To not be looking forward to doing lunch boxes again from the 8th

[HaroldandGeorge]

I hate doing school lunch boxes. Once the kids are back to school, I’ll be doing 3 lots of packed lunches every day again. My DH is pretty easy to cater for as he will have a soup flask or porridge pot (add hot water) most days. But it’s my 2 Dc I struggle with. I want to have a variety of go-to quick lunches, especially ones you can prepare the day before. Would premade cold toasties work? They love cheese toasties...

I find the monotony of buttering sandwiches grinds me down. So, hit me with your quick and easy alternatives to ham/cheese sandwiches.

Cream cheese? Then you won't need butter maybe

mine are so fussy that even if I found something intersting for a lunch box they probably wouldn't eat it!
DD (teen) makes her own (boring) food now and DS either has sandwiches, wrap or shop bought cold pizza. Neither take fruit or veg very often. Luckily their schools arent strict!

@SmudgeButt My DH is wonderful and would happily do the lunches without a seconds thought...but, as I’ve said, why should he when he works such a long day while I am a housewife? I like that I can take away that chore for him. I’m sure I’m not the only one who does this!!

I’m loving all the suggestions so far, lots are very manageable. School dinners are not an option due to the schools decision to not do them until at least Easter.

@miserablecat Loving your very honest post. Thank you.

I make my kids all 12+ lunch, of I didn't they would scoff all the premium stuff and leave the rest. I have a food plan and work on a budget, we eat well but it would be a complete pain in the arse to tell each of them you must use the wraps today with this or that as the date is coming up. Easier doing myself can keep track of dates and have zero food waste! My favorites are sausage and egg pie with hot crust pastry (cold and easy sliced) sweet chilli noodles with chicken, pasta salads, soup in a flask, houmous and veg to dip, boiled eggs, bulk made fillings like Tuna mayo, chicken and sweetcorn used to stuff a fresh pita in morning.

Whose benefit is this supposed to be for? Some of these “quick and easy”options involve way more faffing than a pre-sliced cheese sammidge would.

If your DC are perfectly with their usual menu, I’d just stick to it if I were you. The thought of rinsing out all that mini tupperware every day after school brings me out in a cold sweat.

And ignore some of the nastier comments about your husband and children . If having a traditional set-up is how you do things, then I do think prepping meals comes understanding your “job”. Doesn’t make you a surrendered.

Wife!

I just pay for school dinners and avoid making packed lunches at all!

Same, surely that's the easiest option?

@Pjsandbaileys Yes!

@ChristOnAPeloton Thank you

Cheap defrosted prawns Marie Rose sauce and some lettuce, chicken nuggets (leftovers from night before) are a hit with peppers and spicy mayo in a wrap, cold rice with peas and sweetcorn and maybe tuna. I asked the kids what ones they liked that's what they came up with 😊

Yanbu.
I was quite happy paying for school lunches and snacks. Saved me brain and fridge space.

The kids eating hot food at school is probably the thing I miss most. My kitchen hasn't been tidy in a year.

@SmudgeButt

Make too much for dinner and then next day's lunches can be packed after dinner. Do a big pot of rice/cous cous/fusilli pasta and add a dollop of stew/stir fried veg/drained tuna.

the DCs can prep celery and carrot sticks a few days at a time bagged up ready to be added. buy those tiddly pots of jam (as used by hotels) as the jars are perfect for a small portion of mayo or humous and are easy to wash up.

And get DH off his lardy posterior and do his share. they are not just your kids. at a very minimum he should be doing at least his own work meal prep.

OP's DH is working full time, so hardly sitting around doing nothing and OP is a housewife of school age children so of course she will be doing more of the household stuff. When school starts again OP will have 6 hours a day to herself, she's not hard done by just making a packed lunch for DH!

@Waxonwaxoff0 You have explained it perfectly. Thank you.

"sammidge" sorry but what is that?!

OP - loads of these ideas are much harder than just putting a sandwich or sausage roll in and maybe the 14 year old would prefer having more input?

I never knew sandwiches could be frozen. Thanks for that tip.

Would bento boxes be a option? it does not need to be fancy. I used to love my fried rice or noodles with chicken I used to get for lunch.

Frozen bread is horrible. I wouldn't serve a frozen/thawed sandwich unless I was REALLY desperate!

My son is 5 and not a big fan of sandwiches, so I'll often put leftover dinner in his lunch box - chicken, home made meatballs, a roast potato, arancini etc., with a mini cucumber, fruit salad and some black bread, which he likes. Things like arancini and meatballs you can make in bulk, freeze and take a couple out when you need them.

If I've had time and his lunch doesn't seem enough, I'll add in a home made cheese and spinach muffin (easy to make and they last at least 5 days in a sealed lunch box).

Sometimes I make pesto pasta for him in the morning. Quick and easy.

Its hard work OP and I have to do for 3 DC with different tastes!

I found homemade chicken burgers a hit with my teen (for the moment at least). DH makes them in bulk at the weekend and freezes them. They are out in the morning, microwaved and into a bun, easy. He loves burgers as they're easier to handle when he has to rush as lessons frequently rollover into lunchtime.

Maybe try something they like for one of the days, done in bulk and just defrosted in the morning? I feel your pain though....

@lolulop that would be great but not all schools have school dinners as an option unfortunately.

Yeah i do the packed lunches in this house too OP. Used to have to do 4 a day, now it's only 2. I do DHs sandwiches and he has stacks and stacks of them! (hungry builder)

I do DHs the evening before while i'm stood doing dinner. Bung them in foil in 2 batches for him in the fridge and they're fine the next day. (embarrassing to admit, but every single morning it gives me a thrill at 6.30am that i've done it already and i just have to get them out of the fridge )

DDs (6yr old) well she only has one round of marmite sandwich so it's easy to make while i'm buttering her toast in the morning.

We're not allowed (well, last time she went in we weren't) to send in a lunch box - disposable paper/plastic bag only. The teeny tiny thing which is not having to wash out a lunch box every evening has bought me such ridiculous pleasure over the last year

@HeyDemonsItsYaGirl

Frozen bread is horrible. I wouldn't serve a frozen/thawed sandwich unless I was REALLY desperate!

I was thinking the same .... frozen bread blaaargh

I use yumboxes, I think you can get them in varied sizes depending on appetite but it actually helps me as I just have to fill each section - protein, grains, dairy, fruit, veg. I pre cut all the fruit and veg, you can even pour yoghurt in them as it has a special seal. Obviously this would depend on appetite etc have attached a pic of an example

Urgh I hate packed lunches! My 6 year old is having school dinners thank god! But my 8 year old has SEN and has the same thing everyday. The night before I put grapes in a little pot and put in the fridge, same with olives, put his biscuit and drink in the lunchbox and a tangerine. Salami in a tub in the fridge. Then I only have to do his cheese crackers.