Do they like hummus? Hummus, veggies and crackers or pita?

Hint: take a water bottle, open it and pour out a little for expansion room, then freeze. Use that for an ice pack.

I think I had peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day for 10 years when I was in school....

At that age, I would let them pick out and pack their lunches themselves, especially if they are picky. They can plan them and add the foods they want to the grocery list. Good things to learn especially with college coming up for the 10th grader.

The possibilities are endless. What do they like to eat? Wraps, sandwiches, pasta or rice salads, mixed veggie salads (I dislike preparing greens much ahead of time as unless kept very cold they always wilt), yogurt or cheese and fruit.

If not a sandwich (those tend to top my list for endless combinations and possibilities), one of my favorite brown bag lunches is a hunk or two of a couple of different good cheeses, whatever fresh fruit is in season, a couple of slices of salami or smoked sausage and a handful of crackers.

My daughter was very picky. didn't like this because....., didn't like that because....we were down to nothing but peanut butter and jelly. One morning when she complained about the jelly seeping through and discoloring the bread, I just threw the sandwich in the garbage, gave her some money and said, "here, take it up with the lunch lady in the cafeteria." Never made lunch again. :-))) I'm no help.

My two were packing their own lunches by the time they were in fourth grade! The oldest made the mistake of complaining and that was when I stopped. If they didn't want to pack, they had the option to buy school lunch.

I rarely packed school lunches for my kids. When i did it was sandwiches. As a special treat Lunchables. I wanted them to taste and experience different foods. That home and school is not a restaurant and that you can not order what ever you want. Same with when they were invited to people's homes for a meal. I figured either eat what is offered or go hungry. Your kids are old enough to pack their own lunches. Or at least help you plan the lunches for the week.

I think it's really important to help kids learn about nutrition by planning and preparing healthy meals. I was surprised how many college peers couldn't feed themselves properly outside of the cafeteria.

I have to agree that it is past time that they pack their own lunches. They may go hungry a couple of times when they do not make the time but that will be a learning experience for them. I would also be concerned about all the other things that you are doing for them that they should have already learned. They need to know how to feed themselves. Wash their own clothes. Be able to clean the bathrooms and kitchen at least enough that they are presentable. You are not doing them any favors by doing these things for them.

My middle kid did not like sandwiches but had a healthy appetite. Allergic to peanuts and dairy. His first year, he took a cold meatloaf sandwich every day. After that, he wanted turkey sandwiches every day, year after year. I cannot abide turkey sandwiches to this day. He is my foodie now.

Kali is 10, she buys some days and packs her lunch some. The other day she packed 3 oranges, two different cheeses and some turkey. Other days she fixes a jelly sandwich! It all balances out!

I ate the cafeteria lunch every day of my school life. In college I went to the lunch room pretty much every day. At work I often brought my lunch from leftovers.

We didn't have a choice other than the cafeteria or for those that lived close enough to go home for lunch. We lived way out in the country. In high school we would occasionally walk to the store and buy something. I liked the food at the cafeteria and knew all the lunch ladies.

I have 4 kids, a kindergartner, a 2nd grader, a 4th grader and a 6th grader. My kids all pack their own lunches.

I stock my pantry and fridge with bread and crackers, deli meats, cheeses, chips, fresh fruit and veggies like carrot sticks, celery, mini peppers, grape tomatoes, snack size apples, oranges and bananas, apple sauce, fruit cups, etc.

The night before, they prepare their lunches, get their water bottles filled, do their homework and get their clothes out for the next day.

My oldest has a microwave in her cafeteria so she occasionally takes leftovers.

Most days they opt for a fairly traditional sack lunch with a sandwich, chips, some fruit or veggie and a drink. Sometimes they prefer to make themselves a lunchable style lunch.

One of them seems less inclined to sandwiches so she normally takes something like hummus, vegetables and pita chips. Today she took an apple she sliced this morning with some peanut butter and sides.

I think it is an important life skill to know how to prepare a meal for yourself. I always check their lunches, I've got one who I've caught numerous times with nothing but an orange, some apple sauce and a fruit cup. We have a brief conversation about a balanced diet, (i.e. I look at her lunch, look at her and say, you need some protein) but they more or less get to/have to decide for themselves what they have.

If they know they want something, they have to write it on the shopping list. It takes me 20-30 minutes to get to the store so I don't do quick last minute trips for groceries. If you need it, want it, or use it up and it needs replacing, you better put it on the list.

Like Annie, I ate PB & J through 6th grade plus a container of applesauce and thermos of milk. I don't think I ate lunch through the Jr & Sr high school years at all. I was a very picky, skinny kid. My poor mom.

Sometimes, on the weekend, I'll make a big batch of savoury muffins with things like cheese and bacon in them. There are tons of recipes out there with different variations. Then we all have something to grab that is substantial when we're making our lunches. We also tend to rely on sandwiches a fair bit, but break it up with different breads like wraps or pitas. It's easy for everyone to make and easy to shop for ingredients. Google cold wild rice salad with beans and carrots for another good recipe that is easy to pack, but has lots of protein as well as carbs to keep them going thru the day.

