No More Lunchbox Woes |
When your child brings his lunch to school, he carries a little piece of home with him. You naturally want to provide him with a tasty and nutritious meal, but how do you know what he is actually eating during his lunch time? Chances are, at least sometimes, he'll trade that tuna on whole wheat for a chocolate covered doughnut or other sugary treat. And who hasn't opened their child's lunch box after school only to discover a mangled half sandwich with crusts left over from the other half, a full thermos of milk,an apple with one bite out of it, and a plastic bag with cookie crumbs inside (they always have a hearty appetite for dessert!!)?
There are several things we, as parents, should keep in mind as we send our children off to school this fall with their flashy new backpack and lunchbox bulging with what we hope they'll eat!
1. Ask your child what kinds of food he would like to have in his lunchbox.
2. Anything that is a drastic change from his ordinary food types should be tried out at home first.
3. Your child will eat only as much food as he feels like eating-don't overload his lunchbox!
4. Pack only foods that you feel your child will be comfortable eating around his peers.
5. Consider what else your child will be eating that day. Br realistic when planning a well-rounded diet. For example, it may not be necessary to pack fresh fruit every day if your child is already eating several servings daily at home.
6. Take your child's eating habits into account. Many schools allow only a very short time for students to consume their noon-day meal. If your child is anxious that he may not finish in the allotted time, you may find that combination foods are more successful than individual ones. My daughter, for example, frequently requests peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which provide her with protein, fruit, fat, and complex carbohydrates in one shot! Throw in a serving of milk and..viola!! A complete and nutritious meal that can be eaten in a minimum of time!
In our case, food compliance is very important as our younger daughter has diabetes. She is too young to be able to trade food and still get the equivalents of carbohydrates needed to complete her meal. It has been a challenge to provide her with interesting, nutritious meals that she can eat quickly and get on with noon-hour play.
HOW you pack your child's lunch is almost as important as WHAT you put in it! There are several ways you can avoid spoilage when preparing your child's lunch. Keep your hands and work surfaces clean, as well as the lunch box and thermos. Using an ice pack ensures that not only their beverage stays cool and refreshing, but also prevents bacteria from beginning to grow in foods that are normally refrigerated. Some people freeze juice boxes which then serve the dual purpose of keeping the lunch fresh, while gradually thawing enough to enjoy as a drink. Packing frozen foods such as breads, muffins or a chicken drumstick also works well and should be thawed by lunchtime. The seal of your child's Thermos should be tested regularly to ensure that no air is able to get in, while no liquid or food can escape.
Finally, some "squish-prevention" stragetgies, so that all the thought and care that has gone into preparings your child's lunches is not wasted because of mushy sandwiches and pulpy fruit! There are an unlimited variety of plastic containers with lids that can be purchased for various types of food storage. This not only prevents food "damage", but reduces the amount of garbage generated by school lunches. Using foods that themselves are less likely to squish is another way to keep your child's lunch more appetizing. Apples are firmer than peaches and rolls or pitas are preferable to white store bread. Wrap fruits and vegetables carefully in layers of paper towels and place in a plastic bag. Pack your child's lunch strategically! The thermos should be placed on bottom along with other heavier objects, lighter objects on top, with perhaps a napkin filling in any empty space. The less space in the box, the less likely things will shift.
Once in a while, suprise your child by packing in a few extras! Perhaps you could wrap his sandwich container in gift wrap, complete with a bow! An occasional colourful napkin or a very small gift such as a pencil or eraser is a grand suprise as are personal notes from Mom and/or Dad. Caution!! Your child may reach an age when he feels embarrassed by getting notes from home. Be sure to be sensitive on this matter.
Most of all, remember that dealing with school lunches can be as mundane or as interesting as you make it! By including your child in the process, you may not only be encouraging important family time together, but also saving your precious sanity for yet another day of parenthood!!!!!
There are several things we, as parents, should keep in mind as we send our children off to school this fall with their flashy new backpack and lunchbox bulging with what we hope they'll eat!
1. Ask your child what kinds of food he would like to have in his lunchbox.
2. Anything that is a drastic change from his ordinary food types should be tried out at home first.
3. Your child will eat only as much food as he feels like eating-don't overload his lunchbox!
4. Pack only foods that you feel your child will be comfortable eating around his peers.
5. Consider what else your child will be eating that day. Br realistic when planning a well-rounded diet. For example, it may not be necessary to pack fresh fruit every day if your child is already eating several servings daily at home.
6. Take your child's eating habits into account. Many schools allow only a very short time for students to consume their noon-day meal. If your child is anxious that he may not finish in the allotted time, you may find that combination foods are more successful than individual ones. My daughter, for example, frequently requests peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which provide her with protein, fruit, fat, and complex carbohydrates in one shot! Throw in a serving of milk and..viola!! A complete and nutritious meal that can be eaten in a minimum of time!
In our case, food compliance is very important as our younger daughter has diabetes. She is too young to be able to trade food and still get the equivalents of carbohydrates needed to complete her meal. It has been a challenge to provide her with interesting, nutritious meals that she can eat quickly and get on with noon-hour play.
HOW you pack your child's lunch is almost as important as WHAT you put in it! There are several ways you can avoid spoilage when preparing your child's lunch. Keep your hands and work surfaces clean, as well as the lunch box and thermos. Using an ice pack ensures that not only their beverage stays cool and refreshing, but also prevents bacteria from beginning to grow in foods that are normally refrigerated. Some people freeze juice boxes which then serve the dual purpose of keeping the lunch fresh, while gradually thawing enough to enjoy as a drink. Packing frozen foods such as breads, muffins or a chicken drumstick also works well and should be thawed by lunchtime. The seal of your child's Thermos should be tested regularly to ensure that no air is able to get in, while no liquid or food can escape.
Finally, some "squish-prevention" stragetgies, so that all the thought and care that has gone into preparings your child's lunches is not wasted because of mushy sandwiches and pulpy fruit! There are an unlimited variety of plastic containers with lids that can be purchased for various types of food storage. This not only prevents food "damage", but reduces the amount of garbage generated by school lunches. Using foods that themselves are less likely to squish is another way to keep your child's lunch more appetizing. Apples are firmer than peaches and rolls or pitas are preferable to white store bread. Wrap fruits and vegetables carefully in layers of paper towels and place in a plastic bag. Pack your child's lunch strategically! The thermos should be placed on bottom along with other heavier objects, lighter objects on top, with perhaps a napkin filling in any empty space. The less space in the box, the less likely things will shift.
Once in a while, suprise your child by packing in a few extras! Perhaps you could wrap his sandwich container in gift wrap, complete with a bow! An occasional colourful napkin or a very small gift such as a pencil or eraser is a grand suprise as are personal notes from Mom and/or Dad. Caution!! Your child may reach an age when he feels embarrassed by getting notes from home. Be sure to be sensitive on this matter.
Most of all, remember that dealing with school lunches can be as mundane or as interesting as you make it! By including your child in the process, you may not only be encouraging important family time together, but also saving your precious sanity for yet another day of parenthood!!!!!
About the Author
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Mary Walter Loughery
Mary Walter Loughery lives in Quispamsis, N.B., is a mother of two daughters, and is currently being treated for gestational diabetes. Learn more about Mary Walter Loughery
