I just have to write about how I have got my oldest daughter Madisyn to eat all her lunch. She started a new preschool a month ago and she goes 4 hours a day versus the 3 hours a day she was going at her other one.
Since she is going the hour longer, they require parents to bring their childs lunch each day. I was trying to think how I could get my picky eater to eat her lunch at school. Madisyn now is my very creative child who loves unique creations and artistic…. sooo I set off to target to find something that would let me be creative with her lunch.
Here is what I found:
Airtight Food Storage Container – 3.6 Cup Square Divided Lock & Lock
What makes this so unique is, when you open the lid there are four little cups in there all the same size. This allows you to fill each cup differently and the child will only have to open the main lid instead of opening three or four different lids.
Each day I change it up to where she does not have the same thing each day. She comes home every singe day with all her food gone and I always get a "Mommy thank you for my lunch today" 🙂
I usually do a sandwich or some kind of wrap or roll-up of turkey or ham and cheese. She loves the natural peanut butter on melba toast too YUMMM. If I do the sandwiches, I always cut them in different shapes like squares, triangles, or circles. That's always a big hit.
Then I always have her one veggie a day.. the three she likes the best are tomatoes, cucumbers or carrots. Of course we do one fruit a day as well, her favorites are sliced pineapples, apples, and grapes.
With the fourth container I include either a salty or sweet snack. Her all-time favories are the Annie's Homegrown Cheddar Bunnies Baked Snack Crackers, Original, 12-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)
All of these foods let me change it up from day to day to where she does not get bored with same foods each day. She just cannot wait till she gets to school to see what I pack for her. Another great tip is drawing a little picture and putting I LOVE YOU on it for her to find :).
Anyways, I just wanted to let you know about this in case you were having a hard time getting your children to eat lunch. You can easily do this at home with them as well. I strongly believe when she goes to kindy next year that I will do the same, just so I can know what food is going into my little girl's body ;).
Oh I wish it were that easy for Zachary – he’s REALLY picky too, and this year, due to another child in the school he cant even take his favorite meal peanut butter! Which stinks! LOL I have been searching for inventive ways to get him to eat more, so far nothings really working – but am going to get those snacks you mentioned, it might help! LOL 🙂
THANKS
I give you credit, that’s a lot of work! Your kids are so lucky that you take the time to do it.
I will have to try this with Devon. Devon’s problem is that he does not want his food to touch.
Cindy… that’s the great thing about this.. is all your food is in separate containers. It is four little squares, so its easy to put soft foods in as well 🙂
What a cool idea. I will have to try this out with my youngest. I think this might just be the thing that will keep him interested.
Oh, Jen — this is so terrific to see — Madisyn sure is lucky to have you for a Mom.. I love reading about the snacks you are providing – and what a great idea, having all the choices in one container, makes it much simpler.
Such healthy snacks!
Jenn, that is too bad about Zachary not being able to bring peanut butter with him (it doesn’t seem fair that other people’s allergies will limit our choices)….. have you tried almond butter? I personally love almond butter, and it may be worth trying!
Diana
Jen,
How cute but even moreso, creative! You do have a lot of patience which is a plus for the kids. The natural peanut butter on melba toast sounds yummy! Okay this may sound dumb but you said there are 4 cups on the inside, with no lids? What about spills?
WOW that is COOL!! This really would come in handy for Isaac – he loves a variety of foods for lunch. Now instread of 3 containers in his lunch bag I would only need one!! Too cool
What a sweet good mommy you are to give her some healthy variety and make it fun! Great idea!
🙂
Wow Jen– you have just raised the lunch bar! My 4 year old gets PB&J every day. She eats it — but your magic box of treats is oh so much better! And.. better for the environment since you aren’t using thousands of little plastic bags…
Thanks 🙂
Great idea! My question is how did you get a picky eater to eat any kind of vegetable? About the only thing I can get Andrew to even pretend to eat is carrots, but only if they are cooked. He used to not be so picky, but then I let my sister and her two kids move in. My sister is more picky than the kids so he picked up some bad habits. 🙁
Trying to get him back into eating healthy has been a chore. Anyway, you said you got that nifty thing at Target? I don’t go there very often, but I just might have to make a special trip!
I have to get a couple of these! Thanks, Jen! I was looking for something like this when school started for my Kindergartener. The only place I found that sold something similar to this was waaaaay overpriced. Plus, I had to pay shipping on top of it… which almost doubled the price of the container. I’m going to have to make a run for Target this weekend.
Jenn, I feel your pain. My son loves peanut butter too. A kid in his class has a peanut allergy so no more peanut butter. Ugggh! He loves lunchables too (which can get expensive). So this little container here is ideal!
Thanks Jen!
Great ideas! Now if only I can get my guy to eat something other than peanut butter and jelly!
I hope you don’t mind, I linked to your post from my blog.
Thanks!
Great ideas Jen. There are some cool sites online with Bento box lunch ideas. I bet you could get some nifty ideas from those too. Here’s one: http://www.bentoyum.com
🙂
Too cool Jen! I love that. I never had to send my daughter with lunch because she got out too early and now we homeschool. But this summer she and my son went to a camp and we had to pack a lunch – I got them each a lunch box but it was just one large compartment which was annoying by the end of the week. Great find!
What a clever way to get the kids to eat all their lunch and offer them a nice variety of foods. I gotta get me one of those containers for my little one.
What a great idea. I haven’t seen any containers like that around here (I live in Ottawa, Canada – no Target) but will look around. I have twin boys and this would be perfect and as someone else mentioned – not a bazillion little containers and lids for little hands to deal with (and lose!)
What a great idea! I’m always looking for new things to pack in my daughters lunch!
What a great idea. I homeschool but I could use these for field trips and our weekend family get-a-ways.
Thankfully I’ve never had any problems getting my son to eat and he likes most things. He’s gotten a bit more picky lately with some foods though.
That’s a pretty neat container too! I wonder if they have them in Canada 🙂
That is a neat container I am always on the look out for my kids for his lunch and stuff. thanks for the input.
I should give this a whirl and see if I can get some healthier meals into my boys belly rather than what the school feeds him.