Packed lunch dilemma

[pobs3012]

Help! My 4-year-old son has just started Reception and takes a packed lunch. Although as a family we eat a very varied, healthy diet, he is currently a fussy eater and will only eat cheese & Marmite sandwiches for his lunch. I have tried countless other things, but to no avail ? they always come back with one small bite taken out of them. Any ideas on how to wean him off his fave filling? I don't mind c & M one or 2 days a week, but not 5!

whats wrong with cheese and marmite? If it is the only thing he is rigid about, I'd leave him to it personally.

Or, what about alternatives to sarnies? Cold jacket pots, pasta or rice salads, spanish tortilla, pasties, quiche.

If he's only just started reception, it's probably comforting for him to have his favourite sandwich. I'd let him get on with it and vary the other bits in his lunchbox. Once he feels more settled, then you could try and change it. Loads of children have exactly the same thing every single day and as long as he's getting a varied diet outside school, I'm sure it'll be ok.

Yes, that is rather my feeling too. Just wondered if anyone else had had the same experience with their kids?

The single-sandwich-filling child seems to be the rule rather than the exception at that age.

Stick with the same thing as you know he will eat it - and don't put too much in the lunch box. I used to feel I needed to fill the box up, but DS barely eats at all at school (Y1 now) due to nerves and wanting to go and play. I just put 2 small sandwiches and some fruit in, and if he eats all that he gets a treat (raisins, small cake or biscuit) the next day. Lots of the children will have the same thing day in and day out, and lots of adults bring the same thing to work every day too don't they? You can worry about healthy varied diets out of school...

Well it could be a lot worse. Cheese and marmite are healthy enough (barring the high salt content in some marmite). Not like my dd's friend, who asked me for "normal food". Turned out "normal food" meant jam sandwiches.

It is normal for children to want the same thing in their lunchbox every day. I'd be more concerned that the sandwich comes back every day with only one small bite out of it. Is he eating anything else in the box? I know when my DDs started school the dinner ladies spent extra time with the reception children making sure they ate some lunch and encouraging them to eat the sandwich first. .

Thank you everyone. I must remember that he is only 4, and I am sure that I was exactly the same and I do still like cheese & Marmite.