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Homemade savoury treats for lunch boxes

21 replies

ChancetoDance · 02/01/2014 21:05

Since DS1 started secondary school his lunch box has deteriorated markedly. I used to be so proud of his snap full of home cooked goodies and fresh fruit and veg.

He loves his food and will eat most things but the issue we have is that lunch has to be eaten outside and at this time of year that usually means standing up. So, it needs to be something easy to eat with one hand. I have resorted to sandwiches, penguin type biscuits and crisps. Even homemade cake often comes home uneaten because it's too messy or crumbly.

Anyway, I am on a mission to reduce the sugar and processed food in our diets, Does anyone have some ideas to replace the "extras" without them being sugar laden/processed. ATM I only have cheese scones, which he loves....Not worried about being low in fat - if anything he could do with fattening up!

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IHeartKingThistle · 02/01/2014 21:48

ha I just came on to suggest cheese scones!

Ds quite often takes leftover stuffing balls in his lunchbox. Not super healthy though!

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Anniemousse · 02/01/2014 21:50

Why does he have to eat outside/standing up?

Sausages
Pasties
Sausage rolls

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siblingrevelry · 02/01/2014 21:50

'Homemade' sausage roll-packet of puff pastry, and quality sausage removed from skin, assembled and baked.

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Anniemousse · 02/01/2014 21:50

Samosas
Spring rolls

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Middleagedmotheroftwo · 02/01/2014 21:51

What about little quiches? I make them in fairy cake tins. Or home made pasties?
My DDs prefer wraps to sandwiches, and they are pretty healthy and easy to eat.

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Yoghurty · 02/01/2014 21:53

Could you make little crustless quiches? Beaten egg, chopped ham, cheese etc all mixed together and baked in muffin tins?

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Yoghurty · 02/01/2014 21:54

Cross post with Middle!

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ChancetoDance · 02/01/2014 21:55

I know Annie, it's ridiculous. They eat in the "quad" (playground to you and me) or on the field in the summer. In the winter there's nowhere to sit that isn't wet. There isn't anywhere else unless you're having a school meal.

I love wraps Middle but I obviously do something wrong because they fall apart and are definitely not easy to eat. What's the secret?

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5HundredUsernamesLater · 02/01/2014 21:57

I think I would be having words at school to see why there's no facilities to eat lunch sitting in the warmth instead of standing outside like farm animals but that's your business.
What about a flask of soup that he can drink from a cup.

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BerryBlast · 04/01/2014 18:36

Chance in exactly the same position with my DD (she eats outside, think this is the norm at a lot of schools now - DS isn't at Prince Henry's, Evesham is he?)
DD will take those Warburtons square things with ham, cream cheese and cucumber (nothing "smelly" though :) ) sometimes chunks of cheese, baby toms,red pepper and carrot batons - just needs to be easy to eat.
5Hun a flask would be lovely, but when I mentioned this to DD she laughed and rolled her eyes :). I think we'll just have to make sure they have a good breakfast and evening meal and accept the limited choices for lunch.

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NoComet · 04/01/2014 18:41

I've never asked DD2 where she eats lunch, DD1 eats in the library (she's a librarian) or I suspect racing to choir or in the art room.

Outside in Winter is hardly going to encourage healthy eating.

Neither does fitting sports practice into stupid 45 minute lunch 'hours' lots of DD2's food gets wasted.

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krazipan · 04/01/2014 18:46

Can the crust less quiches be frozen yoghurty?

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ellaballoo · 04/01/2014 18:50

Google 'lebanese borek ' .. they are little filo rolls with feta in .Very yummy.

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dingit · 04/01/2014 18:52

My dcs also eat outside at their secondary. They don't mind, but when it is wet, the only place they are allowed to eat is the canteen, and there is not enough room for everyone, so often they eat their lunch on the way home! Not good enough. Is hasn't happened often, but given the current weather, it looks like I will be emailing a complaint.

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reup · 04/01/2014 18:52

Cheese and vegetable muffins, there's lots of recipes online.

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poopooheadwillyfatface · 04/01/2014 18:55

not what you asked about I know but I would be livid at them bring expected to eat outside standing upAngry that's a bloody disgrace

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ellaballoo · 04/01/2014 19:07

There is a cheesy muffins recipe I have been making for10 years on ..shhhh...netmums.

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Onykahonie · 04/01/2014 21:08

If he doesn't like halloumi, you could always swap the cheese, but my kids loves these mini halloumi tarts

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DwellsUndertheSink · 04/01/2014 21:14

lakeland do a mini pie maker - 4 or 8 pies, ready in 10 minutes apparently. Im tempted to make a batch of meat/chicken pies for my hungry teen (same issue with nowhere to sit here.)

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spilttheteaagain · 05/01/2014 14:44

Cold falafels/ sweet potato falafels/ bean burgers (sounds rank I know but my homemade bean burgers are gorgeous cold!)

I remember the misery of hanging around outside in the rain & wind eating my lunch at secondary school. Or we'd go in and find a staircase to sit on the floor of. But there was only seating for about 60 out of the 500 kids it was for school dinners only. I didn't think about it when a pupil but it's disgraceful actually.

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Breadandwine · 05/01/2014 23:15

These bread wraps (I call them sizzlers) are dead easy to make, freeze well and are very tasty.

You can make them for the following week together with your son on a Saturday morning. And he can choose what goes in them! Smile

I also, however, agree he shouldn't have to stand outside to eat his lunch! Just what message does that send to our young folk!?? Angry

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