Non-refrigerated lunch for 3-4 years olds?

dragonfire · by **dragonfire** on Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:52 pm

My dd is 2 1/2 years old and just graduated to daycare classes from her toddler class. The school is asking for parents to pack a lunch that mostly doesn't need to be refrigerated, or that can be kept cool with ice packs in her lunch bag. I'm new at this...what can I send to school with her in terms of protein??? No nuts rule, so peanut butter is out :shock:

...help?
Suggestions welcome, please

WCM · by **WCM** on Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:23 pm

hmm . . no fridge and no PB . . . here's some sample lunches I send with my kids in a day, nio fridge access:

tofu dogs, applesauce in a tupperware and a muffin

deli slices, banana bread and cut up apple

homous and pita wedges, sliced oranges and muffin

leftover cheese tortellini, carrots and strawberries . . .

any good?

I've found I need to sort of plan out having leftovers, baked goods and such things for decent luches.

Nat · by **Nat** on Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:12 pm

Cheese and crackers, cream cheese sandwiches, individual packages of yogurt, applesauce or raisins, carrot/celery sticks, rice crackers...I think the dairy items are ok even if they're not refrigerated for a few hours.

Nat

barb · by **barb** on Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:59 pm

Ice packs keep the food quite cold actually especially when in an insulated lunch kit. I pack yogurt, cheese, cubes of meat (chicken, pork chop, meatballs - whatever is left from night before), rice cakes, mini bagels, fruit, apple sauce, crackers, veggie booty, granola bars, nutri grain bars.

I have a 6 year old who doesn't eat sandwiches so it gets quite difficult but I find the above keeps him nourished!

Good luck!
Barb

Sunnygirl · by **Sunnygirl** on Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:26 pm

I still send lunch meats or boiled egg and cheese together with raw veggies (his favourite lunch). Even yogurt stays cool at this time of year in an insulated bag with a drink from the fridge in it. When the weather gets warmer I'll partly freeze drink (rubbermaid straw container) and then fill half with liquid and it'll be perfect at lunch time but will keep lunch cold.

saucy · by **saucy** on Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:52 pm

I have to laugh because I am going to print off this list for my hubbie as he can never figure out what to make himself for lunch - and these look like great suggestions...
:lol:

dragonfire · by **dragonfire** on Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:00 am

Thank you for all the great suggestions everyone

Very much appreciated!

Club Med · by **Club Med** on Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:08 am

cherry tomatoes are great and aren't supposed to be refridgerated anyway

mookie's mum · by **mookie's mum** on Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:53 am

Quick tip about ice packs...
They work best on top of the food; pack it last!

Brenda N · by **Brenda N** on Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:17 pm

we pack very similar things to barb - we always pack ice too. We freeze their Tupperware Water Bottles 1/3 full overnight, add the rest of the water in the morning so that there's water to drink already at recess but it stays cold all the way through the day and keeps the lunch cold too. I like this better than ice packs because it gets sterilized in the dishwasher every night (we have two per child) whereas the ice packs can't be as thoroughly washed.

barb · by **barb** on Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:27 pm

Brenda - hide your eyes!! What I am about to say will burn them like acid.

I put my sons ice pack into a ziploc bag - it stays clean and I don't worry about leaks!

Barb