Food and stuff

[kcrkcs]

What is your kid eating these days? Any thoughts on packed lunches?
Bonus points for healthy high calorie foods.
L needs to eat more cals!
So far she has no interest in peanut butter, avocados, most meat.
She will do cheese and eggs and yogurt (sometimes)
Hummus is a new thing too.
Any other ideas appreciated.

[dizzycooks]

I did packed meals when the girls were at daycare. All things served cold. Common things were:
Cheese tortellini
Mini cheese raviolis
Shelled Edamame
Black beans
Cheese/bean/shredded chicken quesadilla
Shredded chicken/beef/pork
Waffle or raisin bread with cream cheese
Steamed veggies cut in strips
Chickpeas
All fruits
Brown rice cakes
String cheese
Thawed peas or corn
Mini whole wheat pitas
Pasta salads
Chicken or tuna salad spread on any bread (pitas or tortilla were common)
Pinwheel sandwiches (we still call it sandwich sushi )
Shrimp
Salmon

My kid eats anything except eggs typically.
However, that doesn't mean I didn't send them. Deviled eggs, hard boiled and sliced or chopped were common, but she never ate them well.

[dizzycooks]

A lot of what I sent came from Trader Joe's. They have great whole wheat options and I'd find snacks that were a bit healthier. Seed crackers were a big one too. Try different types of cheese. Dd3 loves sliced Gouda! Who would have guessed?

[scorpioscuba]

I like dizzycooks' list. I'd also suggest trying different brands of PB. Have you tried all natural? Crunchy, smooth? Or other nut butters (i.e. almond or sun butter).

I know you said most meat she doesn't like but have you tried meatballs? I have tried these frozen chicken meatballs from Costco that DD inhales. She loves sauces so if I add some spaghetti sauce, even better.

Also, with things she doesn't currently like, I'd try again every few weeks or so. DD hated avocados and now loves them.

The frozen Amy's mac and cheese is also a huge hit in my house.

[kcrkcs]

I think she just kind of likes novelty too. So trying different PBs is a good idea. Also it's not that she won't eat any meat but if we have it for dinner and she eats a bit she definitely won't eat it for lunch 🙄.
Anyway great suggestions. Lots to add to my shopping list!

[Lsquared]

I make Weelicious cottage cheese pancakes and freeze them in big batches and both kids gobble them up
weelicious.com/2010/10/05/cottage-cheese-pancakes/

Also cheesy turkey meatloaf from Weelicious is a hit (bonus points that veggies are chopped up in it) weelicious.com/2008/06/09/cheesy-turkey-meatloaf-bites/

Cottage cheese and fruit

Aidells Chicken meatballs

String cheese

Grilled cheese roll ups with tomato soup

Whole grain waffles with honey

Mini muffins made in batches

Veggie pancakes with dip

Nutragrain bars

Raisins

Ditto to reintroducing foods often!

[scorpioscuba]

Thanks for the weelicious links, Lsquared! Definitely going to check that out myself.

[Lsquared]

No problem! Here are the veggie pancakes:
weelicious.com/2012/01/17/green-veggie-pancakes/
And muffins:
weelicious.com/2011/09/27/very-berry-muffins/

[silverspoon]

My kid loves cheese so much it's one of the few actual words he says.

He's been eating a lot of the Gerber Grabbers pouches lately. He can actually suck one of those down all on his own without me having to squeeze it so I let him have at it. It's the lazy parenting way <---- it's a fair summation of my parenting.

We also do a lot of yogurt and applesauce.

I put butter on his sandwiches. He needs all the calories he can get so I always butter the bread before putting the PB&J or Turkey and cheese on. I don't actually know if butter is good for that, but I try anyway.

[NellieOleson]

Made these for lunch today and they were a hit. Dd2 ate 3 of them!

www.sproutedkitchen.com/home/2017/3/20/feeding-babies-broccoli-balls

Next time I would only use 1 clove of garlic, because 2 made them too garlicky IMO. I think I made mine a tiny bit too big, as well, so I'd err on the side of less instead of more when scooping up the mixture to make the balls.

I think they would freeze well and you could probably put a couple in her lunch and they'd be ready eat by lunchtime at school?