talk to me about lunch boxes: how much do your children actually eat?

[mousymouse]

PFB's first day at school.
so far had warm dinners at preschool, now packed lunch in "big school".

DD (5) only has a lunch box once a week so we go all out:

4 small sarnies
1 babybel
1 pack hula hoops
Slices of cucumber or baby tomatoes
Fruit
Tube yoghurt
Chocolate Biscuit
Carton of Fruit juice

She eats about half of everything - she LOVES packed lunches, but I prefer her to have dinners cos I am lazy DS has cooked lunch in nursery too.

I am much more frugal at home - a tea will just be 4 small sarnies, some tomatoes and a yoghurt with fruit, plus glass water!

A roll with ham and cucumber, fruit or carrot sticks/peppers, crisps and a biscuit.
He always brings the fruit home so really it's just a roll, crisps and a biscuit.

Ds in yr 1 has ( and had in reception)

1 round of sandwich
1 drink
1 lump of cucumber in slices
Half an apple or a choc biscuit or a fairy cake.

occasionally I put in a few crisps or a mini babybel but those are rare treats

Any more and he won't eat it in 30 mins and get a decent playtime.

To make everyone feel better about picky eaters, my packed lunch at junior end was 1 digestive biscuit and a drink. My choice and I usually ate some of it. Don't ever remember finding lack of food a problem at school.

my two on lunch boxes have been having

dd3 (picky eater)
1bagel with smoked salmon (it was cheap she loves it - my excuse and sticking to me )
1 small tub of grapes
1 small tub of carrot or cucumber
pack of iced gems
pepperami stick
drink

ds
Bagel (different fillings)
pot of grapes
pepperami stick
fruit strings (he loves them and isnt keen on much fruit in school so i gave in)
a cake bar / fruit/musli bar of some sort..
drink
cheese block

both come home with one thing usually but not always.

ds came home today with an empty lunchbox and he had an enormous dinner. I guess I have to pack more tomorrow.

Dd (10) and ds (6) have a roll, small tub of tomatoes/carrots/cucumber, small tub of strawberries/grapes/bananas, small cake or biscuit and carton of orange/apple juice. All eaten every day but they don't want any more as they want to go out and play.

My 7 and 5 yo get:

roll or sandwich with cheese, marmite or ham
fruit
Actimel

plus twice a week a small choc bar like a Milky Way or a small bag of choc fingers or something