Hahaha, when I first read the post, I thought that the children were 8 and 10 years old not in 8th and 10th grade!

My next door sprites are nearly 8 and 10 and they happily make their own multi course lunches nearly every day and have for a couple of years. They also go grocery shopping with their grandpa so that they can pick out foods they like, which is practically everything. That's one step (shopping for their food) that might encourage your kids to get involved.

Their lunches are composed of tuna, salmon, egg, ham or chicken salad with bread or crackers or greens packed separately. They both like mixed green salads topped with some sort of meat and cheese, sliced crisp veggies to dip, spicy chicken wraps with broccoli slaw.

They will often add little packs of nuts, always a piece of fruit of some kind, and sometimes a little dessert of some kind..homemade cookies or cake.

Many years ago when my kids were in elementary school, there was no hot lunch available, so I packed lunches. One thing I packed that they loved for dessert was fortune cookies! i think only 1 calorie and everyone wanted to trade with them.

when they got to high school hot lunches were available. So every Monday I would give them a weeks worth of money to buy lunch. They could buy it or pack one and keep the cash! Worked for me, but I all ways had stuff available for lunches.

I was Mean Mom. They were a little picky and perfectly capable of making their own lunches, so my kids did so by first grade. I made sure there was a source of protein, carb and fruit--with maybe a cookie or two; they had to get the food into the lunch bag. Surprisingly, they packed fairly healthy lunches and ate them too.

I'm okay helping with or doing lunches for little kids, especially those in the elementary grades. They're still learning from family examples about foods, balanced meals, preparation, etc.. 8th and 10th graders, different story. If they're busy spending their time productively and with homework in the evenings, I'd help. If otherwise wasting time, I'd leave it to them after giving examples of what to do.

You can't expect kids to have adult tastes, it's okay for kids to eat like kids. There are more than enough healthy kid food choices without overdoing carbs, fried foods, or sweet junk. Lunch doesn't need a dessert or other sugar laden ingredient, other than fruit. For that matter, every night's dinner doesn't need a dessert either.

(PS, picky eaters become less so when the choices are limited and they get hungry)

I hope we didn't scare her off!

You can put a lot of good stuff in a tortilla. My kids liked them spread with Laughing Cow cheese, cucumber and red bell pepper and turkey. We do various tacos and burritos, breakfast tacos, chicken wraps with chicken fingers, lettuce, tomato, Ranch and cheese.

We like to make sandwiches with what we refer to as 'the good bread'. It isn't the healthiest, but it is tasty and you can slice it thin. You can get French bread from the bakery at the grocery stores. It will often have various seasoning like garlic and herb or whatever. Get the good sliced meats and cheese from the deli. Add cucumbers, bell pepper, tomato, onion, black olives, pickles, etc and then add your favorite condiments or oil and balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper or the laughing cow cheese. If you use good quality ingredients the sandwiches don't taste like 'just a sandwich'.

They sometimes do pack their lunches, but my 10th grader plays volleyball with her school so with homework, practices, games, youth group and the actual school day, she can only sometimes pack her lunches. My 8th grader plays soccer and has youth group also so he is pretty busy, but with less homework so he helps me a few days out of the week. Ideas sound yummy!

I don’t mind packing lunches, I enjoy it. I just like to pack interesting lunches for my kids.

Lots of great ideas here!

When in high school, I packed my own lunch (in a paper bag). The usual was a sandwich, fruit, plus something to nibble on like carrots, celery, or sometimes a candy bar. When available, peanuts or tree nuts were included.

10th grade (around age 15) was about the time DS got too busy outside activities to eat with us. That was when he began to cook up his own meals. He went through various phases starting with stir frys and during one period he got into a cooking with heat phase. This led to collecting and using various peppers and sauces taking note of their scoville scale. There are stories. LOL He also become a connoisseur of cheap restaurants and coffee houses. LOL By the time he hit 20 he was an excellent cook and his taste for fine dining had grown exponentially.

I always packed my kids lunch's if they were not eating hot lunch. Even in high school. I never had a issue with doing it. I enjoyed it too Tennessee.

I make my husbands lunches. :0) I plan meals & grocery shop. It makes life easier.

Tacos, tostados! Mexican and Asian salads.

I also make my husband's lunch every day. Even though he's a big boy. :)

I sometimes make a pasta salad with either spirals or bowties. Then I use all of the usual veggies you'd put in a salad. The pasta just replaces the lettuce, so it holds up well. Maybe some hummus and crackers and he's set.

I dislike sandwiches as a rule. Will eat one occasionally, like a BLT or a burger (usually without the top bun). So when I was working, I would pack meat and cheese in various combos. Accompaniments would be pickles, fresh fruit, nuts (and I always kept a bag of lightly salted almonds in my desk for a small snack). A few crackers are ok too.

You can let your kids pick the meats, but Sams and Costco also have a nice packaged charcuterie selection if they get tired of the usual turkey, ham, roast beef. Same with the cheese...let the kids pick what they want.

