I now know that there is a whole other level to kid's school lunches, a level that I was blissfully ignorant of beforehand. My kids were (are) perfectly content to take their lunches in a walmart bag. They don't have to, because they each own at least two lunchboxes from previous eras, but I guess they like the disposability of the brown paper sack or the walmart bag. They were (are) sick and tired of pb&h sandwiches and have been begging for something different. That is why I went to the lunch night.
And now I know how the other half do it. *sigh*
Let me first say that the following information came from fabulous mothers that my children would love to have pack their lunches. These women are truly amazing, but they are also many things that I will never be, which are super organized, super detail oriented and super health/food/environmentally conscious. I am sure that unlike me, all of you actually are aware of what I will call "The Art of Lunch," so just bear with me and my ignorance.
First. PB&J's (or PB&H's as I grew up with), are a thing of the past. If they are included in lunches they are made on homemade bread and are cut into cute shapes. They are even made without peanut butter somehow because other kids at school might have a peanut allergy. I ate PB&H's every day for 12 years, but if I make my kids do that I am...?
Second. Where routine lunches once offered stability, lunches high in variety are now important because they offer a break from the monotony and they say "I love you" better than plain old lunch food used to do. It is not acceptable to pack the same thing every day. At least alternate treats and cookies and vegetables so that your child can feign surprise and delight every other day.
Third. CONTAINERS. It is really ALL about using appropriate containers. They have to be the right size. They have to be washable, but not cost a lot just in case your child throws them away on accident. They must be modular in design so that four different sizes can fit together in the lunchbox in a variety of formations without leaving any large gaps (because gaps mean that the contents might shift in unpleasant ways). ABOVE ALL THEY MUST NOT LEAK. Baggies are still used, I guess, but they are placed in the appropriate container as well.
Fourth. Hot and cold. You must be able to keep hot things hot and cold things cold. Your child will not eat his chili if it is not warm, his cantaloupe if it is not cold, or leftovers from the previous night if they are not at the appropriate temperature. Hummus and ranch and salsa, oh my. I know, I know...I am totally assuming that your kids like food that normal people eat. They should, because it packs better in the nifty containers that you're supposed to use. Thermoses are good for hot things and ice packs are necessary for cold things.
Fifth. Napkins and hand sanitizer. When you pack your child's lunch with a variety of colors and foods and flavors, napkins are just icing on the cake. They are also a tangible assumption that your child has manners, doesn't use his shirt to wipe off his mouth, and cares in general about being clean. Hand sanitizer is handily attached with a clip to the handle of the lunchbox and is likewise a tangible display of your naivety that your child actually cares about germs.
I'm sorry, you probably sense (you should sense) my sarcasm. It's the last defense mechanism I have before acceptance and compliance.
Now, below you will find my concessions to "the way lunches should be packed." I am not changing my methods because the crowd told me to, I am changing them because my kids were not happy and the crowd gave me reasonable alternatives. But I still refuse to spend a lot of money on their lunch food or spend a lot of time making another meal for them. Lunches should be fast and cheap. (But I concede, they can also taste good and offer variety).
Anyway, my kids happily reviewed the suggestions that I gleaned from my "Art of Lunch" group and are excited to see something different everyday from now on and never EVER eat a sandwich again. (ha.)
Bekah said she would like to try some kabobs with pepperonis, cheese, and olives on them. She also said she would like to take the JIF peanut butter cups with celery, apples, and carrots to dip in them. I also bought her cherry tomatoes and red bell peppers because she loves them.
Jacob said he would like to try pigs in a blanket, macaroni and cheese, and pancakes with syrup. He said he would eat carrots, too.
Also shown are cherries and Clif Z Bars, which I was told are protein bars for kids, so they could eat that instead of a sandwich. I have to look into that because the ingredients look suspiciously like a granola bar. I know that kraft mac and cheese would not be considered a healthy or even edible option by many a mother, but it is different than pb&j, right? The green container on the right is a small thermos that I bought at Sunflower market (Sprouts). It is Fuel brand and cost a wonderful $2.92. The small container on top of it is Glad brand and came in a pack of six for $2.28. It's good for holding syrup (for the pancakes) or anything else my kids might want to dip into.
I found these containers at Target that are sectioned and say that they will not leak from one section to the other. One package comes with two containers and costs $2.69.
Soft pretzels
pizza pockets
bagels with cream cheese
pasta noodles and cheese
kabobs with fruit or slices of deli meat
waffles and syrup
rice with soy sauce
meatballs
Ug. Farewell, plain old easy pb&h. Hopefully this all pays off and my children's happiness levels increase while their palates expand and their stomachs fill up with healthier and more satisfying food.
I give it a month.
Ki
