What do you put in your 5 year old's lunch box?

[BFPDec21]

Just that really.

My DD isn't getting on with school dinners as she doesn't eat them half of the time. We want to trial giving her a packed lunch and I'm looking for inspiration so she doesn't get bored with the same things.

I send hot food in a thermos - pasta/leftovers/soup with a sandwich on the side. On the side, things like veggies and hummus/olives/saucisson/cheese and crackers. Then some fruit, sometimes a yogurt, and I also always send something treat-y like a piece of chocolate/a biscuit.

A ‘main attraction’ e.g. pot of pasta salad, sandwich, filled wrap/bagel/pitta, sausage roll
1 x dairy portion e.g. frube, babybel, cheese string or cheese cubes
1 x veg portion e.g. carrot, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, celery or cucumber
1x fruit portion e.g. grapes, box of raisins, fruit flakes, easy peeler
1 x ‘treat’ (some schools are super strict about this, but the only rule at my DC’s school is no chocolate or sweets) e.g. Soreen lunchbox bar, popcorn, cereal bar, mini roll, a couple of biscuits, pot of jelly etc…

Also check the drinks policy. At my DC’s school they’re allowed fruit shoot, capri sun a carton of juice or a smoothie. My dc are good at drinking their school water bottle throughout the day, so I don’t feel they need anything extra.