A quick edit to add, you can make up most of this the night before and get your kids involved the first few times, make the containers available for the smaller items like the fruit and nuts and then let this be a part of their routine after dinner or before bed. Then it’s pretty much a grab and go in the morning.

DD's a senior this year so this is the last year of packing for me. Her schedule is modified so she's there only every other day through lunch...only needs a snack on the other days.

DGS's have packed their own lunches since elementary school. They were both in highly demanding magnet schools, one also played a sport 6 days a week, the other works after school and both Sat and Sun.

Amazing what happens if the choice is to pack ones own lunch or go hungry. I never wanted to be a short order cook or work in a deli.

My boys pack a few days a week as they strongly dislike chicken nuggets which is served to often. 2'nd & 5'th grades they assist me in the packing.

Fascinating how someone posts a question about cold lunch ideas and the majority of posts are parenting criticisms/advice - without a nod to the original question.

I don't see it that way. The question was asked - Any ideas? And for many (myself included), the first thought was some form of - "Yep, I got an idea. Why is this your problem?"

A favorite saying I used when mentoring younger professionals was "In this situation, what's the best approach to choose when doing the wrong thing, or the best way to do this the wrong way." Sure the answer was obvious, but when you see how many say "I like to do it" or "The kid doesn't have much time", you can see the answer isn't so obvious to some. And those who have had kids in college and then as young adults living on their own should understand why learning how to prepare their own food at an early age is an essential life skill to teach kids. That those whose parents do it for them for too long may not have.

DH recently found some old papers of his mother's. One was a notebook in which she wrote down memories. This has led him to a lot soul searching over his upbringing. The other night he mentioned how she made him a lunch every single day he lived with her. He stayed on to help her out because she was quite disabled . Even when he was a full time working adult she packed him a lunch every single day. Never occurred to her he might want to eat out with the guys at work or whatever.

Now he is semi-retired and finally learned to make a proper grilled cheese sandwich. Baby steps. LOL He mentioned to me his mother didn't do him any favors by doing this for him. I'm sure she felt she was thanking him for all he did from laundry to shopping. But she micromanaged every detail. I saw those shopping lists. What she didn't realize was in doing so she raised a son who couldn't boil water.

Tomorrow is another milestone for DGD who just entered first grade. She already helps pack her lunches and 4 year old DGS helps with his snack for preschool. Now she has asked to buy her lunch to see what it's like. On the road to independence and willing to try new things.

Elmer, it’s not like my kids don’t know how to cook. My daughter is too busy, and she often cooks on weekends or on breaks when she doesn’t have sports 4-5 times a week on top of school and youth group. She actually is a great cook, and knows how to make many delicious dishes without recipes. My son helps me bake, although he isn’t as interested as my daughter.

I will sometimes pack lunch for SO. Not often,but when I do he likes tuna or chicken salad with crackers. If I ride in the truck with him I'll do a homemade version of lunchables. Easy for us to eat,no heating necessary. I like eating like that. Cold meats,cheeses,olives,nuts,hard boiled eggs or devilled eggs,chips or veggies with dip, lots of finger foods. Always something sweet. I like those Jif to go cups too.

My mom use to pack my lunch for kindergarten. I remember how she would pack a little container of cherry pie filling for me. (Don't judge,it made my day. I HATED school from my first day to my last. The pie filling made it bearable) I didnt like sandwiches because the bread was always soggy so she would pack the bread and meat separately for me to put together myself.

My favorite food to make ahead and eat cold is homemade pizza . Best. Breakfast. (or lunch) Ever.

I have never liked pasta salad but if your kiddos do then that might work. My nephews like cold leftover quesadillas in their lunches. (Of course,they also like cold mashed potato sandwiches so.....) Another siblings kids like when she makes "roly polys",which are basically sandwiches is. She takes some sort of Arabic or Lebanese flatbread,I forget what it's called, puts whatever the kids want on them,rolls them up and cuts them into pieces so they look like sushi. One of her kids likes turkey,avocado,shredded carrots and hummus,the other likes ham,cheese,lettuce,pickles and mustard. The filling possibilties are endless. You could do them with tortillas too I guess.

My mom was a terrible cook and did not like to cook at all and still packed my lunches until I started eating the school lunch. I love to cook,and believe I am quite good at it. As my mother did not enjoy cooking, all 6 of her kids were self taught cooks,and we are all good cooks. But,as we were all BUSY,with school,sports,clubs,the required volunteer work for school,plus the fact we all started working at age 15,and most of us had some sort of racket before then to make money(I shampooed carpets and cut grass around the neighborhood) my mother was happy to help. In the summer,we were on our own for breakfast and lunch everyday.

Seriously. Cherry pie filling.

I think the cherry pie filling sounds great!

A piece of fruit is a much healthier choice.

imdrno - You're my hero haha :)

I used to love cherry pie filling as a kid. Either they changed it, or more likely my tastes changed, because I tried it a few years ago and it was waaaaay too sweet. I used to like those little pies with the filling too. We did not eat well as kids in the 90's! So much processed junk.

The 80's were probably worse!