How much packed lunch should I send for a 2.5 year old?

[Firndbtbsidb]

I’ve got to start making a packed lunch for my 2.5 year old on Monday and I’ve just realised I’m a bit lost on quantity.

We do packed lunches for days out but they’re well packed so that the DC can snack during the rest of the day too and I put the same in for both DC (other is older). Usually, this would be a full sandwich, apple, orange, box of cucumber and pepper, some cheese, packet of crisps and a little treat like a snack pack of biscuits.

I’ve been thinking this morning that this would obviously be excessive for a nursery lunch, but I don’t know where the line is!

Would you do a half sandwich for a 2.5 year old, so one slice of bread folded over?
then veg, one fruit and cheese?
do you usually include a treat?

I’ve got a little flask container so she can have warm pasta etc but I don’t want to bring this in until the standard packed lunch is established, she’s very headstrong and I think it could end with her hunger striking for a hot meal everyday otherwise.

You know the child, what would they usually eat. I have three children and the answer would’ve been very different for each.

Your quantities sound right to me. You could also add/alternate with yoghurt some days.

I've never added treats because they are not allowed them at school (only made packed lunches for school not nursery).

@DustyMaiden , I think I’d find it easier with my older child as he eats a predictable amount, alas he has always had nursery meals or school meals (there isn’t an option for this, I’d pay them any money to avoid the hassle of packed lunch 😂).

My daughter however goes between being an absolute gannet or eating like a flea.

I’ll stick with a half sandwich, veg, 1 fruit, cheese and a yogurt (thank you @Girasoli , forgot that somehow. )

I know that it’s just not that big a deal, but I don’t think I can find anything else to worry about and what is parenting other than worrying so I had to find something! 😂