My kids are in a charter school and they do not have a cafeteria so there is no hot lunch program available. That means sack lunches everyday. When the weather is good they eat outside on the lawn and when the weather is bad they eat in their classrooms while the grounds teacher reads to them. Since there is only one class per grade and only 250 kids total in the school, the kids are all very close friends and they spend alot of time together. I have 3 in this school. My kids want go-gurts, Capri sun drinks, fruit cups, fruit roll-ups, and IF I was really cool I would let them take lunchables. Sadly, I'm not so cool but I have tried to buy some of these things when they are on sale. The problem I am running into is, if I don't pack them what they want, they either don't eat, they barter the unwanted stuff for more desirable, less healthy foods like Twinkies or donuts, or their friends will just bring extra goodies to share because they feel sorry for my kids pathetic lunches. Very nice friends, but not okay with me. Each week I end up spending a ridiculous amount of money on their cold lunches. I would really prefer they just take last nights left overs but that would be really damaging for their fragile self-esteems.
So, this last weekend when I went shopping, much to the panic and dismay of my poor starving children, I bought some small containers and small refillable juice boxes at Target and then bought bulk yogurt, canned fruit (lots of different kinds even), pudding, and jello so they can fill the little containers with whatever they want. I bought lots of cans of 100% concentrated juice so they can make a pitcher at night and fill up their little bottles with good juice not sugary punch, and Hubby has been drying some jerky and fruit for them as well to put in their lunches.
Honestly, nothing bright in this idea at all. And I'm sure that any of you would or are doing the same things with your children's cold lunches. I didn't mean to leave you all in suspense. It was the reaction from the kids at school that struck me as funny. Because I'm trying things that are more home made, I'm thought of as the "weird" mom. My poor kids. (I wonder what other bright ideas I have had that have been the topic of discussion among the lunch buddies.)
Each day when the kids get home from school the first thing they tell me about is how their lunches went over with the other kids and what things are totally not cool to do again. The thing that makes them the happiest is when they don't stand out from the other kids. They just want to blend in. I had no idea cold lunch would be such a social event. I thought my idea was sort of like the real deal. It could be worse. I could make them eat really healthy embarrassing stuff.
So, since we are on this subject, what things do you put in your children's cold lunches. We are half way through the school year and our lunches are starting to become boring.
11 comments:
I hate sack lunch peer pressure! I just want my kids to eat healthy, no matter what the kid next to him is eating. I try and try to convince them that I pack "nerdy" food because I love them more than the other kids' moms love them, but that only goes so far in the face of that Twinkie. It's a struggle, for sure. Of course, I've only had limited experience with this since we've mostly homeschooled. But I try to make a big deal of nutrition and health at home and what food does to our bodies and brains, and how food affects our mood and studying. Maybe that helps a little. My kids do prefer veggies and fruits over any other kind of snack, bar none. Don't worry, someday they'll thank you, AND pack uncool lunches for their own kids!
I don't have kids in school. But.. I did go to school. I had "reduced" lunch in school. It was for kids whose parents made below a certain wage. I had to carry a blue card to pay for my lunch. Everyone else had a beige card. I mostly quit eating so I did not have to show my blue card in front of my friends. I would have LOVED a cold sack lunch. I guess I am in for it, when my girls are in school. You know what they say about payback!
My kids must be pretty boring because they prefer to just have sandwiches--usually peanut butter and jelly. They love fruit and vegetables too. My kids would love to have the lunchables too, but they are usually too expensive.
Charter school? You're so lucky! One of my children insists on buying lunch everyday, except when it's particularly nasty. The other insists on taking the same boring lunch every day. Peanut butter and jelly, dried mango-flavored pineapple, granola bar, apple cut into four pieces and a refillable bottle of water. How did I ever deserve her?
I pack pretty much the same way you do. For the most part my kids haven't complained or said much about their lunches. So, I'm assuming everything is fine, maybe it's not. McKaylie's school stresses healthy eating. So the kids aren't suppose to bring any of the unhealthy stuff. I put a bite size candy bar in her lunch after Halloween. When she came home it was still in her lunch box and she got mad at me for putting it in there. I don't know if there's a perfect answer.
My kids do school lunch every day. If I had to do sack lunch, I would be doing it just like you. I hate that there is social pressure with food- not good for young kids. Remember "my Big Fat Greek Wedding", when the girl just wanted a sandwich made with white Wonder bread so she could be like all the other girls? Sad that it does happen that way. Your kids are lucky to be in such a tight-knit school situation though. Sounds ideal!
Sorry, no experience with this one yet. But I think you're an awesome mom for trying! And I hope it all turns out well.
sounds like a love and logic moment in the making:
"That's a bummer you don't like what mom packed you. Feel free to eat it or not to eat it. If it doesn't work out for you today, you can try again tomorrow."
or, you could call the school and tell them you're doing some love and logic parenting, and that your child is so dissatisfied with his lunch that unfortunately, you won't be making him one today. ask for their support... one day without lunch won't kill him, but i can guarantee by the next day or two, he'll happily eat whatever you pack.
my son's school has a "no trading food" rule. maybe you can enact that once you get on the school board! another thought might be to type up a nutritious lunch idea letter, and anonymously (or not anonymously) submit it to the school, asking them to send it home. i bet there are a lot of parents who put that crap in the lunches just because they're in the same boat you are. bummer for them, their kids rule the house.
you can't totally control what they eat, esp once they get to school. but you can do your part and then let them make the choice. then it's their problem not yours.
and just in case my last comment wasn't long enough...
here's what we pack:
a sandwich of some kind
a piece of fruit- sometimes fresh, sometimes in a little cup.
pretzels or crackers
a yogurt
some kind of treat. 2 cookies, a mini candy bar... something that's fun for him, but not overboard for me. i liked your drink idea. refillables. clever. remember the days of the thermos? where have they gone?
My kids probably eat home lunch 6-7 times a month. I do sping for juice boxes (only 100% juice, though). At Costco, I can pay usually 8-14 cents per box.
I pack a sandwich (roast beef, bologna, turkey, ham or PB), some fruit (apple, grapes, banana, clementine, strawberries), a few carrots and often, though not always, one fun thing (fruit snacks, fruit leather, chips, fruit cup, applesauce, gold fish crackers, or a dessert).
My favorite "fun" thing to stick in there lunch is fruit leather which is 100% fruit. My second favorite is fruit snacks by Tree Top made from 100% fruit juice. I very rarely pack a dessert. I just can't have them around the house or I eat them.
I feel for you and for the kids I had to take cold lunch for awhile as a kid and well... Iunderstand the wanting to blend! I can't give any advice because my kids eat at school breakfast and lunch! {they beg to eat at home and bring cold lunch ... but that would require thought processes and well... I'm sure my thoughts are lost in the morning. Ya know back in bed still dreaming! Good luck!
:)
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