Lunchbox ideas 6 year old

[meow1989]

DS mostly has hot meals at school but there are one or two days a week when he doesn't like anything on the menu, so on these days he's asked for packed lunch. He's a really good eater generally but doesn't particularly like sandwiches or cheese by itself. I'm mindful there's not an awful lot of protein in his lunch, but does this generally look ok? And suggestions if not?

Mostly he will have:
Cinnamon and raisin bagel (just plain, no butter
A yoghurt (one of the collective suckies)
Two portions or more of fruit/veg (tomorrow he has grapes and tomatoes plus two mini cucumbers)
A sweet which is generally apple rice cakes or one of those screen lunchbox loaves.

All of the lunchbox ideas I can find online require prep (pasta etc) or are sandwiche/wrap variations...

That looks ok to me, but if you’re wanting to up the protein would he like fridge raiders? Or cocktail sausages? I know they’re processed but once or twice a week I’d be ok with.
He might like a sausage roll sometimes? Or crackers and things, basically a ploughman’s lunch in a box?

Is he eating all his lunch? And is he starving when he comes home? A bit more protein might help him feel fuller if he is ravenous at home time. Otherwise it seems like a good selection of food.

Would he like home made lunchables? I've done that for my kids with Ritz crackers, ham cut into little squares and cheese cut into square slices too.

Would he have philadelphia on his bagel?

My kids quite liked a little pot of hummus and bread sticks.
One likes those chicken fridge raiders. Or a cold sausage roll. One likes some slices of ham in a pot to have with a hummus wrap.

Dd hated sandwiches as lunchbox food as she said they go soggy. I waa the same and still am!

Bagels
Sausage roll
Cold pizza left overs

In winter, get a sho type food flask and do soup, reheated pasta

cheeses and cold meats? Chicken pieces (pre packaged one). Pasta can be made the night before and you can top with protein etc.

I'd put some protein in if he'd eat it:

Chicken
Salmon
Tuna
Boiled egg
Peanut butter (if it's allowed)
Houmous for dipping

I probably wouldn't do malt loaf/crackers and raisin and cinnamon bagel because it's just feels like more of the same...sweet carbs.

Hummus and veg sticks
Bread sticks and cream cheese
Greek yogurt
pasta or rice salad (can keep simple using pesto or mayo to bind with ham/tuna/chicken)
ham or cream cheese on rice cake or cracker
Cold pizza
Chicken or ham wrap
pitta strips and hummus/other dip

How about chicken drumsticks or mini sausages. Just roast them in the oven the night before when cooking dinner.

Humous mini pot with crudites and crackers

Some really good ideas thanks all 😊 mini sausages or fridge raiders are particularly likely to tempt him.

He does generally eat most to all of his lunch but isn't starving when he gets home - will wait half hour or so before asking for a snack for example.

Hoenstly, if he's a good eater generally and is eating a good breakfast and dinner, I think it's fine. I mean, sure, try some of these ideas as that would be even better, but I wouldn't be getting too worked up. It's more important what they eat over the whole day. DD, for example, gets most of her fresh fruit at school - she likes fruit, but as a rule, won't eat it at breakfast or dinner. But in her packed lunch or on the weekend with her sandwich, fine. I'm okay with that as overall, every day, she as at least 1 portion of fruit, often 2.

Having said that - would he eat a boiled egg in his lunch?? DS wouldn't do it in a packed lunch because of the smell, but would often have a boiled egg as a snack immediately post school etc. He also used to like a little "salad" of some lettuce, feta and avocado with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I always thought it was an odd thing in his packed lunch, but who was I to complain!?

DD likes a little pot of ham or feta cheese in hers.

I buy whole chickens or the big packs of drum sticks and cook the lot, break the whole chicken down then freeze on trays. My kids then add frozen drumsticks etc to their lunch. (They are pre/teens though!)