Lunch box inspiration needed!

[MattDillonsEyebrows]

Just wondering what you put in your child's lunch box? I'm really struggling with 8yo pickiness.

She doesn't like sandwiches, cheese, Tuna, ham, pasta, hummus, corned beef, (or any sliced meat), bread, wraps the list is endless, and I'm at the end of my inspirations!

She doesn't want to take anything warm eg soup, rice etc.
She doesn't like fruit in her lunch box.

She usually eats ok at home, although has a tiny appetite and has to be persuaded to eat her main meal with a pudding of yoghurt, banana and cinnamon or ice lolly.

Her lunch box will come home with the main part untouched or nibbled at, even though it's tiny (think 1 slice of bread with the crusts off, or a small wrap). I put other bits in to make sure she eats something, usually salad (cucumber & pepper), & a tube yoghurt (which get nibbled at) as well as either popcorn, go ahead biscuits, penguin sized bar or crisps (which usually gets eaten).

Before those who think 'I'm being ridiculous' come at me, I have tried not putting the treat stuff in and makes no difference, she still doesn't eat the main part.

Has anyone got any other suggestions I could try?

Will she eat things separately, like cubes of cheese, rolls of ham or pastrami, chicken skewers?

Thanks for replying, she definitely prefers things deconstructed, but its the growing list of things she wont eat thats getting to me. She suddenly decided cheese was the enemy this week, which flummoxed us as that was our go to!

We have done ham and pastrami in the past, when she liked it, but now she doesn't.

I'm doing homemade turkey and brie sausage rolls and pesto twists at the minute for DC.

I make a batch at the weekend and then just cook them in the evening while making dinner.

That’s a great idea thank you! Just found recipes for both of those.

Mine used to like a home made scotch egg or cold sausages.

Does she like eggs? Hard boiled eggs or slices of frittata. You could try quinoa or bulgar wheat in a pot, that with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, peppers, would be a more substantial salad.

What would she like to take herself? Does she have any ideas, maybe things she sees her friends eat...? I assume she wouldn't eat school dinners - just asking in case she prefers hot food but for whatever reason doesn't like to take it in a flask.

Other ideas not mentioned yet:
Sushi
Quiche
Anything else pastry based e.g. cheese straws, sausage rolls, other small pies or tarts?
Breadsticks or oatcakes with hummus/other dip
Boiled eggs or cold sausages with salad
Does her dislike of cheese include all types and textures of cheese - e.g. cream cheese as well as cheddar?
Couscous salad

What does she eat at home?

A chicken drumstick or wings
Sushi
quiche or these type of things https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/filo-pastry-mini-quiches-great-for-kids-to-make-and-eat/ You can add any filling she will eat- sweet corn, tomato, bacon, chicken, mushrooms, peppers etc

Would she have crackers? Or breadsticks? DD like a dip made with 50/50 garlic and herb cream cheese and natural yogurt. She could dip some veg sticks in too.

A low- sugar flapjack type thing could be good for filling her up with the oats.

Nairns oat cakes are quite filling too. There's lots of flavours. DD has loved the raspberry ones since she was little.

unless she actually loses weight - in which case see a doctor - leave the junk out , stop the puddings and give her one sandwich and stop stressing over it

My daughter is almost 8 and still very picky but she’s been much more fussy in the past she went through a stage of having bake at home sausage roll, fruit, cucumber and yoghurt for every lunchbox it’s all she would eat.

school mentioned she was a very slow eater so think it was impacting what she had.
She eats well at home now but most days asks for pasta in her hot pot and barely touches other things I send.
my daughter really likes pizza and pizza pinwheels I put them in her hot pot to keep warm
we’ve also tried adding dried fruit, yolly, sugar free jelly pouch, or smoothies.
my daughter also likes orzo pasta,cous cous or hard boiled egg.
we’ve also tried large rice cakes, crackers/dips

would she eat things like flapjack or savoury muffins you could make them with fruit she likes & hidden veg

my daughter was iron deficient her appetite definitely improved after she was given a course of iron It was like she just couldn’t be bothered to eat before

Thanks everyone, some really great ideas, which is what I was after.

I think home made puff or filo pastry things would be good to try as well as the oat cakes.

And the dip mixed with yoghurt is a great idea.

Thank you, that’s really helpful & interesting about your DD’s iron deficiency.

My DD is also a slow eater and it’s like she can’t be bothered, so maybe I should get that checked?

If you have any concerns it could be a factor I’d definitely speak to the doctors to see what they advise,
everything improved for us after she’d had a supplement we also saw a dietician. Looking back now she wasn’t really thriving before looked so dainty and ate such small picky meals quite the opposite of how my eldest daughter has always been