packed lunches-looks like I'm stuck doing this.

egpitt22

Jake really wants me to continue to pack his lunches.  I'm hoping that maybe once he gets there & if other kids are buying, he'll want to do that, too.  But, for now, I will be packing. So, I'm used to this whole packing thing since his daycare doesn't offer food, but some things are new to me. 

If I just put in one of those ice blocks, will that actually keep it cold enough until midday?  Also, recommendations for a sturdy drink container?  I have distinct memories of my drink always leaking everywhere in elementary school!! I'm sure they've come a long way since then, but the containers we have at our house right now are just for Jake to take in the car or sports or whatever, so they're cheap (from the dollar bins)  Not sure if those will work.

For as anxious & nervous as I am for this whole process, you would think that I was the one going off to kindergarten for the first time!

lishie

Get a real thermos. I got one for Jackson for lunch last year, and it was really good.

If you're doing hot food, I also bought the thermos food container, and it kept the hot stuff warm until lunch.

waltsgirl102503

I hope he goes the way of the bought lunch once he gets there!    Would he be willing to buy a drink at school?  He could just buy a milk and then you don't have to worry about it spilling.  Otherwise, I would buy juice boxes.  I would never trust Noah to not throw away his drink container and bring it home every day.  (He lost 3 jackets last year, so there's a reason for that).   You could also look near the lunch boxes at Target (or wherever), I'm sure they have thermos or something that fit lunchboxes with them.  

Is this the thermos you remember?  

egpitt22

Amber--YES!!!!  Exactly one of those!!!  I remember it was always all over my lunch box!  Then it would make the little baggies in my box all wet and I would get very sad.  Also, I'm pretty sure mine was actually Barbie, too.  I remember having Barbie & later, Lisa Frank (of course!)

lishie

The new thermos's don't leak at all. I'd usually put in ice, and then a mix of juice and water (I still dilute his juice "> ) and most days he wouldn't finish his drink. He'd bring the thermos home and there would still be ice rattling around in there 12 hours after I packed his lunch.

MrsAmers

A cold pack in an insulated lunchbox will keep everything cold enough until lunchtime with no problem. I carry an insulated lunchbox without a cold pack and refrigerated fruit is still cool by late afternoon.

I do a mixture of milk boxes, Fruitables juice boxes and water in a plastic jug with a screw on lid. We've had no leak issues.

waltsgirl102503

And the little straw/spout thing to pour your drink didn't work that great either.   My all time favorite lunch box was the Muppets.   It had Animal (my favorite) on one side. Also, I am old, so it wasn't one of the  plastic ones, it was metal!

Luckystar2

We got dd a thermos brand thermos drink container at Target. They have character ones. She has been using it lately when we go out and I love it!
And I just grabbed an actual thermos for hot stuff at target too.

As far as ice pack it should be fine. I don't remember even having an ice pack in my lunches.

I just bought a set of these last night to use in dd's lunch bag. I really like the bento box idea but these are cheaper. I love how they snap onto the ice pack.
http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?CatName=FoodStorage&SubcatId=LunchBlox&Prod_ID=RP092102

AmandaJLewis

I got eleni a little Thermos stainless steel bottle at Target when we school shopped. She has been using as a water bottle since. I can attest to the fact it keeps the drink cold and doesn't leak.

Meghan&Rich

waltsgirl102503 said:

And the little straw/spout thing to pour your drink didn't work that great either.   My all time favorite lunch box was the Muppets.   It had Animal (my favorite) on one side. Also, I am old, so it wasn't one of the  plastic ones, it was metal!

Amber I had the exact same one in kindergarten!!!!  I loved it so much.  When my mom took my picture getting on the bus for the first time, I posed to make sure my awesome lunch box made the shot.

egpitt22

Ok, so it looks like a real thermos and an ice pack is the way to go.  I have a food thermos that I had for Jake's old daycare center (they didn't heat up food) so if I need that, I'm all set.

Now breathe...and breathe......I think I will feel better after next week's parent orientation.  I get a lot of anxiety when it comes to the unknown!!

waltsgirl102503

Aw, Emmy, I know how you feel.  It is hard to send them out in to the big, bad world. The first time I put Noah on the bus by himself, he looked so small and I was so worried. (They start Kindy as babies, but by the end of the year you'll be amazed at the difference in him!)   And I walked back to our driveway and stood there and cried my eyes out. I wanted to follow the bus to school, but Walt wouldn't let me.    It's like you go from knowing what they do all day/every day to getting whatever snippets of things they will tell you and the papers that come home from school.   After the first week it does start to get easier, and by Christmas break you'll think "when does school start again??"  Hang in there!  

Luckystar2

Emmy at least there are a lot of us going through this! There are a bunch of kindergarteners starting so we can all commiserate!

I have to start packing lunch on Monday and have been doing searches and finding lots of great ideas. Still stressing about first day of school in 2 weeks though!

egpitt22

waltsgirl102503 said:

Aw, Emmy, I know how you feel.  It is hard to send them out in to the big, bad world. The first time I put Noah on the bus by himself, he looked so small and I was so worried. (They start Kindy as babies, but by the end of the year you'll be amazed at the difference in him!)   And I walked back to our driveway and stood there and cried my eyes out. I wanted to follow the bus to school, but Walt wouldn't let me.    It's like you go from knowing what they do all day/every day to getting whatever snippets of things they will tell you and the papers that come home from school.   After the first week it does start to get easier, and by Christmas break you'll think "when does school start again??"  Hang in there!  

Thank you.  that does make me feel better!! (both in knowing that it gets better, and in knowing that I'm not alone in this weepy feeling!)  I will try my best to hold it together for his sake when he gets on the bus, but I'm sure I will lose it after that!  He's starting to get excited for everything, which is making me feel better, before he would cry if you talked about kindergarten & he'd say he didn't want to go.  So he's talking more about it now, he's super excited to go pick out a new backpack this weekend, and I think he'll be ok. 

egpitt22

Luckystar2 said:

Emmy at least there are a lot of us going through this! There are a bunch of kindergarteners starting so we can all commiserate! I have to start packing lunch on Monday and have been doing searches and finding lots of great ideas. Still stressing about first day of school in 2 weeks though!

april-are you on pinterest?  I started a board about this topic...I hate packing, but I figure if I'm going to do it more, I should get some good ideas so that I'm not staring at the fridge for 10 minutes every night, willing food to appear: http://pinterest.com/emmylou1222/kids-lunches-snacks/

Luckystar2

Thanks Emmy. I've been checking Pinterest out for ideas! I'll have to check yours out!

FYI target has teenage mutant ninja turtle school supplies. Dd picked out a TMNT backpack from there. They had lunchbox and thermos stuff and even folders/notebooks

lishie

It was hard for me when Jackson started PPS at 3 last year, especially the first day, when we walked him up to before care, and that had kids all the way from PreK3 to about 5th grade in it.

But Jackson absolutely loved it, and he's been asking when Montessori starts again for the past week.

We have to do the application for Michael in the fall, when he starts next year, I really make lose it, as both my boys will be enrolled in the public school system

Meghan&Rich

I can't even read these posts without starting to cry.  I'm in big trouble next year.

egpitt22

Luckystar2 said:

Thanks Emmy. I've been checking Pinterest out for ideas! I'll have to check yours out! FYI target has teenage mutant ninja turtle school supplies. Dd picked out a TMNT backpack from there. They had lunchbox and thermos stuff and even folders/notebooks

He picked out a turtle folder at target when we went before   we got most of his supplies there, but I made him wait on the backpack/lunchbox because TRU does the deal where you buy a backpack, you get a free lunch box.  So this thrifty mama told him that would have to be a separate trip!  I wouldn't be surprised if he goes with TMNT for at least one, he seems torn between that, Batman, and Jake & the neverland pirates.

bride2003

Also he will likely be able to buy a drink if you don't want to pack it - I know when Caileigh packs she just buys milk separate. 

northhillsbride

Amber nailed it. It's amazing the amount of growth they do in that one year!

I can't offer any other advice from what has already been offered. I'm just excited to start seeing FB pictures of the kiddos going off!

waltsgirl102503

I just saw this posted on FB.  A free kindle book for school lunch ideas.  

http://www.passionforsavings.com/freebie/2013/08/school-lunch-ideas-free-kindle-book-download/