Re: Portable Dinners?
I agree, to at least ask the older ones and get their feedback. One of my friends has her kids pack their own lunches and meals out. She has guidelines they have to follow, but that way they at least get a choice. My older two will do that (12 and 10) but I pack for the other two. It's tough, because they are all picky in their own ways and even when they choose, they don't always like their own choices when it comes time to actually eat.
My kids won't eat soup or most casseroles, either. Things that work, at least occasionally:
Hand pies (you can make ahead in a big batch and keep in the freezer, reheat when you need them)
Muffaletta (basically a BIG pressed sandwich made from a whole loaf of bread that includes some sort of pickles)
yogurt parfaits (yogurt and fruit layered in mason jars)
spanakopita triangles
mac and cheese can be made into "muffins" by adding an egg custard - basically eggs and milk - and baking in muffins tins. You can add tasty things like bacon or sausage to entice them, or change up the cheeses. (I used to make them with leftover mac and cheese and add pureed squash/veggies to the sauce until my kids stopped eating mac and cheese.)
Cut up veggies and fruit
crackers, cheese, deli meat
anything on a stick - cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls, for instance, or even cold chicken satay
I use my crock pot and rice cooker so that food is ready when we get home if it's going to be a reasonable hour (before 7ish).
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Darcy
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