Picky Eaters

[Chimichanga]

I agree; knowing the categories might help.

ODD can be picky too; or rather, she very much thrives on routine. While we were able to send her to school with an ice pack, she'd often have the same thing. Some suggestions (if she likes them):

- frozen yogurt tube - that would have to be dairy, right? Can help keep other things cold
- hard boiled eggs - protein (although, I'd be leery of sending this in the summer)
- fried rice type meal
- raisins (that would be fruit!!)
- a drumstick - if she likes it, why not send it?

[laura]

I agree, I would use an ice pack and/or thermos. You could send hard boiled eggs, soup, etc. Does she eat apple sauce? You could freeze it into a freezer pop and maybe 'trick' her into thinking it's a treat? Ditto w/ a smoothie that incorporates greens like spinach.

Also, I don't understand the pay thing. You have to pay for their meal (?) ... presumably for food your kid isn't going to eat anyway? I would try to talk to them and ask what their protocol is. I mean they can't MAKE your kid eat something, so I would just send whatever items fit the criteria, including some things your kid will actually eat. I guess I don't really understand what the recourse of the place is. I would probably address that with them.

[poodlelover]

Thanks. I'll have to bring the paper in tomorrow that lists the rules, it's at home and I'm at work. Everything has to be disposable, so I can't use a thermos or ice pack.

Laura- There's a lot of foods listed that would adhere to their protocol. If I sent pudding and chips in, for instance, they would give her something that is on the list even though she won't eat it and it would get thrown away. Financially, we're better off sending in a few carrots even though we know she won't eat them. Soups are out b/c it's liquid. She doesn't like applesauce.

Wouldn't a drumstick go bad? It would be out in the sun. Everything has to be disposable so using a container could get expensive.

I did pick up some Welch's fruit chews. She was excited and so I let her have a pack. I held my breath waiting for her to spit them out, but she loved them! I also bought her a package of yogurt pouches that were not refrigerated. I thought all yogurt products had to be refrigerated. I was excited when I saw these b/c I know she likes yogurt. I still might put them in the freezer and they should be cold/unthawed by lunch time. She wanted to try one but I told her not til F when she goes to school.

[laura]

Everything has to be disposable including the lunch bag? That seems really odd to me. You could use a ziploc filled with ice if you really want something cold. You could still send noodles or rice. It's hard to make suggestions without knowing the "rules". Will she eat any kind of sandwich? Or crackers with peanut butter? My DD likes the laughing cow cheese wedges and they are shelf stable. She eats them with whole wheat crackers or bread. (she eats them separate normally)

[Chimichanga]

I agree with the ziploc of ice - that can really help!!

I don't know what kind of yogurt doesn't need refrigeration (honestly, I'd probably shy away from that!!) but the gogurts are tubes that are promoted as being "thawed by lunch time". Again, just another way to keep things cool. and my kids like to eat them frozen; they think it's a popsicle.

Definitely knowing this list would be good. Also - I'd recommend checking out 100 Days of Real Food. She has snack ideas listed that taste pretty good. Or, go to Trader Joe's. They actually have some pretty healthy options that don't have to be refrigerated.

[Ohana]

I'm guessing that your DD is at a program where they have guidelines for meals (lunches have to include a protein, dairy, grain and fruit/veg), and if you don't provide something from each category, they provide what's missing and then charge you for it, correct? Our friend's son was in a program like that, and they just sent him food that would appease the program leaders, even though they knew their son wouldn't eat it and it got thrown away. Dumb, but I think you may have to do the same thing.

I have to send 100% disposable lunches on field trip days (1X per week over the summer), and so this is what I do:

1. Save all takeout containers/small packaging type containers. Old takeout sushi containers get turned into Bento Boxes. The plastic container we used to bring home leftover mac and cheese from Red Robin gets reused for cut up fruit. Same for the cream cheese tub.

2. Use a frozen juice box in place of an ice pack. I typically have to provide something to drink with lunch + water for throughout the day. If I can remember, I try to freeze the water bottle ahead of time, too, so that I have extra cooling power.

3. Cut food up into easy to eat and cute shapes. I have flower shaped fondant cutters, and I use them to cut up cheese. They are 3 sizes, so I do different colors of cheese and stack them on top of each other for cute little flowers. I have also done the same with carrots/cucumbers, etc. It's time consuming, but if they'll eat it, I'll make it.

For DD's first field trip next week, I'll use an old sushi container and put her ham sandwich in it. I cut up the sandwich into 4 "planks" so that the cut side is up. I'll put cheese flowers on top of that for the required dairy component. There's usually a little room left in the box, so I'll wrap up some carrot sticks (DD will only eat them cooked) and hummus in plastic wrap and tuck that into the box. To that, I'll use an old cream cheese tub for cut up fruit, adding a toothpick so she can eat it easily. Throw in a frozen juice box and maybe a few chips or a mini muffin, and her lunch is good to go.

[looch]

Do they still make those "soup at hand" on the go drinkable soups? I'd pack those, they're not bad at room temperature.

[laura]

Freezing the drink is a great idea! And I agree w/ cutting things in fun shapes. You could do tortilla roll ups with anything on them she will eat, like cream cheese, hummus, lunch meat, peanut butter, bananas, etc. You can cut them into bites and stick a little animal animal pik in them to make it fun.

[Chimichanga]

Hmm - why not a Lunchable? I hate them, think they are crap, but they'd "qualify" technically.

[poodlelover]

Thanks for the great ideas! I love the idea of prettying up the food.

Ohana- it's not that strict, it only has to include 1 of them, but everything else is correct. They do provide drinks and the rules make it clear that they do not want any drinks or other liquids sent in. Normally, they do provide lunch and snack but this is just a summer camp that involves a lot of field trips. I think the ziploc bags would be ok.

There's no lunchable that she would eat, or she'd only eat a piece of 1 item in them.

She doesn't like bread, unless it's garlic bread.

These are the yogurt drinks that I was referring to:
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/HEAL...OICES/80731265

My parents and MIL take turns watching the kids. My kids get filled with junk food when my parents have them so it's extra hard to get her to eat good food. I let it go b/c my father's health is deteriorating and they're the only reason he gets off of the couch. He loves to make them happy. Giving my father some enjoyment is more important to me at this time.