Needing some new lunch ideas...

[wdmmom]

Can you please share a few things you serve your daycare kids for lunch. I do not do an organic menu and I try to stay "kid friendly". I serve pizza if it's homemade and with turkey sausage. I serve homemade chicken tenders in place of chicken nuggets. I do serve french fries maybe once a month etc.

I plan my entire menu a month in advance and was hoping to expand the lunch menu. The kids are getting bored with grilled cheese, turkey and gravy, bowties & meat sauce, Tuna & noodles, Hamburgers, tacos and meatloaf. (That's not our whole menu but you get the drift.)

If you are willing, please send me some suggestion...on main menu lunch items.

I'm also looking for dessert/fruit and vegetable ideas...preferrably vegetables that can be hidden within a food. My kids only like corn and green beans!

[momofsix]

The favorite lunches of all times here are sloppy joes and breakfast (waffles/pancakes/french toast -with sausage) and chicken w/ bbq sauce.

[SilverSabre25]

breakfast for lunch

Stir-fry w/ or w/out chicken

"Mini Kabobs"--toothpicks with chunks of chicken, cheese, apple, cherry tomato (if they eat it). You can provide ranch dressing to dip the chicken and tomato in too

[AnneCordelia]

Cheese tortellini w/ pesto
Latkes w/ bacon bits & sour cream (I also grate zucchini & sweet potato in)

One meal I make loads of because everyone loves it is butter chicken w/ curry chickpeas. I don't make it spicy but it is flavourful. It freezes well once made too. Easy to serve with rice or bread or potato.

[laundrymom]

We do quesedillas, with mushrooms, chicken, beans, cheese, ham,eggs,
We do grilled cheese on bread or tortillas and I will add long slivers of carrots to them from a peeler. I took radiatore pasta, mixed veg, mushrooms,tossed, sprinkled some fresh grated Romano on top and called it octopus legs. 5 kids ate 1 pound of pasta, and a large bag of frozen veg. My group likes weird food. I use avocado for butter with crackers. Topped with paper thin Roma tomato slices. And a bit of Parma reggiano cheese. My kids eat very high quality foods. Pasta putensca, risotto w mushrooms and steamed whitefish, potato leek soup, parmesean crackers, fried basil leaves, sweet potato chips, i do roasts, loins, pastas, stews, i try to offer ad many different regional foods as I can we do asian, mediteranian, persian, itslian, chinese, japanese, greek, american, french, malasian, carribean, Chilean, even African if it's not too spicy.

Anything really that is safe for them I do not serve hot dogs, bologna, fish sticks, any type of premade frozen dinner, premade nugget or imitation meat type substance. I can't serve raw sushi to day friends but we do cooked sushi, we do non traditional foods. Most kids don't get good quality food at home. I love to cook, my kids do too. It simply flows thru to the daycare. I personally do not believe in " kid" food.

[wdmmom]

We do quesedillas, with mushrooms, chicken, beans, cheese, ham,eggs,
We do grilled cheese on bread or tortillas and I will add long slivers of carrots to them from a peeler. I took radiatore pasta, mixed veg, mushrooms,tossed, sprinkled some fresh grated Romano on top and called it octopus legs. 5 kids ate 1 pound of pasta, and a large bag of frozen veg. My group likes weird food. I use avocado for butter with crackers. Topped with paper thin Roma tomato slices. And a bit of Parma reggiano cheese. My kids eat very high quality foods. Pasta putensca, risotto w mushrooms and steamed whitefish, potato leek soup, parmesean crackers, fried basil leaves, sweet potato chips, i do roasts, loins, pastas, stews, i try to offer ad many different regional foods as I can we do asian, mediteranian, persian, itslian, chinese, japanese, greek, american, french, malasian, carribean, Chilean, even African if it's not too spicy.

Anything really that is safe for them I do not serve hot dogs, bologna, fish sticks, any type of premade frozen dinner, premade nugget or imitation meat type substance. I can't serve raw sushi to day friends but we do cooked sushi, we do non traditional foods. Most kids don't get good quality food at home. I love to cook, my kids do too. It simply flows thru to the daycare. I personally do not believe in " kid" food.

Wow! You make some amazing meals! I really don't think these kids are used to anything but pre-packaged, frozen or restaurant/fast food meals. Meals are hit or miss with them! Yesterday I made chicken and rice and everyone nibbled. The time before I made it, they gobbled it up. Today was grilled cheese on whole grain homemade bread, green beans, banana, milk. Everyone ate their banana, all but 1 ate the green beans and all ate about 1/2 - 3/4 of their grilled cheese. Not a bad day overall.

[laundrymom]

Wow! You make some amazing meals! I really don't think these kids are used to anything but pre-packaged, frozen or restaurant/fast food meals. Meals are hit or miss with them! Yesterday I made chicken and rice and everyone nibbled. The time before I made it, they gobbled it up. Today was grilled cheese on whole grain homemade bread, green beans, banana, milk. Everyone ate their banana, all but 1 ate the green beans and all ate about 1/2 - 3/4 of their grilled cheese. Not a bad day overall.

Lol. I eat here, I don't eat crap food. Lol. They are raised with good food here so that's what they eat. We eat fresh when we can, we eat frozen when we must, I use spices in my meals. Herbs, salt, pepper, capers, olives, garlic and onion. I try to expand their food borders. I love food, big bold taste filled meals with color and texture. Little Sally who refuses moms canned nasty green beans will munch on my tender but firm sweet tasting beans that I flash boil, then sauté in a bit of olive oil w onion and pepper. My food lady loves me. Lol.

