Lunch Time
Wednesday, October 16th, 2013From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Packing lunches is not one of my favorite tasks. Jack’s school lunch options are horrendously unhealthy, and he doesn’t like what they offer, anyway. Tate’s school has no cafeteria, so he has to pack. I pack both boys’ lunches everyday. For years, Jack and Tate ate PB&J along with yogurt, a piece of fruit and granola bar with either water or a fruit juice everyday. I asked them if they were sick of the same repetitive meals. They always answered no, but I would find large clumps of crust and unopened/uneaten food left behind in their lunch box. I have a tough time packing a well-balanced meal that they will eat consistently.
Our family is trying our best to eat healthier. It’s very hard when three of us have a serious sweet tooth, but making adjustments and substitutions help. My kids, especially Jack, are willing to try new foods, which makes mealtime less of a fight.
I wanted to start making the boys’ lunches more appealing and fun. They always came home and told me what this person had in their lunch box and what that person had in theirs. I decided to buy some plastic divided containers that fit right inside their lunch boxes. They seal tight and everything is right in front of them when they open up their lunch box. I did some browsing on the Internet to find creative and healthy meal ideas. There are TONS of recipes and daily menus. Most of them are pretty basic, but new ideas are always welcomed. I’m not one for complex recipes, because who wants to put together a recipe at 6am, but things I can cut up and toss into the lunch box are right up my alley. For example, turkey and cheese pita roll up, sliced cucumber, pretzels and a granola bar. All things my kids like to eat.
So far, the boys really enjoy what I pack for them. I am not finding leftover pieces of food inside their lunch box anymore. I also believe a variety of foods will keep the boys excited about eating healthy. Simply cutting their fruit with a small cookie cutter, or preparing it in a different way can really help make the same lunch more interesting.
Before I know it, my kids will be making their own lunches. I want them to know there is more out there than just peanut butter and jelly. I want them to learn and understand what is healthy and what should be consumed within moderation. Exposing my boys to different meal options will hopefully stick with them to make good food choices in the future.
