School Lunches, or What Am I Sposed To Do Without a Fridge?!

youre going about this all wrong. Make some hash brownies. Ask the kids if they'd like desert first and give them a brownie.

Next thing you know they'll have the mega munchies and will eat any damn old dry thing you put in front of them as long as there's plenty to drink.

With the exception of blips like peanut butter and (occasionally) bananas, the kid will eat pretty much anything even without pharmaceutical assistance, thankfully. I can be confident that she'll eat what I make.

I'm a lot less worried about stuff going bad in the interval between making it (in the morning) and her eating it (at 11:30 or so) now than when I started this, thanks all.

Mayonnaise facts:

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/2005/062305/03prairi.htm

http://www.dressings-sauces.org/Mayonnaise_Dressings.html

http://homecooking.about.com/od/howtocookwithcondiments/a/mayospoilage.htm

I freeze Gogurt and put it in the thermal insulated lunchbox with ham that I roll up and whole wheat crackers, grapes or strawberries and a couple of cookies. Last year I froze water bottles (little ones) on their side and put it in the fridge the night before...it thawed out enough for them to drink by lunch time and kept all of their stuff cold. When I went to eat lunch with them I always checked and it seemed to work just fine. Of course cheese sticks and pita wraps...I have even given one of the boys salad...just gave him a small take along with the dressing in it. He handled it pretty well...He was in first grade last year and it worked fine. Hummus in a small take along with whole wheat flat bread...any of these things...if I could find something small they could open on their own...I just made sure I had the frozen water or Gogurt in there. Of course they ate at 11:00 - so that is rather early...just have to try it and see I guess...

What a great thread! I have to remember all these neat ideas for my own lunches, so I'm bookmarking

Oh, and Mismi40 and CJ both mentioned needing little containers that kids can open-- I love these Lock n Lock containers for my lunches, have you guys tried them? These things:


It's easy to get the lids off (I have trouble with tupperware sometimes!), but they still seal really tightly. I've carried liquid stuff in them all day in my purse without any leaking at all.

I actually just bought some of these, cyphercat, and they're great. You're
right! My mother sent me some of these....

Cool! Those look nifty.

I saw some of those lock containers the other day and almost bought some but wasn't sure if they were any good. I love those red ones, CJane. I send my kids fruit but it's hard to keep it from getting squished. Do you think I can find those online?

You know we have always had problems having things gettnig squished...especially with the soft thermal lunchboxes. This year I found good old fashioned metal ones and have little zip side thermal bags that go in. I don't have to worry about things getting squished. Also - last year the boys managed to spill milk or yogurt in the soft ones and they smelled horrid. No amount of bleach or baking soda would take the smell out..and it says not to wash them so we ended up throwing them away. I don't worry about the squished food with the metal lunchboxes - but some really small containers to hold things like salad dressing or hummis - those things I am always on the prowl for...who makes the Lock n Lock containers? Where can I find them?

Vegemite sandwhich. Who could ask for more!

What is Vegemite? It looks rather like chocolate but sounds like something to do with vegetables,,,which sounds not so good.

Found something.....

A Vegemite sandwich to an Australian kid is the equivalent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to an American kid - but the taste is QUITE different!

Vegemite is one of several yeast extract spreads sold in Australia. It is made from leftover brewers' yeast extract (a by-product of beer manufacture) and various vegetable and spice additives. It is very dark reddish-brown, almost black, in color, and one of the richest sources known of Vitamin B. It's thick like peanut butter, it's very salty, and it tastes like - well let's just say that it is an acquired taste!

Australian children are brought up on Vegemite from the time they're babies. It is said that Australians are known to travel all over the world with at least one small jar of Vegemite in their luggage, for fear that they will not be able to find it.

I guess I should try it before I make a determination huh?

Well, I tried to acquire a taste for it and I just couldn't quite do it....I do love Brewer's yeast though, so maybe I should try again...

Here's lock n lock's site, Mismi: http://www.heritagemint.com/jump.jsp?itemID=7&itemType=CATEGORY&path=1%2C2%2C7&KickerID=7&KICKER&gclid=CJiQwtPZ-o0CFQLSYAod4VAzKw
...but there are probably cheaper places to get them if you shop around, there are lots of sites selling them if you google lock n lock.

Thanks so much cyphercat!

No problem-- I hope it's okay I posted that link though, I don't know if it's okay to link to commercial sites or not...oopsie!

FreeDuck, my Mom bought them HERE but I think they only ship
within Europe.

Bugger. I may have to ask my sister to get me some and send them over.

Where is your sister located, FreeDuck?

She's in Barcelona. She's come through for me on a number of my favorite products. We've been meaning to make a trip to visit her there but the money hasn't cooperated.

Oh, Barcelona is beautiful. Off season is a lot cheaper - you should make
the trip some time - xmas would be especially nice.

Thanks for that suggestion, CJ. I'm really going to think about that since that's actually a really good time for us to travel and we don't do much for Christmas here at home.