Well, it is two full months into the school year and six weeks until Christmas break…which will mark the "half-way" through the year point! Jaxon has definitely eaten more so far this year than he did all of last year combined. I am still struggling to find new and interesting ideas that will “suck him in” and encourage him to eat! I have found that by snapping a picture of his lunch now and then is actually a good idea because I can show him the pictures and he can tell me which lunches he enjoyed and which ones he didn’t care for. I also hope that by sharing pictures of Jaxon’s lunches I might give some ideas to other moms who are also struggling (allergies or not) to find different things to send to school each day.
Here are a few things from my “school lunch pantry”…
http://www.amazon.com/LunchBots-Trio-Stainless-Steel-Container/dp/B006T5BLNU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168045&sr=8-6&keywords=lunch+bots
I use this one (with 3 divided spots) and love that I can use the silicone baking cups to separate different food items and have room at the bottom for sticks of fruit, meat and cheese rolls, or even string cheese.
http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-431-4-Piece-Silicone-Maker/dp/B0036B9KHO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168084&sr=8-1&keywords=smoothie+pop+mold
These are the pop molds that I use daily for yogurt, homemade pudding, homemade smoothies, or homemade applesauce. I fill them up and put them in the freezer and grab one in the morning when I am making Jaxon’s lunch. I have found that they work best if I don’t fill them completely full and squeeze any extra air out of the top before freezing them.
http://www.amazon.com/Lunch-Munch-Snack-Boxes-3pack/dp/B0072MUD9M/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1352168109&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=wexy+bags
These have been great reusable bags for cookies, pretzels, chips, cut up fruit, and they are super easy to wash out, dry and use again the next day…no more throwing away baggies every night!
http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Supply-Silicone-Baking-3-inch/dp/B001ET7B9E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168143&sr=8-5&keywords=silicone+baking+cups
I love these baking cups for lunches, they hold nearly anything you send in the lunch and keep food from touching each other. They are really easy to wash which is definitely a plus in my house.
http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Cupcake-Picks-Food-set/dp/B004MO99HU/ref=sr_1_19?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1352168195&sr=1-19&keywords=cupcake+picks
As long as your school approves, I love using picks in Jaxon’s lunch. They add a little “spunk” to his lunch and encourage him to eat. I get ones that have a rounded end so they aren’t sharp.
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Hydration-Insulated-Stainless-25oz/dp/B00295ERRG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168368&sr=8-1&keywords=pure+hydration+bottle
Best water bottle ever! I send ice water every day and when he gets home at 3:00 there is still ice in the bottle!
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-On-Feeding-Set-Blue/dp/B004X7FMC2/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1352168414&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=sassy+lunch+container
My other favorite lunch container, it also holds anything I send for lunch and I can easily “separate” the different lunch items with ease.
http://www.amazon.com/YummyEarth-Organic-Gummy-Bears-0-9-Ounce/dp/B0023V65GW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168446&sr=8-3&keywords=organic+bears
Our favorite “go to” organic gummies, no dyes, no junk, just good! (My other choice is Surf Sweets bears.)
http://www.amazon.com/Surf-Sweets-Organic-0-9-Ounce-Packages/dp/B003G522W0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352169293&sr=8-2&keywords=organic+jelly+beans
I like having fun snacks to send in Jaxon’s lunch so h feels like he is getting a “treat” while he eats. These are great because they don’t have any icky dyes in them that make my child bounce off the walls.
http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Piece-Silly-Sandwich-Cutter/dp/B0076LAGQ4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168522&sr=8-8&keywords=sandwich+cutters
My little one LOVES it when I cut his sandwich into fu shapes. Any cookie cutter will do!
Here are a few things from my “school lunch pantry”…
http://www.amazon.com/LunchBots-Trio-Stainless-Steel-Container/dp/B006T5BLNU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168045&sr=8-6&keywords=lunch+bots
I use this one (with 3 divided spots) and love that I can use the silicone baking cups to separate different food items and have room at the bottom for sticks of fruit, meat and cheese rolls, or even string cheese.
http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-431-4-Piece-Silicone-Maker/dp/B0036B9KHO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168084&sr=8-1&keywords=smoothie+pop+mold
These are the pop molds that I use daily for yogurt, homemade pudding, homemade smoothies, or homemade applesauce. I fill them up and put them in the freezer and grab one in the morning when I am making Jaxon’s lunch. I have found that they work best if I don’t fill them completely full and squeeze any extra air out of the top before freezing them.
http://www.amazon.com/Lunch-Munch-Snack-Boxes-3pack/dp/B0072MUD9M/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1352168109&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=wexy+bags
These have been great reusable bags for cookies, pretzels, chips, cut up fruit, and they are super easy to wash out, dry and use again the next day…no more throwing away baggies every night!
http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Supply-Silicone-Baking-3-inch/dp/B001ET7B9E/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168143&sr=8-5&keywords=silicone+baking+cups
I love these baking cups for lunches, they hold nearly anything you send in the lunch and keep food from touching each other. They are really easy to wash which is definitely a plus in my house.
http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Cupcake-Picks-Food-set/dp/B004MO99HU/ref=sr_1_19?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1352168195&sr=1-19&keywords=cupcake+picks
As long as your school approves, I love using picks in Jaxon’s lunch. They add a little “spunk” to his lunch and encourage him to eat. I get ones that have a rounded end so they aren’t sharp.
http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Hydration-Insulated-Stainless-25oz/dp/B00295ERRG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168368&sr=8-1&keywords=pure+hydration+bottle
Best water bottle ever! I send ice water every day and when he gets home at 3:00 there is still ice in the bottle!
http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-On-Feeding-Set-Blue/dp/B004X7FMC2/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1352168414&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=sassy+lunch+container
My other favorite lunch container, it also holds anything I send for lunch and I can easily “separate” the different lunch items with ease.
http://www.amazon.com/YummyEarth-Organic-Gummy-Bears-0-9-Ounce/dp/B0023V65GW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168446&sr=8-3&keywords=organic+bears
Our favorite “go to” organic gummies, no dyes, no junk, just good! (My other choice is Surf Sweets bears.)
http://www.amazon.com/Surf-Sweets-Organic-0-9-Ounce-Packages/dp/B003G522W0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352169293&sr=8-2&keywords=organic+jelly+beans
I like having fun snacks to send in Jaxon’s lunch so h feels like he is getting a “treat” while he eats. These are great because they don’t have any icky dyes in them that make my child bounce off the walls.
http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Piece-Silly-Sandwich-Cutter/dp/B0076LAGQ4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1352168522&sr=8-8&keywords=sandwich+cutters
My little one LOVES it when I cut his sandwich into fu shapes. Any cookie cutter will do!
