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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in thinking this is a totally suitable lunchbox contents for a 2.5yr old?

182 replies

LifeIsButtercream · 12/10/2011 21:41

I send DD to preschool with a packed lunch - several people have commented that I don't put enough in there (a friend was round once while I was packing it, and I discussed it with someone else - don't ask me how we ended up talking about it!)

Her lunchbox today contained:

  • sandwich made with one slice of brown bread and cream cheese
  • 3 cherry tomatoes
  • matchbox-sized piece of cheese cut into cubes
  • carton of watered-down apple juice
  • 4 mini Organix gingerbread men (ones from the little bags) - ok one didn't have a head lol!
  • packet of raisins
  • Innocent smoothie tube
  • yogurt

Just to explain - DD is a fruit-fiend, if I had put 4 bananas in there she would have been just as happy - it's hard work to get any carbs or protein into her sometimes! I do vary her lunchbox, and serve her something similar at home (and she rarely eats all of it) - someone commented that I should "chuck a pack of crisps in there to make it into a proper lunch" - in my experience DD would eat a whole pack of crisps, the fruit, and leave the rest........

She is a healthy weight and height.

OP posts:
WelliesinJune · 14/10/2011 01:55

Don't understand what people have against smoothies/decent yoghurts (eg Rachels). IMO feed a wide variety of all-natural foods and you can't go far wrong. Fruit smoothies are a source of vitamins, so what if they have sugar, sugar is natural and kids will burn off the energy. Only a problem if the item has rubbish in it apart from the sugar. Has anyone actually looked at the &rap which is in most bread and ham? If it was a straight choice between the two I would rather my daughter had a smoothie than a processed ham sandwich any day. Waitrose do good bread and my daughter has never eaten ham.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 14/10/2011 08:06

I don't think everyone uses proccessed ham Wellies...I certainly don't! and things like Innocent fruit smoothies are full of crap and those are what people usually have...and froobs.

witchyhills · 14/10/2011 08:16

How about a sandwich and a piece of fruit

That's what we used to get

We got a chocolate biscuit when we went on a school trip

Original poster
LifeIsButtercream · 14/10/2011 08:18

I am seriously lol-ing at the idea that I'm competitive! There's some really interesting ideas floating around on this thread - thanks for your input! Oh and Proud - if you think a thread is 'boring' - don't read it? It's a forum - I'm not here to entertain you.

Do love some of the unusual lunchbox contents - and like you say, if you're DC's like them then why not pack them? We don't get a 'lunchbox score' at parent's evening lol

OP posts:
RIZZ0 · 14/10/2011 14:41

Maybe it looks more or less when written down but sounds like plenty to me!
Might have to write mine down to see how it looks.

My DD is 2.5 and today she had:

A stick of celery cut in two filled with Philadelphia
A babybel
4 baby plum tomatoes
8 mini breadsticks
A little box of multigrain tomato and carrot bits (Benjoy thingies, which are a bit like healthy wotsits)

So looks like she had less than yours. Been trying very hard recently to make a change from the usual ham sandwich.

gordyslovesheep · 14/10/2011 14:49

my dd - also 2.5 had

soft cheese with bread sticks
a banana
a flap jack
apple juice
a FROOB! [hgrin]
a babybel

FearfulYank · 14/10/2011 16:16

I think when it comes to a topic like this (not necessarily on this thread, but in general) emotions can run high because sometimes people see others doing something different and feel it is a judgment of their choices. It's not.

And the competition goes both ways. Some are all "Oh I'm such a great parent, I only give my children beans grown in our very own backyard with organic mulch and eggs from chickens who live at a spa and are massaged every day and sleep on golden pillows" and some are all "Oh I'm such a great parent, so relazed and easy going, I just throw my DC a gallon of fruit punch and bag of Oreos and call it good...they're only little you know! No need for food issues!" There's a happy medium, and I think most of us live there. :)

Healthy eating is a fairly vague concept; I have a friend who insists on sugar-free everything, etc, which I think is UNhealthy because of the chemicals. Horses for courses, though.

It comes down to what you're comfortable with and what you think your own children need. As long as you're not feeding them McDonald's for every meal and they're active you'll be fine. If you WANT to feed them hand-rolled sushi, go for it! If you want to bung together a sandwich with a piece of fruit, go for it! Both options will produce kids who are okay, I promise. :)

BOOareHaunting · 14/10/2011 16:18

SHREEEEEIK I always freeze prepacked ham Blush I often buy reduced last day date packs and freeze them too. I didn't know you couldn't - I will check though!

