A Week of Lunchbox Ideas for Picky Eaters
Five school lunches that come home eaten, for the kid who eats four foods.
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If your kid eats four foods and three of them are beige, hello. Welcome.
The trick I've found isn't hiding vegetables. It's making lunch small, familiar and a bit fun.
Monday: pinwheels
A roti or wrap, a thin layer of cheese spread, rolled tight, cut into rounds. They look like a treat.
Tuesday: mini paniyaram
Leftover dosa batter in a paniyaram pan. Little crispy balls. Pack a tiny pot of chutney or ketchup.
Wednesday: pasta salad
Their usual pasta, served cold with sweetcorn and a bit of cheese. Same food, new outfit.
Thursday: build-your-own crackers
Crackers, cheese cubes, cucumber rounds, grapes. They assemble. Assembling is half the eating.
Friday: breakfast for lunch
Mini uttapam or idli with a dip. Nobody complains on a Friday.
Two rules that help
- One safe food in every box, always.
- One new thing, tiny portion, no pressure.
A box with compartments helps more than you'd think. Foods that don't touch are a big deal at this age.
Smiggle Minecraft Lunchbox
Our current lunchbox. The dividers come out, so it works for one big sandwich or lots of little bits.
School lunches, Minecraft fans
Check the price
YumLock Bento
Each compartment seals on its own, so the yogurt stays out of the crackers.
Mixed lunches
Check the price
