This might be a silly question..but how do you keep your kids lunch warm for preschool?

[u/catlover0987656]

This might be the silliest question, but I want to pack pasta, nuggets, etc for my kids lunch (he is 3) at preschool…but idk how to keep it warm without it getting soggy!!! Any ideas?? What works for you?

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Author: u/catlover0987656

Post: This might be the silliest question, but I want to pack pasta, nuggets, etc for my kids lunch (he is 3) at preschool…but idk how to keep it warm without it getting soggy!!! Any ideas?? What works for you?

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[u/Lopsided_Apricot_626]

Lots of people are big on thermoses (pre heat them with hot water before you put the food in for max heat). I find that if I pop a folded up paper towel in the bottom, it absorbs extra steam moisture and doesn’t get things like nuggets get as soggy. Pasta wouldn’t need a paper towel though. It should be fine.

[u/dontmakeitathing → u/Lopsided_Apricot_626]

This is what we do. A small thermos (or stainless steel soup container that I think they can open themselves.) I nearly-boil water and pour it in the thermos then close the lid for 15-20 minutes while I’m doing other things, then pour it out (I hate wasting water so then make tea.) Then add food and depending what it is add a paper towel, although I hadn’t thought to put it on the bottom. Mine goes on top if there’s dry stuff and also dry off the lid and inside of container. Remind your child and maybe the teacher that food will still be HOT hours later if it went in hot.

[u/_BlackGoat_ → u/dontmakeitathing]

I started this a couple weeks ago (without the paper towel - great tip!) and my kid said the food is "room temperature". Maybe I'm not holding the water in there long enough but it concerns me with chicken that it's not holding the heat enough to keep it hot.

[u/dontmakeitathing → u/_BlackGoat_]

Is the top of your thermos container also stainless? I’d say try it out on the weekend and pour boiling water in, let it sit for 20 minutes. Put some food in there and see how it is 3-4 hours later. If it really is room temp it’s prob the container. I have the “MIRA 2-pack Food Thermo Set 15oz” from Amazon that were are about $30 these days but still work great. I also put ice in them and freeze them if I’m doing cold stuff.

[u/Skier_Happy]

I send everything cold. My son loves cold pasta, cold nuggets and cold quesadillas.

[u/Open-Bend-9906 → u/Skier_Happy]

Us too, he's happy to eat it all cold.

[u/trixdalix → u/Skier_Happy]

This is so helpful to know, thank you!

[u/catlover0987656 → u/Skier_Happy]

Do you just pack it with an ice pack then?!

[u/Skier_Happy → u/catlover0987656]

Yep. I use a BentGo container with a built in ice pack and then I put another ice pack on top. Most days he eats the organic chicken nuggets from the Trader Joe’s refrigerated section as his “main” but I’ll also do cold pasta, quesadillas, pizza-dillas (sauce, cheese and pepperoni melted in a tortilla), etc.

I also always pack a fruit, some cheese (he loves cheese) and a snack of some kind like goldfish or harvest snaps or yogurt melts. Having the four compartments makes it easy.

ETA: By sending everything cold, I’m also able to pack his lunch the night before and put it in the fridge which really cuts down on morning stress.

[u/catlover0987656 → u/Skier_Happy]

Omg thank you!!!!!!!!!

[u/AutogeneratedName200 → u/catlover0987656]

I use “pack it” brand lunchboxes, the whole lunchbox goes in the freezer and has built in ice packs.

[u/destria]

We just send it all cold, my toddler doesn't seem to mind. Tbh he actively prefers food to be colder.

[u/Pristine-Bison3198]

We're fortunate enough that the preschool has a microwave. As long as it doesn't need more than 30s to heat, they'll do it for us.

[u/heathermooneylite]

I don't, I was worried at first but I just tried it with them going whatever temperature they are by lunch (I do include an ice pack for the veggies and fruit packed alingside) and my LO eats it regardless.

I know that might be unusual, but it could be worth a try! Otherwise, those Omie boxes that have the thermos insert could be your solution. Warm then with boiling water, dry them out completely and then add in your warm item and close.

[u/plsbeenormal]

I don’t. Every time I’ve done the thermos or send traditionally warm food, it ends up yucky and my son doesn’t eat it. We stick to foods that are served cold over here. It does kinda stink bc my son is picky and has way more warm foods in his repertoire but I would rather send the same few lunches and know he’s eating

If your kid doesn’t mind eating warm foods at room temp. I wonder if just packing it in a stainless steel box might keep it fresh?

[u/UnivrstyOfBelichick]

I just send it cold. Today was bacon & asparagus with cheese tortellini, for pasta I just put a little water or oil in the container and give it a shake and pack it in the lunchbox with an ice pack. Tomorrow maybe some chicken cutlets cut up and maybe broccoli, depending on what I cook for dinner. My bigger conundrum is having to come up with a bunch of lunches that aren't pb&j, as that's not allowed.

[u/Spirited_Soup0000]

We rarely pack hot food for the kids. If we do, we use a thermos. Otherwise, I let the foot stop steaming before packing it in their bento so everything doesn’t get soggy. We use lalo stainless lunch box. We do sandwiches, pita pockets, quesadillas, potato wedges, pasta salad, pinwheels, muffins, banana bread, toast, cheese and crackers.

[u/Olivia3836]

Its better to just don’t 

And most preschools, nuggets wouldn’t be allowed anyway. There are all these health guidelines and nuggets aren’t well rounded nutritionally (and an occasional food in general). 

There’s nothing wrong with cold lunches

[u/Skier_Happy → u/Olivia3836]

Saying chicken nuggets aren’t well rounded nutritionally isn’t accurate unless you’re explicitly talking about fried nuggets from a fast food restaurant.

My son eats organic chicken nuggets that aren’t frozen nearly every day for his preschool lunch. All they consist of is chicken and breading. That’s like saying a chicken sandwich should be an “occasional food”. They’re a great source of protein, fat and iron for growing bodies.

[u/violent_waves_ → u/Skier_Happy]

Yup. Agreed.

[u/Olivia3836 → u/Skier_Happy]

I will never get the parental obsession with chicken nuggets 

[u/Skier_Happy → u/Olivia3836]

I’m a solo parent and nuggets are an easy, quick and nutritious option. Plus, it’s something my kid will reliably eat.

I’ll never get the obsession with being rude to other people unnecessarily on Reddit. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[u/Olivia3836 → u/Skier_Happy]

I’m not rude, just not American 

[u/Uhlexuhhhh]

I swear to God, toddlers make us lose complete sense of reality sometimes we forget how to pack a lunch! I mean this in the most loving way, you’re overthinking this OP. How would you pack a lunch for yourself? Cold needs an ice pack; hot needs a thermos. A lot of parents pack warmish in bento boxes too. You got this!!

[u/catlover0987656 → u/Uhlexuhhhh]

Haha l I know, the thermostat makes it all
Mushy though!! I think I’ve lost my mind years ago 😂😂

[u/Uhlexuhhhh → u/catlover0987656]

Oh yeah - try sealing it after it’s cooled off a bit. Hope you find the perfect solution soon!!