Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2014 Chat

[MrsFabuloso]

But Kim, if you make them longer, then the little shorties like my little miss will trip over their tails!

[OceanPrincess]

Ahh lunch box ideas. I'm already stressed enough about kinder lunches for DD... And she's only there half days lol.

What about the actual lunch box, what are people using?? I need a new one for DD. Where can I look?

So, food. I'm thinking I need to find some sort of bliss/energy ball that DD likes, plus some sort of home made museli bar, just to mix the fruit/sandwich/cracker thing.

I make my own yoghurt - how can I send that to school? Does anyone use those sinchie things??

[MrsFabuloso]

For lunches, I generally give DD a sandwich (simple things- ham/vegemite/cheese/cream cheese/cold sausage), a serve of fruit/vegetables, a packaged snack like shapes/rice crackers or tiny teddies and a home made snack like a pancakes/nut free muesli bar/biscuits/sweet or savory muffin or cinnamon/cheese and vegemite scroll.

That's pretty much the staples of things I make and freeze, usually one sweet and one savory home made thing each week gets made and frozen for lunches. If I don't give her a sandwich (which is only occasionally), she gets some cabinossi/cheese/crackers. She also occasionally gets some yogurt or home made custard.

[MummyNaomi]

We need to send a brain snack (fruit only), recess and lunch. DS loves vegemite sandwiches so his lunch box will likely consist of Strawberries/Pear/Orange/Apple/Peach then rice crackers, cheese, popcorn, carrot/cucumber sticks and the sandwich. Fortunately DS requests the same lunch most days so wont be too fussed if it doesn't change much, as long as he has his usual choices

I am waiting till the school sales after xmas to check out the lunchboxes available, hoping to find something with a few compartments to fit all the above - I think the nudie ones might be suitable.

OP - I bought some of the reusable squishy snack packs for home made custards and yoghurts that I make with my TMX, they are really good, so would be suitable to send yoghurt in (as long as the kids bring them back home!!)

DS forgot to eat his fruit on 2 of the 3 transistion days, I'll have a word to his teacher when he starts in Jan to ensure she reminds him to eat, once he is used to recess and lunch he'll be fine, but might need a reminder the first few times. I am planning on starting to use his lunchbox at home for a few weeks before so he is used to knowing what to eat for brain food, recess and lunch etc

Also need to teach him to tie his shoelaces. But I am not buying his school shoes until just before incase he grows. The school gave us a list of things to make sure they know how to do. He can do the rest - needs to practise opening packets himself a bit more, however most stuff will be fresh rather than packages so not a huge issue at first.

[black_rose]

We went through two nudie ones as they break easily, have swapped to another brand that has lated 6 months and still going. Can't remember the name will have a look, about half the class has the same one. We are a rubbish free school so lots of compartments are good.

[MrsFabuloso]

Tupperware have some pretty good lunch boxes and different sized containers.

[MummyNaomi]

BR - I'd be interested to know what they are

[Bella29]

Yes BR, I'm looking for lunch boxes too.

[OceanPrincess]

Tupperware have some pretty good lunch boxes and different sized containers.

Except DD can't open them. I send her to kinder ATM with a Tupperware sandwich keeper, one of the bowls that comes with a lid (in a set of four, pink green yellow blue? Matching tumblers and plates, those ones), plus snack cups and the container that's a little bigger than snack cups. DD can open the sandwich keeper and the bowl with lid, can't open the other ones. And can't put the lids back on any of them. Can get the sandwich keeper closed again but none of the others.

Sigh.

I'm hoping after Christmas there will be some more options available for lunch boxes.

I have no idea what we can and can't take, if there's a nut free policy or anything. Hmm.

In other news, DD's new teacher has contacted us saying that it we want to meet her before the end of the year and chat about how DD's transition has gone, we can do that. So we are seeing her next week. I think that's cool.

[Rowellen]

I wouldn't send DS with tupperware. It's too expensive to lose. And I highly doubt it would make it to lost property . He had a tupperware drink bottle, clearly named and not even in great condition at kindy - never seen again. If it was just lost in the room, then it would have been returned as they are always moving furniture about. So I can only assume it's been stolen. I have a few systema containers (often 1/2 price at woolies/coles). DS can manage them easily. And a smash lunch box. It's lasted really well & is a great size. I intend to get another one of those next month.

[Nai]

I agree re: Tupperware way too easy to lose! The systema and smash ones have lasted well here. Systema are easy for dd2 to open as well.

[RainbowRiver]

For now, my 2 girls just take all their food in zipper lunch box bags (cooler insulated inside). Lunch boxes didn't last long and broke fast.

DS has the same for next year.

Lunch ideas/what I pack: 1 fruit for snack, cheese stick, sandwich - either Vegemite and cheese, jam or plain Vegemite, fruit bar, snack bag biscuits, dip it, bubble bar, apple purée, popper and a drink bottle. DD1 goes through phases of wanting salad instead of sandwiches.

We don't have a canteen so can't skip lunches now and then lol

[~Kim~]

I've learned not to buy a specific large lunch box, but lots of littler containers and an insulated bag. It's too hot for too long here not to. We only have canteen (The Desert Diner lol) 2 days a week, and the options are not great.

[Olive]

We use the smash nude food large containers, I usually buy two when on sae as they don't last the year, I use cheap drink bottles

[MrsFabuloso]

I do what Kim does, as we live in a very hot climate too. Small containers in an insulated bag with ice blocks inside it.

[black_rose]

The brand we have are sistema you can fit two sandwiches and lots of snacks in them and they are bpa free. Dd's class are so rough with them even the Tupperware ones have broken. The boys throw their bags around and wrestle like sumo's and as they eat on concrete the boxes are scuffed and pushed around. None of the other ones we tried lasted a term.

[OceanPrincess]

Ok... Post Christmas we are looking out for sistema, nude food or smash, or a combination of all of the above

I do love the small container idea, its what's we've been doing for kinder but as I said above she needs more independence.

My sister has just bought all new Tupperware for her DD and DS. Her DD is in prep as well, DS in last year of kinder. Anyway, she's bought these new large insulated lunch box things, plus the large sandwich keeper plus things (that are worth I think $60 or something) and new water bottles. Much like you guys, I don't want to be sending that sort of brand new expensive Tupperware to school.

[~Kim~]

I can't get my DH to remember all the bits, can't really expect the kids. Though I trust the kids with proper containers. DH just gets chinese takeaway ones lol.