TeddyMcardle · 14/10/2011 17:58

Why are innocent fruit smoothies full of crap? They're just fruit aren't they Confused

TiarasTimeOutsAndTantrums · 14/10/2011 17:59

Sugar. It's the devil Grin

grumplestilskin · 14/10/2011 17:59

innocent smoothies on their own are okay, but with dried fruit and fresh fruit and fruit juice.. thats a hell of a lot of sugar!

TiarasTimeOutsAndTantrums · 14/10/2011 18:01

Sugar is something the human body can process though. No added sugar crap with sweeteners and aspartame are worse. At least for DS he goes bonkers

grumplestilskin · 14/10/2011 18:03

do you think the only options are loads of sugar or loads of aspartaime? Hmm

TiarasTimeOutsAndTantrums · 14/10/2011 18:10

No I just said sugar is better than no added for my DS. I dont really ban any food/drink I just make sure it's in moderation and they get a balanced meal

TeddyMcardle · 14/10/2011 18:11

What are the options then? Confused sorry if I'm being dense but I thought we were supposed to give our children fruit, I wouldn't pack that much fruit but would one piece of fresh fruit and a smoothie be ok?

TiarasTimeOutsAndTantrums · 14/10/2011 18:13

I think it's fine. Everyone always argues about children and what they should be eating. If you think it's right for your child then go with it

allhailtheaubergine · 14/10/2011 18:33

Ooh I love a good lunchbox thread.

For 3.5 yr old ds I try and make it as easy as possible for him to eat, so it's all in one box not wrapped up or in separate pots, and nothing he can't open himself.

He has a 2 slice sandwich - either hummus or avocado. One piece of fruit (apple, pear, banana or clementine) and some salad (cucumber, carrot, baby toms, capsicum). Sometimes i do him a chickpea salad or cold pasta, but nothing too messy. We are veggie and he is dairy allergic. If he's not had much breakfast I put in an oatcake or some crackers. Water to drink.

5 yo daughter, however, has to take three bloody snacks every day!! They get three separate snack times. Pain in the arse. She takes...
Fruit and yogurt for snack 1.
Cheese sarnie and an apple or pear for snack 2.
Rice or pasta salad for snack 3.
Water and milk to drink.

She generally brings the lot home untouched Hmm

WelliesinJune · 14/10/2011 21:59

Mumbling all ham is cr&p. Send a link to some which doesn't have E numbers in it.
Erm - and innocent smoothies are just fruit.

SardineQueen · 15/10/2011 17:44

Boo I reckon if that's how you've been doing it for ages and no-one has got ill then it's OK to carry on - I would anyway!

FearfulYank · 16/10/2011 05:10

WheretheWildThingsWere have you given up all sugar, i.e. fruits, etc?

I'm just curious. I've been looking to possibly change DS's diet a bit. :)

microfight · 16/10/2011 08:47

I can't believe someone actually makes a sandwich with half a slice of bread, I've heard it all now!

microfight · 16/10/2011 08:56

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll
What crap is in an innocent smoothie? Please tell me because on the label it seems to suggest it's 100% fruit and nothing else!
Are you saying that innocent are lying on their labelling or are you suggesting fruit is crap?

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 16/10/2011 09:24

"Mumbling all ham is cr&p. Send a link to some which doesn't have E numbers in it."

Well surely dead, cooked pig doesn't have e numbers in it? Or am I missing something?

sparkle12mar08 · 16/10/2011 10:27

All bought ham will have a presrvative of some description in it. So unless you are buying the raw ham leg from the butchers and cooking it yourself, I think the poster is technically right. However knowing a little bit about food an additives, I happily buy pre cooked ham on occasion.

margerykemp · 16/10/2011 10:44

Ds used to get:
Ham sandwich, wholemeal bread
Pure fruit juice
Apple/satsuma/grapes/strawberries
Tiny pack raisins
Yoghurt
Sometimes breadsticks/crackers

Dd is harder to please !nd often doesnt eat much of anything at lunch:
Jam sandwich, wholemeal bread
Sometimes pure fruit juice, sometimes diluting juice
Yoghurt
Apple or raisins
Babybel cheese
Crackers
Some kind of cake eg jaffa, doughnut(!) , french fancy

I know it's far from perfect but she does eat lots of oily fish and green veg for dinner.

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