Non-sandwich lunch ideas for 4yo

[vvviola]

DD2 isn't particularly fond of bread. And I was getting very tired of making sandwiches for her only to have them come back with a tiny nibble in one corner.

So a few weeks ago I gave her a few pieces of chicken and two crackers. Instant success. She now eats most of her lunch.

Except. I don't know what else to do. I know if I keep giving her chicken and crackers she will get bored of it, and stop eating it. She's allergic to dairy and egg, and won't eat sliced ham (I'm doing a big cooked Christmas style ham this weekend, and hopefully she might eat some of that).

But I need some other ideas. At the moment it isn't too much of a concern as she is at montessori, so as well as their packed lunch, they are given a snack later provided by the school, so I know she doesn't go hungry. I'm a bit more concerned about having a range of options in time for school starting next year as there won't be anything extra provided if she decides she's not eating what I send in.

and of course now DD1 who hasn't met a food she won't try, and is quite happy with sandwiches, and has no allergies, is feeling hard done by that DD2 is getting special treatment

Can she try those lactose free ones? Or goats milk cheese?

Ah, wasn't sure if it was an allergy or intollerance. Soya yoghurt is OK though.

Sausage rolls? Not sure if that works for dairy allergy.

Cold sausages are popular with 2 of mine, one won't touch them.

I think chicken and crackers is pretty good, actually, though understand you want to have a bit of variety. I always worry about cold meat and lunch boxes being left somewhere warm.

I cheat with sausage rolls and make them with bread dough instead of pastry.

(And I use veggie sausages)

Violife Original is a pretty good bog standard vegan cheese, you can get it in H &B and evn some supermarkets sometimes.
You can also get vegan cream cheese in H&B can't remember what it's called but its not completely inedible.

For expensive posh cheeses, folk rate nutcrafter cheese, and Vegusto.

DD1 never likes sandwiches last year but we are improving! I told her if she couldn't compromise on packed lunch then it had to be school dinners every day. We now fo:

Monday: sandwich thin with ham (I think sandwich thins are yucky but DD and her friends all seem to eat them) and some cherry tomatoes.
Tuesday : pasts salad, either pesto or tomatoe sauce both with veg and a pot of cherry tomatoes.
Weds: school dinner (we couldn't compromise on this day and she can have jacket potato so not too bad).
Thursday: toasted bagel with a bit of grated cheese in it and a pot of cherry tomatoes .
Friday : hummus, chopped up veg and pitta.

I make the Tuesday pasta salad on Sunday at the same team as the Monday sandwich thins so it is less work in the morning.

Oatcakes would give you a slightly different cracker option. I'd also thought of breadsticks and nibbly bits but that's already been mentioned.

How about savoury muffins? Really quick to do a batch, can put veg in them too (recipe allergy dependent I guess)

Well, we've tried sausages today. We'll see how that goes down.

Zucchini slice, sticky rice n chicken,cold chook drumsticks, sushi, rice paper rolls, mini quiche/homemade pizza...

Ds yesterday had muffins cut in half with chopped tomatoes mixed with a little ketchup and topped with chopped mushrooms then toasted under the grill. He had them cold and liked them.