Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

I'm getting sick of the same things...although DD doesn't seem to mind.


Any suggestions, thanks

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Do they let you reheat at daycare?

I babysit for a little girl. I watch her at home so I can reheat food, or cook it if need be.

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

How old? I am feeling the same way! Maybe we can trade ideas

I try to do a small batch cooking on Saturday or Sunday and freeze all but 1 portion. Loey only goes 3 days/week. Sometimes I make breaded chicken or meatballs. Then I try to vary the side dishes to make it different, like rice or pasta or whatever.

Today (he ended up staying home but I prepared his lunch because we weren't sure) is:

leftover steak, cheesy orzo with spinach, some sliced strawberries & blueberries & a clementine (peeled and in pieces), with some cubed cheese and a granola bar.

I try to do: protein, dairy, whole grain & fruit as my base, so it helps me think of the different components. I got that "laptop lunch box" so it makes it kind of fun.

I try to do leftovers from dinner when I can because it makes it easier, then I just add some greek yogurt and cut up fruit.

Last week he had homemade mac and cheese (with pinwheel pasta and peas) as his main. Sides were greek yogurt with honey, champagne grapes on the vine (he loves to pick them off) and either a granola bar, cheddar bunnies & raisins or some whole grain pretezels

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Posted by maybeamommy

How old? I am feeling the same way! Maybe we can trade ideas

I try to do a small batch cooking on Saturday or Sunday and freeze all but 1 portion. Loey only goes 3 days/week. Sometimes I make breaded chicken or meatballs. Then I try to vary the side dishes to make it different, like rice or pasta or whatever.

Today (he ended up staying home but I prepared his lunch because we weren't sure) is:

leftover steak, cheesy orzo with spinach, some sliced strawberries & blueberries & a clementine (peeled and in pieces), with some cubed cheese and a granola bar.

I try to do: protein, dairy, whole grain & fruit as my base, so it helps me think of the different components. I got that "laptop lunch box" so it makes it kind of fun.

I try to do leftovers from dinner when I can because it makes it easier, then I just add some greek yogurt and cut up fruit.

Last week he had homemade mac and cheese (with pinwheel pasta and peas) as his main. Sides were greek yogurt with honey, champagne grapes on the vine (he loves to pick them off) and either a granola bar, cheddar bunnies & raisins or some whole grain pretezels

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Also, what yogurt do you guys give them?

DD used to LOVE Chobani, but apparently not anymore

Once we gave her those Gerber ones but they don't need to be refrigerated so I can't imagine they're really good for you

The yo baby's come in a pack and are $ so I'm afraid to get them again because she didn't like it after 1 last time

Maybe there's another yogurt I'm not thinking of?

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

other ideas for mains/sides

breaded chicken (I soak in buttermilk, then bread with mixture of fresh grated parmesan and breadcrumbs or sometimes panko)

arroz con pollo

mini muffins

rice

pasta with meat sauce

tortellini with olive oil, butter & parm or red sauce

roasted chicken and veggies (I like to use thighs and drumsticks)

mini bagel with jelly and cream cheese



Loey is allergic to nuts and sesame, so that limits us too...

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

I give him the ones from trader joe's... They are called "a ____ walks into a bar" (strawberry, fig, blueberry or apple)

loey really doesn't eat veggies and I don't like to hide them because I feel like that defeats the purpose... I offer them at lunch and dinner anyway though and hope that one day he will eat it! haha

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

My DD is super picky and loves when I make her homemade chicken fingers. Or you can cut them smaller and make chicken finger.

I dip them in egg whites and then bread them with half bread crumbs, half parm cheese.

Spray with olive oil and bake in a 425 degree oven!


The little girl I babysit for LOVES tunafish sandwiches, so her mom sends it once a week, so she doesnt get too much tuna.

Does your DD like beans? My sister sends her daughter to school with cold bean salads --- or bean pasta salads. With some red onion, fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped red peppers, etc in there. If your daughter is adventerous...

What about food that she can "assemble" or dip herself once she is there? Fruit with yogurt to dip, veggies with hummus, tzatkiki or ranch to dip? Sliced low-sodium turkey and cheese that she can roll up, something like that. I know my DD is all about fun foods that she can build herself!

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Before we switched daycares we had to send lunch and I would always pack a pasta (either as the main or as a side) b/c I KNOW she eats it. She was verrrry picky during those few months. Sometimes i'd pack a meat like leftover chicken or meatballs and always a veggie, fruit and yogurt. I got a lot of great ideas from weelicious, check out these links!

School lunch 1

School lunch 2

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?

Re: Daycare moms---lunch ideas?