Top tips for making kids packed lunches less work for me!

[Lovage]

DS1(8) and DS2(6) have up to now had hot dinners four days a week (free in DS2's case this term as he's an Infant) and packed lunch only once. But this afternoon school rang me to say that they were worried that they were both consistently not eating their lunches and would it be possible for them to have packed lunches a few more days a week. Both kids are veggie and that means they don't get any choice and the veggie options are heavy on tomato sauce, which they don't like.

We talked about it at tea tonight and agreed they could have packed lunches 3x a week but my heart sinks at the thought of all the extra work of making them in what is already a packed evening schedule (I'm not even going to think about trying to do it in the morning). DP and I have packed lunches most days, but we have leftovers from tea the night before (we deliberately cook too much) and can heat things up in microwaves at work. The kids can't.

They could do some of it themselves, but I don't think it would actually save me any time and effort - e.g. they can't peel carrots or cut bread. And it would make such a mess in the kitchen. I'm sure that's the right long-term way to go but I'm not sure I can face it. I will talk to them about them doing some of the work at least (like getting dirty boxes out of bags at the end of school).

But apart from that, has anyone got any good tips for making packed lunches less faff and quicker to assemble? Whilst still being healthy and nutritious and not costing much money?! This is probably the holy grail...

Avocado?
Marmite?

as sandwich fillings?

Honestly, I can't see the point of faffing about with pots of cold pasta, for example, or couscous - both are wheat the same as bread, anyway, and probably less nutritious than wholemeal rolls.

I make rolls in batches and freeze them. That way the lunch box stays cool and they are nicely defrosted by lunchtime. The children put in everything including the frozen rolls each morning. Almost zero effort for me.

My 2 do packed lunches - normally a sandwich or roll or wrap but occasionally I will do tomato soup in a thermos with crackers and cheese, or pasta pesto in a thermos (can sort that out in the mornings in a couple of mins while they are eating their breakfast).

We do pasta and noodle lunches (especially if I cooked too much pasta the day before ).

DC have to pack their lunch boxes (sometimes I make the main thing, sometimes they do - depending on how gourmet it is - but they can find the fruits and veg and biscuit themselves mostly), fill their water bottles, take them all out when they come home, and help dry up their lunch boxes. TBH it all only take a few minutes once you get into a routine (3 minutes today with me washing up and both of them drying before minecraft ).

Do the school not offer baked potatoes and sandwiches alongside the hot dinner?

I thought that was standard?

I agree with everyone on the keep lunches simple as poss. If forced to do pack ups I do them the night before and put in fridge. Roll/s with ham/cheese/peanut butter; 2 pieces fruit; juice box; plus crisps on a Friday. 5 mins tops. The pita is making sure we have bread in.

I make two of everything (4 in your case) I found it just as quick to make two sandwiches, two pots of grapes etc as one, then put the second lot in the fridge so the next day is just an assembly job.

I have also used a food flask so my kids can take hot food for variety, pasta etc.

Spanish school children eat slices of tortilla / spanish omlette for lunch. Good to make with leftover potatoes and veg.

Would they eat that? (I know they are against egg sandwiches, but tortila is less 'eggy')

I try to so enough pasta one night a week to have extra for pasta and pesto lunch.

We sometimes do savoury pancakes (which are almost tortilla?) - but only on over-enthusiastic days ...

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

I think the school do offer baked potatoes - they certainly did on the days the 'vegetarian' option was tuna (facepalm). They weren't going hungry because they were eating the carbs, the veg and the puddings. But school was concerned that they weren't getting a balanced meal, and so am I - I thought they were eating most of the main courses, so I'm grateful to school for letting me know they weren't.

They weren't going hungry because they were eating the carbs, the veg and the puddings. But school was concerned that they weren't getting a balanced meal, and so am I

But that's not what you said. You said the veg options were heavy on tomato sauce which they don't like. You made out that they weren't getting anything at all. Most kids leave alot of the dinner and live off the carbs and pudding be case beg is usually soggy anyway. It must be worse than what you just said as they wouldn't have called. Schools notify you if they don't eat any of it. Not if they are just eating parts of the meal. I love veg food but tbh if they won't eat any firm of protein ie eggs or pulses and don't like tomato sauce stuff and yiu have vetoed everything else people have suggested then I'm. Wondering why you allow them.to be veg if they won't eat the food.

You need to start with a list of what they will actually eat

And you really need to work with your children with regards to capabilities because the things people suggest that they might eat you turn around and discount it because they can't open it.

Just open it and wrap I'm foil or something

shocked at how little your kids eat. my eat like an adult and are skinny. 2 slices of bread made into sandwich, banana, fresh pineapple, crisps, cake, youghurt, grapes, a chocolate filled crepe.
they still come home complaining of being starving.
I only made packed lunches occasionally, for a school trip. thank God!!

' put the work in myself' ROFL -

I make them in the morning, my DC are like me and don't like old, soggy refrigerated sandwiches.
It's only a 5 minute job. The DC get their own snacks, fruit/veg and drinks. They also empty their boxes themselves.

These are the veggie options from the basic packed lunches I sent DS in with:

Avocado roll, cheese lego (red leicester cut into small blocks the size of lego bricks, in a small tub), slices of pineapple, flapjack

Cheese roll, ready made felafels in a tub, maybe some hummus to dip them in, fruit, cake (bought)

Cream cheese and watercress roll, slices of avocado in a tub (lemon juice squeezed over), cereal bar

Asparagus rolls. Use stalks of asparagus left from last night's dinner, roll up diagonally in buttered bread. Cheese lego, cake.

Marmite sandwich, felafels, fruit, cake.

It was all dead easy - I bought packs of reaady made felafels from the chiller cabinet, and just used stuff I had in the fridge. If your kids will add bananas, apples or satsumas or grapes to that lot, you're made! (mine would not eat any sensible portable fruit, hence pineapple slices).

Honestly, you can assemble a packed lunch in 5-10 mins.

Oh, and individual quiche: bought.

You do sound a bit fraught about it all.

What are they having for their packed lunch on the one day at the moment?

Re opening packs of oatcakes, when I was in reception I couldn't open the Jordan's cereal bar pack. Dad used to snip it open a little bit in the morning so I had a tab to pull to get it open.

Seriously, don't stress the pack lunches. Not much wrong with a cheese sandwich every day as long as you're feeding them more interesting dinners.

Oatcakes or crackers. Cheese. Baby toms or carrot sticks or cucumber sticks. Fruit. Yog tube. Biscuit or cake or something if allowed.

That would take like, 2 mins to prepare!

Ready made falafel. Homous. Pita maybe too. Everything else as before.

Have pasta and roasted veg with pesto for tea. Make too much. Have cold for their lunch with aforementioned yog and fruit!

eoukd they eat a cold bean burger in a pita for lunch? That wouldn't take much effort to cook that while making dinner one night if the oven is already on.

I use pita filled with cheese most days which is easy and the pittas can be frozen.
I add grapes/cucumber/an apple plus juice in a carton and something sweet like fruit string or naked bar.
Not too much faff and they seem to prefer this to school meals.

The OP just wanted some helpful suggestions, not a critique of her attitude.

I HATE making packed lunches and I am a stay at home mother. I would hate it even more if I were working. For some reason it looms large in my mind, even though it only takes minutes. I even make cakes etc to go IN them without stress, it is just putting them together that I hate doing.

I make all the sandwiches at once for the week, wrap well and keep in the fridge. They are fine.

If you already make extra dinner and take it for lunch perhaps they could take this too? I have thermos food flasks, if you prewarm them with boiling water then add hot food (microwave leftovers) the food is a good temperature at lunch time. My DD also takes soup in hers, my DS doesn't like soup though.

My DD also likes salad. She will take the same salad as me (so no ectra work as such) with a teeny pot of dressing, apparently this is very grown up and cool among the 8 year old girls. Not for all kids though (my ds doesn't eat it either).

How about a tub of tuna pasta in their lunch box, along with a side salad of chunky cucumber and cherry tomatoes? Carton of juice and a cereal bar or piece of fruit?

How about a pasta salad in a box? Have pasta the night before and cook a bit extra. Then get them to add the things they like - any salad veggies, cheese, a bit of dressing/pesto and Bob's your uncle.

I second tortilla and it's actually rather lovely in a sandwich! I hate egg sandwiches but love tortilla sandwiches.

OP, how fussy are they exactly? In terms of protein there's obviously cheese (would they eat halloumi or mozzarella for variety?), egg seems iffy and you said no to hummus but how about falafel? How do you feel about meat replacement products? Would they eat things like leftover veg samosas/bhajis? Glamorgan sausages? Homemade cheese and onion pasties? Leftover lentil bolognese pasties?

If you want variety you could try bento style lunchboxes. No need for all the fancy shaping etc but the idea of lots of different things in small amounts is v appealing and actually need not be any more time consuming than standard sandwiches. There's nothing wrong with standard sandwiches but it seems like there might be limited options with fillings so doesn't fit well with your desire for variety.