Ideas for school lunches

[xmas74]

I don't plan on becoming a vegetarian-I do enjoy fish, dairy and eggs. But I'm posting here for ideas of quick and easy school lunches for my six year old daughter. After hearing a recent report that Missouri schools had received an "F" rating on their lunch program I plan on packing her lunch starting in August. I want her to have healthy lunches instead of deep fried French fries, greasy chicken nuggets and the only fruit being a Fruit Roll Up.

Any ideas for things that would be quick and easy to pack? I do want balance in her diet so that she has the proper fuel to burn. We've cut down beef consumption in our home to once every couple of months and no pork unless she's visiting my parents (I just never cared for pork, even while growing up). And chicken-well, unless it comes from a couple of friends who raise them, I am afraid to eat it at all. (I live near a Tyson's plant. I think you know the horror stories.)

She loves fruit and veggies but I notice that lately she eats less of them-especially after a day of school lunch. Her school lunch seems to rotate between hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches very high in sugar (we use natural peanut butter at home and homemade jelly that a neighbor makes that is mostly fruit juices and fruit), hamburgers, chicken nuggets and frozen pizza. Now you see the concern.

Any advice for what to pack? Help a mom out and remember-no refridgeration. I can do ice packs but that's it.