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Real members of MyAutismTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Victorville, CA

We all have picky eaters. My son is about to start 1st grade tomorrow and I have no idea what to send him to school for lunch. Kinder was 1/2 day, so a snack held him over. He won't eat cafeteria food unless it's pizza. No sandwiches, no tortillas, no lunch meat, no cheese, nothing green. My husband said to send him with bacon. I'm not sure how receptive the school would be to heating up leftovers each day. I'm grateful for any suggestions. Has anyone had to write in heating up food into an… read more

August 19, 2012
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Answer Summary

Members connected over the challenge of packing school lunches for extremely picky eaters, with the overwhelming consensus being that most... Read more

Members connected over the challenge of packing school lunches for extremely picky eaters, with the overwhelming consensus being that most classrooms do have microwaves available and that communicating directly with cafeteria staff or classroom aides can open up flexible options parents might not expect. Several members shared creative solutions that worked for their children, including cold pizza that stays filling throughout the week, insulated thermoses or freezer lunch bags for keeping leftovers warm or fresh, bento-style containers filled with finger foods like fruit and crackers, and even dried vegetables or breakfast foods sent as nutrient-dense snacks when traditional meals won't work. A recurring theme was the importance of sending what your child will actually eat without guilt, advocating with the school for reasonable accommodations like microwave access, and focusing on balanced nutrition at breakfast and dinner when lunch options feel limited.

A MyAutismTeam Member

My son was the same way and I found the best option was pizza...it kept him full and had a few of the food groups. He would eat it cold. I would get a pizza on Sunday night and then pack it for a few days in his lunch. By Thurs I would either need another pizza or find him something else. He now likes spaghetti o's in a thermos. They seem to stay warm enough.

August 24, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

Tortilla roll-ups? We even do PBJ on a tortilla, but lunch meat, veggies, almost any sandwich filling works. Might be too sandwich-like for some kids. We have done things with dips, too. Tortillas (again) with hummus or even cold or Thermos of refried beans, crackers with peanut butter dip with a tinsy bit of honey to call it honey dip. I have also noticed in the stores lots of bento style boxes. In these you can put almost anything chopped up or sliced in each little compartment. Seems like that would be fun, though we have not tried those yet. Hope it helps :0)

August 20, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

My son will only eat chicken nuggets, so I know the fear about school lunch! We actually started out in primary school sending his nuggets and crackers, but also had his aide get him to at least try a school lunch. Some of them he actually liked and others he would just throw the tray! If he didn't eat the school lunch, his aide would make his chicken nuggets. They had a microwave in the special ed teacher's office and we got permission for the aide to use it.

August 19, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

If this is something that your son needs then I would most definitly 1st call to see if they will accomadate this need without having to add it to his IEP but if you have a school that wants to be difficult then I would definitly write a letter of request for an addendum meeting to add it to your IEP! I would explain it to the school exactly like you did it here! :)
This may be something you could discuss with a nutrionist to make sure he is getting the adequate nutrition while at school???

August 19, 2012
A MyAutismTeam Member

Anything that is a finger food that does not need to be reheated. Just as long as they eat.

September 11, 2012

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