Guideline for preschool lunches

In order to adhere to the EDCJCC’s kosher policy, we ask that school lunches not contain meat  (including red meat or poultry) or shellfish (e.g. shrimp or crab).  Vegetarian, dairy, and non-shellfish fish are all welcome.  You also have the option to purchase lunches through our Preschool Lunch Program.

We are unable to refrigerate lunches. If you would like to send items that should be kept chilled, we recommend lined lunchboxes, ice packs and/or freezing a juice box or water bottle to act as an ice pack.  Thermoses (labeled) may be brought, but the staff cannot heat foods. If you want to send in something to be served warm, you can heat it in the morning and send it in a thermos.

In order to plan a nutritious lunch for your child, try to include the following:

• Protein (egg, dairy, soy, fish, nuts (except peanuts))
• Fruit
• Vegetable
• Grain (bread, pasta, rice, etc.)
• A drink (we suggest a reusable bottle unless using the drink as an icepack (see above))

*We strongly suggest keeping sugary foods to the bare minimum.  We also ask that you do not pack candy in your child’s lunch or send it in to share with others.

Some popular lunch options, though this is not an exhaustive list:

• Applesauce, sliced fruit or a fruit cup
• Bagel with cream cheese/spread
• Bean or vegetable burrito
• Breadsticks
• Cereal with milk in a separate container
• Cheese and crackers, or cheese sticks/string cheese
• Cheese quesadillas
• Eggs—scrambled, hard-boiled, egg salad, or in an omelet
• Fish sticks
• Fresh fruit
• Fruit salad
• Hummus and pita
• Muffins
• Pasta—with sauce or as a salad with cheese, egg, tuna and/or whatever veggies they will eat
• Peaches or bananas in sour cream, yogurt or cottage cheese
• Pizza or pizza bagels
• Raisins
• Sandwiches:  cheese; almond/cashew/nut/sunflower butter and jelly (or bananas or celery); hummus; tuna; egg salad; cream cheese (with cucumber or jelly)
• Tofu
• Tofu dogs or tofu nuggets
• Tuna fish
• Vegetable soup (no meat base)
• Vegetarian lasagna
• Veggies
• Yogurt

To aid your child’s feeling of independence and to help alleviate confusion during lunchtime, please peel eggs and fruit with rinds (e.g. oranges), cut grapes, etc.  Please pack a spoon or fork when necessary.  For the two year olds, please do not include popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, raisins or raw carrots.  These foods can cause choking.

Peanut Aware Policy: 

Our Preschool does not allow peanuts to be sent in the lunches.  We do this to protect the safety of our students with severe peanut allergies.  If your child has a severe allergy to other kinds of nuts (i.e. they cannot be near tree nuts), we’ll make sure they are in a nut-free area for lunch.  When possible and necessary for snacks, we will offer alternative choices for a child with food allergies.  You may wish to send your child with a midmorning snack if you have concerns.  We cannot guarantee a peanut-free environment, but we will do our best.