Summer camp is officially here! Which means the time has come to stock up on sunscreen, wash lots of bathing suits, and of course reconfigure your child’s lunch box.
Many parents are anxious about camp lunches. While your picky eater may have been comfortable with the lunch time routine at school, camp is a completely new experience. For example, the lunch rooms are busier, and the food can look and taste different than at school. This experience, while wonderful, can also be very challenging for picky eaters.
For some parents, this is the first opportunity they’ve had where lunch is provided, and the idea of not having to prepare a lunchbox each day may sound incredible. But, they’re worried their child won’t eat.
To help ease some of these lunch-time worries, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite tips and tricks for packing lunches for picky eaters:
- Always Include a Safe Food: Whether you decide to pack your child’s lunch, or let them try the provided option, I like to always include a food that you 100% believe your child will eat. This way, if they’re feeling a little overwhelmed, they still have a food that they feel comfortable eating.
- Use a Thermos for Hot Foods: If your child is sensitive to temperature, a thermos can make a world of a difference. Even if the camp doesn’t have a microwave, their mac and cheese can still be warm when they open it.
- Consider Texture Changes: While your child may like a chicken nugget fresh out of the oven, they may not like how it becomes soggy after sitting in the thermos. Try to choose foods that maintain the same texture even after being packed in a lunch box.
- Talk to the Camp: If eating is frequently a challenge for your child, I highly suggest letting your child’s camp counselors know. Many camps can help children who get overwhelmed in the lunch room, by providing a quiet space for them to eat. Or, they can let your child be last to get their lunch, so they have more time to look and check out the options.
- Try Bento Boxes: For children who don’t like their food to touch, Bento boxes are a great option! They have 3-4 different containers, where you can put pieces of different kinds of foods (like in the picture above). This is also a great option for kids who like to graze on different foods throughout lunch.
- Look at the Schedule Beforehand: Camps usually provide a weekly or monthly lunch schedule. Sit down with your child and discuss the options each week to see which ones they would be interested in trying, and which ones you should pack.
- Involve your Child in Packing Their Lunch: Kids are usually more open to eating food that they themselves have helped make. Involving your kids in making the lunches, not only gives them a chance to include foods they like, but also decreases anxiety because they know what will be in their lunchbox the next day.
- Send Notes or Pictures: If your child is a picky eater, they are probably also nervous about lunchtime. Having a note or picture from you can help them be excited about opening their lunchbox each day!
And of course, don’t forget to HAVE FUN with it! Spend time walking down the aisles of the grocery store with your little one, and/or pick out a cute lunch box together. Camp is an exciting part of the year, and lunch is just one component (that you can control) to having the best summer ever!
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only, and cannot and does not contain medical or therapy advice. Any medical or therapy information is provided as my/our personal experiences is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals.
Dr. Samantha Goldman is an occupational therapist who helps parents solve picky eating without the frustration or fighting! For more picky eating tips checkout www.theot4me.com.
