Sack Lunch Ideas for Picky 2 Year Old???

Updated on May 01, 2007
E.A. asks from Duncanville, TX
5 answers

Hi! I just signed my daughter up for a Tuesday/Thursday Mother's Day Out program this fall. She will have just turned two and I'll need to send her with a sack lunch. Do any of you have some good sack lunch ideas for a two year old who still prefers using her fingers to eat? (we are working on this). PB & J is all I can come up with. Thanks!!

2 moms found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter started at a Kid's Day Out program when she was 16 months old. We also have to send them with a sack lunch and they have requested that all foods are finger foods, even for the older kids (3-4 years old).

My daughter is now almost 4 years and eats sandwiches (tuna, turkey, PBJ, etc.) really well, but when she was 2 years old she wouldn't. So, here's what I sent with her (always one main item/meat/pasta along with one fruit and one veggie):

--Gerber turkey or chicken dogs (they come like 7-8 per jar). I would pull out 3-4 the night before and refrigerate them in a little baggie and then pack with a mini cold pack for school.
--Gerber Ravioli (no sauce), is another great finger food and again, I would drain ahead of time and re-package in a little baggie or tupperware. If the caregivers don't mind, you can even send in the package it comes in, if they don't mind opening it for your child.
--Misc. Fruit bits: grapes cut in 4's, peeled apple cut small (little bit of lemon juice and sprinkle of sugar to keep from turning brown), strawberries cut in small pieces.
--Misc. Veggie bits: Gerber green beans, Gerber carrots, lima beans or Edamame. Again, all easy finger foods with little mess.

When my daughter was 1-2 years old, she also had a slight allergy to dairy...so I really had to stay away from it, until now. Otherwise, you can also pack cheese sticks/bites for a healthy part of the lunch. You would need to definitely include an ice pack...but I do that everyday and its so easy to find the small ones at Walmart.

Lastly, there is a new product from Quaker (I believe) that is Granola bites. They come in 3 flavors: Chocolate, Cinnamon & Peanut Butter. They are little Granola "balls" and so perfect for a small snack. Now that my daughter is almost 4, she likes a little something sweet after her meal. So, I usually pack 4-5 granola balls as a treat for her in her lunch. She's very good about eating the main lunch first before ending her meal with the treat.

Hope these ideas help. Let me know if you have further questions. Take care. L.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.F.

answers from Dallas on

You could always make a lunch meat sandwich. You can buy Lunchables, or make your own -- put cheese cubes, cut-up lunch meat and crackers in a container. Carrot sticks or sliced/diced fruit could be added to anything. Cereal bars and yogurt, diced ham and mac n cheese (kids will eat it cold!)...

Her eating habits at school will be different from how she eats at home. There some sort of peer pressure effect when they are all in a group. My daughter actually ate taco salad when it was served at her daycare when she was 2. I couldn't believe it!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.P.

answers from San Diego on

Hi E.,

Will your daughter eat the Gerber Garduates Raviolis? Those are great for her toe at with her fingers. Also a little baggie of grapes and various cut up fruits would be a good idea. Maybe some hot dog weiners cut up and microwaved for about 15 seconds and then put them in a container for her, with some cheese cubes or string cheese. Also, Dole and other similar companies (del monte, etc.) have the fruit cups you can get in a four-pack. They also have veggies like corn, diced carrots, and green beans. She should be able to eat these on her own.

I hope this helps!!

-Char

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.W.

answers from Dallas on

Walmart, in the baby section w/ the sippy cups has the coolest small divided plates w/ a lid- I use these all of the time. I send sliced up lunch meat, cheese, grapes, berries, drained fruit cups, baby carrots, tortillas rolled w/ meat and cheese or tortillas spread w/ peanut butter and sliced, goldfish, teddy grahams, cereal bars....
Have fun!

D.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.R.

answers from Dallas on

my daughter just turned 3 and her favorite thing I send to school is sandwich rolls. we take a tortilla and put ham, or turkey and cheese and either mayo or mustard and roll it up.
she also loves yogart smoothies.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches