Lunchbox ideas for fussy toddler (20mths)

[PDR]

My DS's nursery don't do food, so I have to send him with a packed lunch and tea.

Can anyone give me any ideas of what they give their DCs?

He's v fussy and doesn't like hot food but I'm willing to give anything a try!

What sort of things will he/won't he eat at home?

Maybe along with giving him something he will eat, add in something new he would usually refuse- watching other children eat is a great encouragement to try things IME.

Cold pasta with small cubes of cheese.
Small sandwiches with either a cheese, ham or tuna filling. Can make different shapes by using pastry cutters - such as a fish shape.
Small carrot sticks.
Cucumber triangle pieces
Mini Bread sticks
Raisins
Fruit pieces (better if nursery will cut up the fruit, as cut fruit will turn brown quite quickly)

devon we're in devon too! [waves]

he will try most things we eat at home, but it has to be with us, at the table, with an adult fork and with lots of encouragment. I just don't think the nursery staff have the time for all this (understandably)!

I have been sending him with:
little ham sandwiches,
fishfingers
cold pasta with peas/sweetcorn and pesto (pasta never gets eaten although this is a favourite at home).
Also tried couscous which he didn't eat.
Send soya yoghurts (no dairy)
Fruit pots
Always send at least 2 pieces of fruit as well (loves fruit!)

The staff prob think I'm awful for always giving him the same things, but I just want to be sure he eats something!!!

They do give them a snack at 10am and 3pm which they say he tucks into - fresh fruit, raisins, toast (morning) so I guess he's not going hungry!

He is there all day on a Monday so lunch & tea there and 1/2 day Wednesday so just lunch.

He eats ok the rest of the week.

This should keep you going for a while...

Oat pancakes (Porridge with grated apple or some kind of fruit, mixed with egg & flour to make batter& fried)
Mushrooms on toast (DD loves portabella mushrooms fried in butter with parsley & cut into strips)
Cheese on toast
Apple or banana fritters
Polenta Biscuits
Courgette fritters (grated courgette with chick pea flour & water & cheese)
mini Samosa/pasty (Short crust pastry filled with cooked stew or veg or Ratatouille & shallow fried or baked)
Veg wedges
Fishcakes (leftover mash mixed with herbs & tin of tomato sardines & egg yolk. mash together, roll in polenta, fry til golden, freeze!)
Meatballs (breadcrumbs, egg, mince, herbs - chicken & apricot/lamb & raisin/beef & apple)
Pies (shepherds pie with puy lentils/ratatouille with cheesy mash etc)
Kebabs (mince again, formed into spears and grilled/baked/fried/bbq)
Tortelloni (those 2 for 1 filled things you get in Sainsbury/Tesco... or make yourself!)
Polenta: boil polenta with water, dried apricot, cheese, herbs, olive oil, frozen peas for 5 mins. pour into bowl to set. cut into fingers or spoon feed. you can mix anything into it, put cheese on top and grill it, etc.
cooked Brown rice with mashed avocado
cooked puy lentils and onions with brown rice and cheese

120 thank you!

wonderful ideas! will get cracking!