I am creating my menu to shop for the next two weeks & remembered that now I need to add more lunch options. My 2 & 4 yo will eat PB & J everyday, but my older kids get tired of it.

I do include fish sticks, spaghettios, hot dogs, other kinds of sandwiches....but then run a blank.

What are some fun, yummy, inexpensive lunch ideas you serve?

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We don't do any canned foods like spaghettios...we would just have real pasta. I make large batches of homemade sauce every few months and freeze it in meal size portions, so it's really easy to make up and the pasta is fresh.

We also don't do chicken nuggets, fish sticks etc It's just a personal preference for us, I'd rather use my own ingredients and it's so much healthier IMO. But that's me. For lunch, my kids like kabobs with chicken or turkey and veggies like peppers, corn, tomatoes etc They're quick and easy on the grill. Actually, my kids would eat almost anything if it was on a stick. L.OL

Just depends on your family...my kids like all different kinds of salads, esp in the summer we like caprese (fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato). Also things like make your own pizza, quesadilla, soft tacos etc

We eat a lot of fresh fruit and veggies in the summertime...

We like corn dogs, and pizza rolls. Plus we can always meet at McDonalds LOL!

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~Happiness is a large family~

During the Summer our lunches tend to be portable. We pack our lunch and go to the pool a minimum of 4 out of 7 days a week in the Summer. My younger son would be perfectly happy with pb&j with fruit every day. But I make cold cut or tuna sandwiches or I make a pasta salad. The kids also love yogurt cups with Go Lean crunch cereal mixed in (this gives them plenty of protein and fiber). I pack lots of cut up fruit and veggies with dressing for dipping and bring along a bag of sun chips or pretzels to go with. We also tend to like supper leftovers like cold barbecued chicken or kabobs or anything that's good cold.

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~*JAMI*~ GO RED SOX! WORLD CHAMPIONS!

Yikes!!! I have to revamp my menu too!! My kiddos love Quesadillas; mini personal pizzas; Mac & cheese; ramien noodles; egg sandwiches. I'm going to try the "on a stick" thing and see if I can get them to try a few new things.

I am so with you on this one, the kids eat everything that isn't nailed down now, so I can only imagine what they will have this summer. What about tuna and egg salad or chicken salad (I make mine with grapes & pineapples for added moisture & to cut down on mayo)? Also, I just tried a recipe posted here for barbecue chicken in the crock pot that I made last week and had for lunch for several days (in sandwiches), so that one will now be in my rotation. Cereal is also a possibiliy. Dinner leftovers are also big, and gotta have watermelon, too!

Grilled cheese is good. Also, in the summer I pretty much always have a 3# tub of potato salad in the frig. it is only $3 at Sam's, cheaper than I can make it!! Engilish muffin pizzas are good too! just top with spaghetti sauce, whatever toppings you want and cheese. Put under the broiler for a couple of minutes and viola!

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~Happiness is a large family~

we do alot of wraps...one of our fave is chicken nuggets w/lettuce,cheese and ranch(just like mcdonalds snack wraps )

if its really hot we do yogurt parfaits(yogurt w/fruit and granola layers)

I make the bags of lipton alfredo noodles(about 1.00 a bag)and toss in a can of tuna and handful of frozen peas.(its like tuna helper really but a smaller lunch size portion)I also maybe use up leftovers this way...leftover taco meat in the spanish rice etc...

bagel or english muffin pizzas(this is when a toaster oven comes in handy )

strawberry bagels w/flavored cream cheese and sliced stra/bananas( )

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Avoid Fruits~N~Nuts....you are what you eat!!!

Thanks for all the ideas - they are great! Keep 'em comin.

The problem I have with some of what is mentioned is that my kids don't like Miricle Whip/Mayo so any egg salad, tuna/chicken salad, potato salad is out. I LOVE that stuff since it's inexpensive for a big batch and lasts....I could live on that all summer!

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do they like sour cream....try swapping that w/mayo...I know you can in pot salad...although I prefer mine w/ 1/2 may 1/2 s cream...worth a try maybe

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Avoid Fruits~N~Nuts....you are what you eat!!!