[Virginia]

Originally Posted by ViolaMum

If you decide to go with pouches, the ones with the spout on top are easier for kids to eat from. (When I was buying them, they made some with side spouts.) Also look for sloping shoulders from the top - they're easier to clean than square pouches with corners. I like Squooshi and Nature's Little Squeeze (these also have a clear window so that you can see the contents). I used to fill a dozen pouches at a time and freeze them, which was easier for me to prep. Yogurt freezes really well, too. (I've even done pudding. )

Thank you! I'll check those brands out. Freezing is a great idea!

Originally Posted by hollybells

The littlest will be 7 next week but from what I remember, favourite toddler snacky lunch items were:

- grated cheese, cottage cheese, hummus, yogurt, occasionally pudding
- grated carrots, spinach leaves with dip (yes, he was a bit of a weirdo ), veggies - (some purees or steamed a little, some raw), mashed sweet potatoes and regular potatoes
- leftover pancakes and French toast with a little compartment of syrup to dip
- applesauce (he loved helping me chop and toss apples, pears and berries into the crockpot to cook down), chopped up berries, apples, grapes, bananas
- toast, chunks of pita bread or tortilla, mini muffins, cubed bread, pieces of different bun, the cheese stick buns were a favourite, a few pretzels, goldfish or multigrain crackers
- rice, quinoa, left over pasta, cooked cheese tortellini noodles cut in half were a favourite - often without sauce but could be with butter or sauce
- cooked & chopped chicken, beef, ham etc.
- I always had a "treat" in one tiny compartment but the treat could be anything - exciting treats were: 2 - 3 mini marshmallows, 5 - 6 chocolate chips, 3 jelly bellies, a Hershey's kiss or two, a few teddy grahams, a few cubes of jello (fun to work on the pincer grasp ) - oh! a square of my caramilk bar was always a hit

My ratio for 6 compartments was usually 2 fruits / veggies, 1 protein, 2 carbs and one treat. Or 2, 2 & 2 with the "treat" beside it. Just my 2 cents, but I always put everything out together and allowed it to be eaten in any order. Once they were old enough to ask if they could eat their treat first, my answer was always the same - if they ate the rest, no problem. If they started eating the treat only and boycotting the rest, we'd save it until last. It was never a problem.

Thank you for those ideas!



For tomorrow (she'll be there 8 am - 3 pm), I packed
- 1 turkey and cheese roll up
- 1 graham cracker
- 1 apple/pea/spinach pouch
- 1 yogurt
- 4 oz breastmilk

And she always has a container of puffs in her diaper bag just in case.

Also, my thermos and bento box came in the mail today, so I'm excited to use those!!