Lunchbox suggestions for 11mo

[SelmaB]

My 11mo is soon starting with a childminder when I return to work. He is breastfed and I will be breastfeeding around my part-time hours. Only issue is, he won't drink cow's milk or formula and I can't express (have tried many times but nothing comes out!). He will have water ok thankfully so not going to dehydrate. I'm not too worried as it's only 2 full days a week (about 8 hours on those days) plus one morning so hopefully I can make up with extra feeds around those times. But, are there are any suggestions anyone has for good lunchbox items to make sure he gets enough calcium/ dairy? We have to provide all food and drink so for the 2 full days it's lunch plus 2 snacks. Obviously will provide fruit and veg but specifically looking for dairy food ideas. I've so far thought of:

• cream cheese sandwiches
• cream cheese as a dip with vegetable sticks
• yoghurt (he doesn't really like it though but trying different flavours)
• homemade pancakes made with milk and fruit to sweeten
• cheesy pasta or cauliflower cheese that childminder can re-heat.
• I've considered baking more things that contain milk or cheese but I don't know what and obviously don't want to be introducing a ton of sugar or salt or anything.

Any more ideas? I'm a decent-ish cook and can follow recipes ok. Any more finger-food ideas greatly appreciated as I just feel what I've come up with so far is quite limited. I could send in puree but childminder has said she prefers the children to have finger foods. I will also be providing cow's milk as a drink but so far he doesn't really seem to like it!

Have you tried him with smoothies, could make it with more milk so it’s more like a milkshake and could put fruit and veg into it?

There’s always so much to think of! Lots of calcium sources other than milk which will be good so he doesn’t get bored of what he is eating. You could utilise these with dairy based calcium sources to double up, but I would expect he will no doubt receive enough from his different meals, milk etc anyway.

Some of the below could be whizzed up to create little bites/patties.

-green peas
-kale, spinach, leafy greens

• broccoli

-salmon

• sweet potato
• beans and lentils

Vitamin d is important for absorption of calcium so could look at foods that also include this.

Great ideas, thank you! I hadn't thought of smoothies but might whizz some up this weekend to see if he likes them. And he loves sweet potato - hadn't thought of making little vegetable patties but that's a fab idea.

You’re so welcome! Smoothies are great my nieces won’t really eat veg so they have lots of spinach, kale, carrot in theirs to give them a boost. And they don’t notice it’s in there. Avocados are good to get a creaminess and the same with bananas.