Packing Lunch Help | Autism PDD
My 3-year-old DS is starting full-time special preschool on Monday. I will need to pack a snack and lunch for him each day as there will be no lunch service this year. He is not an EXTREMELY picky eater, but is definitely selective. Lunch and dinner are a lot of "trial and error". I am not allowed to send peanut butter at all to school with him due to children w/ severe peanut allergies. I am also not allowed to send raisins, which is one of the only fruits he will eat (the other is freeze-dried strawberries and sometimes applesauce). Meat is touch and go. He likes Vienna sausages cut up, but I don't know if I will be allowed to send them because they did say hot dogs are not allowed because of choking (I don't know if those are considered the same as hot dogs). I tried cutting bologna into fun shapes w/ cookie cutters but sometimes he will eat them and sometimes not. He doesn't like any type of pasta either. I am not concerned about the snack part - I know I can send some cheese, animal/graham/Goldfish crackers, Triscuits, etc. but as far as the "main course" I am at a loss.
Anyone else have this problem and any suggestions? We have open house tomorrow and it is only for one hour; I will try to ask the teacher if she has suggestions, but being that it's just an hour, I don't know how far I will get w/ that.
Thanks!
Jen
how about any soups or stuff that can be put in a warm thermos? We ussually do alot of lunchables, they have chicken nuggets, crackers and meats, even mini hamburgers and pizza. My 11 yr old doesnt even heat them at school and likes them just fine. They sure are easier on all of us than packing the lunch.
One year because one of the children had diabetes our kids were not allowed any candy or sweet cookies, cakes etc for their room parties. While i sympathise with the parent of the child, I think it was not fair to the other kids. Besides eventually and especially at 10 a kid had to start to learn, in middle school he will be surrounded by kids in lunchrooms will all sorts of treats.. Sometimes i wonder how far we are taking stuff. You even see banns on perfume in certain businesses. I sympathise but how can you control all that stuff..
Jen143 my son also attends a school where there is no lunch services it can be a real pain but even if they did serve lunch there are so many things that he will not eat I would have to pack his lunch any how
Nita Michelle~ I know; it's so strange! I mean, I have heard of schools having designated "no peanut zones", but never completely prohibiting it! Peanut butter and jelly on Ritz crackers is a big favorite around here. I will probably also send bagels and cream cheese now and then. Unfortunately, he doesn't like pasta of any kind (neither of my boys do and I'm half Italian - go figure!!) and I seriously doubt he'd try soup. I also thought about the chicken nugget idea. I saw that Target has those soup-type thermoses; I am going to get one of those for that reason. My son doesn't really care for bread either; he goes for the crackers (like his mommy - LOL - I never ate sandwiches as a kid; my family still makes fun of me for that!). Thank you for the suggestions!! I like the Pop-tart idea as well; my son also loves Nutri-grain bars, so I'll probably send those now and then, too. I bought a cute little Nutri-grain bar case at Wal-mart so it won't get smushed. Jen Hi Jen...hugs, I can relate Lol... I went through that one year with Nicholas for half a year last year...there was a child in his class who had a reaction w/ peanut butter in the class and was rushed to the hospital, really scary! That little boy has gone on to a new class so I can send in the peanut butter again thankfully! I also have a "man of few foods" LOL...I sent in cheese and crackers, would cut pieces of american cheese and ritz or saltines and make little sandwhiches. He's not a meat eater either or soup and being Italian myself I was crushed he didn't eat macaroni and gravy, BUT guess what he tried it one day and loved it and even w/ sauce (so far only spaghetti...but hey at least he eats it...so keep trying you never know!) but it can't be sent to school cuz no micro for the kids...I would buy the snack packs of wheat cracker and cheese, not the best but better than other stuff...he also would eat lots of dried cereal and tortilla chips and once in awhile a grilled cheese which he didn't like cold so it would come back to me...bagels he liked but not everyday...but you know what...try sending something new, sometimes when they see other kids they just may see them eating stuff and try it themselves...this has actually happened w/ Nicholas who is now 4 1/2 and will take one bite out of a banana occasional (huge for him) and also will eat Blueberry yogurt, something he wouldn't touch at 3...have faith and good luck to your little guy at school, I bet he loves it!! Ali : ) ps...I love your Stewie! LOL...that show kills me especially him...MOTHER! : ) ali [QUOTE=momtoMatthew] Wow I wish my son would eat half of any of the items you are all listing. [/QUOTE] I HEARD THAT! We have lunch service at our school (they cut out bussing for 9 - 12 grades instead so now my 17 year old who would be a senior has to find a way to school 7-8 miles away! but thats another story) Tyler wont eat school lunches... He has a hard time even being in the lunchroom around his classmates eating other lunches... the smell alone makes him gag. Many times he doesn't even eat what I send him because the smell is nauseating to him. We aren't allowed to send in microwaveable foods either..... and he is so pickey.... In the list I mentioned before I forgot to add one of my son's favorites.... I put an english muffin already split in a tupperware container (God forbid it get smashed he wont touch it) I also got 2 very small round tupperware containers (for like salad dressing) and I put warmed pizza sauce in one and shredded mozzerella cheese in the other and give him a plastic spoon so he makes himself english muffin pizza's for lunch (room temp style). Now I know at 3 that can be challenging especially if he has some fine motor skill delays, but thats somethign the school teacher, therapist, or aide can help him work on when he eats.
you can send chicken nuggets (you can warm them in the morning and
wrap them in foil, too). I also used to send warmed up taquitos. How
about a jelly sandwich? My DS doesn't care for bread, but he likes ham
and turkey, so I can send just the meat and some chips. Does the school
allow fruit snacks? Does he like pizza? Cold pizza always works for both
my kids. I'll buy the 5-5-5 special from Dominos so I have plenty of
leftovers for lunches. Of course, DS loves to eat it for breakfast as well! 
I can't believe peanut butter and jelly is out due to peanut allergies! WHOS eating the lunch? My son would starve... What about sending cereal and milk or lunchables? Pop Tarts.... tortilla chips and cheese dip? Does he like soup or spaghetti O's, mac and cheese? You can get those thermoses that keep the heat and fill that and send it in. Good Luck.... hope the school year goes well!
This is my first post here and i really felt i
needed to reply. I have severe dyspraxia and a extremly severe nut
allergy. I can react to touch, even the tiniest amount of anything
nutty will cause me to swell up. I also have to carry at least 2
Pre-filled andrenline pens and antihistimine s WHEREVER I GO!
People with anaphylaxis dont have a choice what they eat and , as
having dyspraxia, i hate textures of certain foods! If i can survive,
so can ur son, why njot checkout some suggestions below:
mini cheeders
shortbread fingers
flapjacks
chew-wee bars
maltesers
cheese-strings
Driied fruit
yogurt
chcolate mouse
fruit winders
jelly tots
walkers crsips
dairy milk
pringles
pasta
bagels
dry cereals
cerial bars
scotch eggs
sausage rolls
pork pies
chocolate fingers
ham
cheese
turky
skittles
winegums
chinese chicken
chiken drumstyicks (these can be eaten cold)
erm...il post more as i think of more!
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