Today I decided that grapes, crackers, carrots, and ranch dip might not be a delightful lunch for Madelyn to take to school every day. It’s a little boring I think.
So I Googled “preschool lunch ideas” in hopes of finding a sandwich that doesn’t require jelly or meat as Madelyn’s not too fond of either.. on bread at least.
I can’t believe some of the things that the resulting parenting websites/magazines are telling parents to prepare and pack in their kid’s lunchbox!
- Cauliflower soup (eeeewww!)
- veggie mac & cheese
- sandwiches shaped into funny faces
Yes, I’ve heard of all of those things before and they are cute and healthy but pllllease!!!, is a busy mom really going to make cauliflower soup (yes or no?) even if just once week then refrigerated, to put in her preschoolers lunch box? I’m not. Despite the fact that I work from home, I’m barely home (and not working) for more than 2 hours a day. I don’t want to spend my time with my kids making cauliflower soup or cutting sandwiches into funny faces. Albeit, these are GREAT ideas and I do feel bad saying that I won’t do it, but these sites have done nothing for me except make me feel less adequet as a mother and like I’m lazy and unwilling to do what I can to send my child to school with a healthy lunch.
So.. I guess we’re back to last year’s school lunch:
Hummus, crackers, and carrots, apple slices and/or grapes, and a cheese string. Madelyn never complained and most days she ate everything.
Do you have any jelly-free sandwich ideas? Madelyn might tolerate a sandwich with meat on it but she’s not fond of ham and cheese sandwiches.
What does your preschooler take to school for lunch?
Madelyn started preschool this year and I was a bit of a wreck on the first Wednesday she attended because that is the day the kids stay an hour later so they can eat lunch at school. A few thoughts that raced in my mind where: what would she think about eating with other kids, they are like aliens to her, what would I pack for her to eat, and what on earth would I pack her lunch in? My first thought was to put some carrots and crackers in a couple of small ziplocks and put them inside a big ziplock and send her on her way. It’s been a long time since I sent a child to preschool.. about 8 years.