Your child should have a clearly labeled lunch box and unbreakable thermos, cup, or bottle.
Please send utensils and bibs if needed. They will be sent home daily. Your child’s name should be written on all food containers, including tops. We will supply a plastic spoon or fork only in an emergency. Help us save the environment by providing utensils for your children.
Water is provided for the morning snack. Extra bottles or covered cups may be left in the Infant-Toddler classrooms for this purpose. If you want your child to have a drink at lunchtime, please send it.
Food will be refrigerated. We do not heat any food. If you want your child to have warm food, send it in an insulated container marked WARM and leave it with the teacher.
The ECP keeps a kosher home. Only dairy or pareve foods may be served. This means that only non-meat, kosher foods are allowed. No meat, poultry, or shellfish should be sent to school. Packaged foods should be labeled with a Kosher symbol and must contain no animal fat. The ECP is also a nut-free program. If you have questions about what is or is not allowed, please speak to the Director or your child’s teacher.
If your child stays in the afternoon, include enough food and variety in the lunch to provide an afternoon snack for your child. Please send food that is ready to eat and does not need further cutting, peeling, coring, etc. Please advise us of any specific foods your child may not have. Finally, if you are stumped about what to send for lunch, you should feel free to ask the staff and other parents; there is a wealth of creative food ideas in our group.
Here is a brief list of ideas:
- noodle kugel
- egg or tuna salad with crackers
- kasha with bowties
- fried egg sandwich
- vegetable noodle soup
- yogurt
- vegetarian chili
- noodles with cottage cheese
- celery and carrot sticks with hummus
- cold vegetable lasagna
- tuna casserole
- mini pitas with cream cheese or hummus
- vegetables with dip
- cold cheese pizza
- hard boiled eggs
- cheese slices, sticks, or cubes
- vegetarian meat substitute slices with cheese or on sandwichest