muesli bars, Chelsea's fruity puff bars, bliss balls, crackers with cheese and cherry tomatoes, olives, semi dried tomatoes, ham, boiled egg, baby spinach

Cinnamon scroll, muffin, apricot bites, dried fruit, organic yoghurt with home made coulis

Fruit

I hardly ever send sandwiches as I had nothing else as a kid. My kids see them as a treat Haha.

[judydawn]

Things certainly have changed since our day INAID, some kids of today are spoilt for choice. I love that a sandwich is a treat LOL

[buzzbee]

wow - so many awesome ideas.
My kids don't like muffins, slices, quiches. I have tried a variety of muesli bar-type recipes, but they don't really like any of those. I have resorted to shop-bought nut bars for my son, because he is allowed to take nuts to school.
The thermos is a good idea - I need to get organised with some of those. Where is a good place to buy them?
Definitely going to try make some sausage rolls - they will like that.
Thanks all!
Buzzbee

[Halex]

I find cp will eat most things if it looks enticing.

Buy Thermos brand. Fill with boiling water, tighten lid, leave for 10 mins, then empty & add your food. It stays hot until lunch

[Jamberie]

I had a big cook up the week before school started and made a selection of things to keep in the freezer.

Now I only need to cook one batch of something per week to restock.

I follow the rough guide (below) each day. This helps me so that I don't always feel I have to make new things and I know she is having a balanced diet (dairy/protein options are low due to refridgeration concerns but we make that up before & after preschool).

Morning tea:
Pikelets or muffin or banana bread + fruit (banana/berries)

Lunch:
Zucchini pizza scrolls or zucchini slice or vegemite sandwich + vegetables (usually cherry tomatoes, beans)

Afternoon tea:
Homemade donuts/banana +fruit (blueberries/strawberries/sultanas)

Having this 'system' to follow has really helped me and DD is happy because she has some choice. I plan on adding more to th en list, but that's just what's available in the freezer at the moment

[Kimmyh]

I'm a boring sandwich mum and my boys don't seem to mind. Ds5 loves sandwiches with meat cheese and gherkin relish (ugh). Ds6 loves meat cheese and bbq sauce. I mix up the treats and fruit. They enjoy plain popcorn and love anything that's rolled in coconut such as apricot balls, bliss balls, truffles, etc. Hally's pirogi were a big hit as are scrolls. Looking forward to trying some of these ideas, but I know they will resort back to wanting sandwiches.

[astarra]

Buy Thermos brand. Fill with boiling water, tighten lid, leave for 10 mins, then empty & add your food. It stays hot until lunch

Agree 100% with this - definitely go for the Thermos brand, the cheaper ones just don't do the job. 

[obbie]

My DS likes chicken and lettuce wraps for school every day.

DD just eats fruit and choc chip biccies..

Boring

[droverjess]

Well my DH takes a lunch box  and snacks every day and he has given up processes sugar and all processed food. He is doing well and has lost his terrible sugar cravings.

He has a version of JD tomato soup in a small stainless flask, with one slice of seeded bread and two plain rice crackers.
An apple, and grapes.
Carrot sticks.
Small box of mixed seeds, goji berries and nuts, contents vary. Brazils, almonds, walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds and pepitas.
A salad with a base of brown rice, quinoa, or cooked beans mixed with chopped coriander and a mixed salad on top with huge variation, Chinese leaves, spinach, rocket, cucumber, pepper, celery, mini tomatoes,  mango etc etc.
With hummus, hard boiled egg or shredded chicken, salmon or a stick of cheese for protein, or variation of Amy quiche.
Sometimes a bottle of home made fresh juice too.
Bag of plain popcorn home popped to deter munchies. He used to buy chocolate bars!
One spelt/banana pikelet and sometimes a piece of banana (no wheat) bread.

The bag is very heavy!
I get the nut box ready once a week. I make the soup 2x week,or freeze in portions then reheat.
I cook extra rice, quinoa, beans etc when making dinners.
Cakes and pikelets a are really nice and frozen individually or in slices.
http://revolutionfromhome.com/2013/02/bestie-banana-pancakes/
http://www.forumthermomix.com/index.php?topic=9145.0 lots of variations for this one.