[SunflowerMama]

My kids all LOVE shredded bbq chicken. Just throw some breasts or tenders in the crock pot with a bottle of bbq sauce in the morning and you're good to go. I usually toss some veggies in there too...the bbq sauce masks them .

I'll then serve with homemade mashed potatoes and fruit.

They also love soft tacos with ground turkey. I put the lettuce, cut up tomatoes, cheese and other toppings in cute little bowls and they serve themselves. I'll serve this with black beans and brown rice usually.

[laundrymom]

My kids all LOVE shredded bbq chicken. Just throw some breasts or tenders in the crock pot with a bottle of bbq sauce in the morning and you're good to go. I usually toss some veggies in there too...the bbq sauce masks them .

I'll then serve with homemade mashed potatoes and fruit.

They also love soft tacos with ground turkey. I put the lettuce, cut up tomatoes, cheese and other toppings in cute little bowls and they serve themselves. I'll serve this with black beans and brown rice usually.

Love back beans, I take canned black beans and corn , mix, heat, and use my mortar and pestle to bash them a bit, spread on flour tortilla and put in my panini maker. Yummmmmmm

[SunflowerMama]

Love back beans, I take canned black beans and corn , mix, heat, and use my mortar and pestle to bash them a bit, spread on flour tortilla and put in my panini maker. Yummmmmmm

My kids love black beans and corn...never thought to mash them! That would make a yummy quesadilla with some avacado and a little cheese.

I'm getting hungry!!

[laundrymom]

My kids love black beans and corn...never thought to mash them! That would make a yummy quesadilla with some avacado and a little cheese.

I'm getting hungry!!

Oh gosh, me too I had stir fry today over brown rice with shrimp, chicken and pork. Now I'm wishing I had went mexican. Lol.

[momofsix]

We do quesedillas, with mushrooms, chicken, beans, cheese, ham,eggs,
We do grilled cheese on bread or tortillas and I will add long slivers of carrots to them from a peeler. I took radiatore pasta, mixed veg, mushrooms,tossed, sprinkled some fresh grated Romano on top and called it octopus legs. 5 kids ate 1 pound of pasta, and a large bag of frozen veg. My group likes weird food. I use avocado for butter with crackers. Topped with paper thin Roma tomato slices. And a bit of Parma reggiano cheese. My kids eat very high quality foods. Pasta putensca, risotto w mushrooms and steamed whitefish, potato leek soup, parmesean crackers, fried basil leaves, sweet potato chips, i do roasts, loins, pastas, stews, i try to offer ad many different regional foods as I can we do asian, mediteranian, persian, itslian, chinese, japanese, greek, american, french, malasian, carribean, Chilean, even African if it's not too spicy.

Anything really that is safe for them I do not serve hot dogs, bologna, fish sticks, any type of premade frozen dinner, premade nugget or imitation meat type substance. I can't serve raw sushi to day friends but we do cooked sushi, we do non traditional foods. Most kids don't get good quality food at home. I love to cook, my kids do too. It simply flows thru to the daycare. I personally do not believe in " kid" food.

I want to eat at your house...sounds soooo good!

[nannyde]

We do quesedillas, with mushrooms, chicken, beans, cheese, ham,eggs,
We do grilled cheese on bread or tortillas and I will add long slivers of carrots to them from a peeler. I took radiatore pasta, mixed veg, mushrooms,tossed, sprinkled some fresh grated Romano on top and called it octopus legs. 5 kids ate 1 pound of pasta, and a large bag of frozen veg. My group likes weird food. I use avocado for butter with crackers. Topped with paper thin Roma tomato slices. And a bit of Parma reggiano cheese. My kids eat very high quality foods. Pasta putensca, risotto w mushrooms and steamed whitefish, potato leek soup, parmesean crackers, fried basil leaves, sweet potato chips, i do roasts, loins, pastas, stews, i try to offer ad many different regional foods as I can we do asian, mediteranian, persian, itslian, chinese, japanese, greek, american, french, malasian, carribean, Chilean, even African if it's not too spicy.

Anything really that is safe for them I do not serve hot dogs, bologna, fish sticks, any type of premade frozen dinner, premade nugget or imitation meat type substance. I can't serve raw sushi to day friends but we do cooked sushi, we do non traditional foods. Most kids don't get good quality food at home. I love to cook, my kids do too. It simply flows thru to the daycare. I personally do not believe in " kid" food.

I want to eat at your house too.

[laundrymom]

I want to eat at your house too.

Come on over gals!! Tonight is grilled pizza! Family pool party, and blackberry snocones. !!! It's 100 degrees and about 113 heat index. We are probably going to not have to start the grill!!! Rofl!! Just sitting in the sun should do it. Lol. Just Boone make fun of me in my suit or I won't share the good floaty!! Lol

[dEHmom]

i've never tried it yet, but want to do tacos with strips of chicken instead of ground beef.

we have lots of different things for lunch:

- shephards pie
-quesadillas
-subs
-chicken penne
-strawberry&mandarin salad w/ chicken & poppyseed dressing
-lasagna (usually lazy)
-sandwiches
-spaghetti w/ meat sauce
-waffles
-pancakes
-steak w/ potatos or rice
-eggs toast sausage or bacon & homemade hashbrowns
-tuna salad (noodles w/ mayo and tuna)
-bagels w/ cream cheese
-bagels w/ cheese melted inside (i like mozza cheese in it even though it's fattening )- just put on cheese close bagel and microwave for 40 secs or so
-tacos


thats all i'm thinking of now