We are well on our way into the second week of Kindergarten and so far we’ve survived packing school lunches despite my initial anxiety about it. I’ve tried to pack her a well-balanced and healthy as possible lunch each day though I’ve had to get creative in order to keep the stress and costs down and avoid setting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich precedence. She’s had leftovers a few times and I’ve also found it easiest when preparing something to make enough for a few days so I don’t have to do so much each morning.
For protein she’s had:
- Tuna salad
- Hard-boiled egg
- Egg salad
- Leftover Gyro sandwich
- Fish Chowder
- Meatballs
- Edamame
For Veggies she’s had:
- Rice with mixed veggies
- Green Peppers
- Cucumbers
- Broccoli
- Carrots
For Fruit she’s had:
- Natural Fruit snacks/sticks
- Apple
- Plum
- Banana
Dairy:
- Frozen Gogurt (which is melted but still cold by lunch time)
- Cheese Stick
I don’t obsess over grains/carbs since we get plenty of these during breakfast and dinner and there is usually a little bit in her other stuff.
I also send everything in reusable containers other than individually pre-packed items like the yogurt, cheese sticks and fruit snacks. It means a lot of container washing (usually 2 or 3 each day) but it saves money and helps keep unnecessary trash out of the landfill.
