Lunchbox protein for fussy child!

[Ilikepie]

Hello All. As above. He doesn't like fillings in sandwiches so he is having butter sandwiches with a tiny tupperware of cheddar cheese cubes on the side. He doesn't like ham and i am wary of meats and fish anyway. Would it be safe to give him a cold sausage? The lunch boxes sit for nearly 4 hours in the playground before lunch and on a warm day I don't think even the insulated ones would stay cool enough to keep sausages safe. And he doesn't like dips. And is allergic to peanuts! Nuts are a no no due to possible cross contamination from peanuts.

i'm happy to keep giving him cheese, but is it good for him to have so much fat and salt every day?

You can always put a little ice pack in next to the sausages or whatever.

Or freeze a bottle of drink and put that in to defrost by lunchtime.

And are sausages any better than cheese do you think?

Well, they might be a better source of protein but they are also full of fat and salt, although I guess that varied a bit between brands, some are obviously better than others. Will he eat cold chicken? What about tuna with a little fork?

Hard-boiled egg?

Yes he might go for an egg....Actually he does eat tinned fish....but he's a bit messy. But yes, a little tub of mackerel with a fork might be just right. Thanks!

Strips of chicken? Chicken drumstick?
What about a soft cheese with something to dip in?
We have an insulated lunch box, and put in a frozen tube of yoghurt. Over the next 2 terms, I'd think all would be fine. Maybe have a rethink in the few days we have of hot summer in this country?
I'm not sure of the relative benifits/disadvantages of cheese v sausage, but would have thought variety would be good.

I'm not sure about the hard boiled egg

Other kids do tend to make a fuss about them and start waving their arms around saying, "Eww farts!"

My DS has an (old now) freezable lunch shoulder bag. It's got gel in the bottom so you fold it and put it in the freezer overnight.

It keeps the food really cool.

Scotch eggs would be good, but i don't think i'm up to making them myself; they look like a faff. not sure he'd eat frittata, he's pretty fussy! but good ideas, and thank you!

These may be not to his taste but trying to think outside the box.

Little falafel. If you get the frozen ones you can just cook off a couple the night before. Chickpeas are good for protein.

A pot of toasted seeds. Some pumpkin and sunflower with a spitz of Worcester or soy toasted off in the oven.

Edamame beans with a little picky fork.

Would he be more receptive to mini frittatas. You can do them in a muffin tray, could even get some fun cupcake cases.

If you can't succeed with lots of protein in the lunch box don't fret too much, it is more important that his diet over all is balanced than that every single meal is. A carb fest isn't ideal, but it's not the end of the world, just try and get a bit more protein in elsewhere. One of our favourites ATM are avocado smoothies; avocado, milk and honey, and blitz for pure green heaven in a glass!

Little juice boxes freeze well and make a good little ice pack and a refreshing drink.

Same issue with ds3, he's really not keen on sandwiches at all.

He loves felafel though.
And ate cream cheese on a bagel this week (refuses it in a sandwich)
If he likes tinned fish, how about tuna mayo in pitta? (ds also likes this) It's a bit more contained than in a sandwich.
We're going to try chicken next week with a couple of ice packs to keep it cool. I also have a recipe for savoury muffins with ham and cheese - hoping he will eat those if I chop the ham up into tiny pieces!

Marking place - I'm always stuck for protein ideas in dd's lunchtime.

Lunchbox, I mean.

Use tiny lunchbox freezer blocks to keep food cool. Type freezer blocks into amazon search box and it will bring up a whole range, some of which will be the right size.

i'll check out lunchbox cooling options, thanks! DH thinks other kids will tease about stinky fish...
I'm still a bit paranoid about chicken if it's sitting about for a while. I read reviews of lunch boxes somewhere recently and it concluded that not even insulated ones with cold blocks in were able to keep food at a safe temp till lunchtime. Can't remember where i read it, but it made me think.

I was going to get sunflower seeds today Goulash but i was in lidl and they say 'traces of peanuts' on them. But i think he'd like seeds actually. I think he'd like nuts and peanuts too, it's a bugger, this allergy! Feel very sorry for parents of kids with wheat and dairy allergies.

Sounds like you are the one with issues rather than your DC.

Weird comment Shannith.

What about veggie sausage OP? The cauldron ones (from Waitrose) are yummy

I was also going to suggest veggie sausages. There's a brand called tivall which my kids love. I put them in lunch boxes with no refrigeration or cooling and they're fine.

My kids don't have issues, I never said they did; he just doesn't like some things and I don't fancy him eating warm cold cuts or anything that he might be allergic to! Gosh , maybe I should see a professional about my 'issues'

DH takes tinned fish into work but only when he knows certain other members of staff are not there, as they have complained to him about the fish smell in the office when he has had it in the past.

DS eats good hot meals in the evening, so I'm not concerned overall about his diet; I just don't want him to get hungry and fidgety at school and i think protein keeps you fuller for longer. He can't have school lunches, which I wanted him to have because the school can't guarantee 100% no traces of peanuts.

I like veggie sausages and falafel, good idea, I'll try him on them. Thanks.

Try switching to soya and linseed bread. It's high in protein and calcium so it makes sandwiches a lot more nutritious (I have a Marmite sandwich purist!)
Broccoli, peas, sugar snaps , broad beans, houmous are all high in protein if you wantto avoid meat.

thank you fusty good suggestions.

You can make lovely flatbread and even pancakes with gram (chickpea) flour

Quails eggs are cute, hummus with different vegetables, pasta with a sauce in a flask with cheese in a separate container.