Sandwiches are a crutch

Sandwiches are a crutch — you can pack a perfectly good preschool lunch without a single slice of bread.

Trust me, just go the bento route. Grab a container with compartments and fill it with small stuff: cheese cubes, crackers, a few slices of turkey or ham rolled up, some grapes, baby carrots, a dollop of hummus for dipping. Kids love having options and feeling like they’re in control. A lunchbox full of little bite-sized things they can grab, dip, and sort however they want beats one sad sandwich every time.

Don’t overthink it either. It doesn’t need to be cute or shaped like a dinosaur. Just think variety and things they can eat with their fingers. Leftover pasta salad, boiled egg halves, a couple of strawberries, a yogurt pouch, a tiny container of applesauce — all fair game. If they’re in a picky phase, include one thing you know they’ll actually eat, even if it’s just crackers, and let the rest be low-pressure exploration.

The goal isn’t a perfect balanced plate. It’s getting them to eat enough so they’re not hangry at pickup.

If your kid eats it, it’s a win. Future you will appreciate not scraping bread crusts off the floor.