1st grade boy never eats his packed lunch...need other viewpoints, pls - DH is so frustrated

[Anonymous]

I have this same problem but my problem is my kids' school doesn't allow peanut butter or anything with peanuts in it, or even made in a factory with peanuts.

It's ridicules.

So lucky you that you can at least pack a PB&J. I wish I could

[Anonymous]

How about... if you start eating more of your lunch I will give you pb&j on Fridays? I wouldn't pack him as much on other days. I have a 1st grader and I give him a smaller amount of food and what he doesn't eat at lunch he eats as a snack when he gets home from school.

Why does everyone always side on giving kids whatever they want? What is the reason behind that?

[Anonymous]

Maybe the fancy lunches don't keep/travel as well as your DH thinks.
Maybe the thermos is tough to open.
Just pack the kid a gosh darn pb sandwich!

[Anonymous]

I send what my kids likes within reason as they are foul after school without eating. That's great your husband packs nice lunches, but tell him to pack them for you instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have this same problem but my problem is my kids' school doesn't allow peanut butter or anything with peanuts in it, or even made in a factory with peanuts.

It's ridicules.

So lucky you that you can at least pack a PB&J. I wish I could

You would feel that way, if your child had the food allergy. We don't have a peanut allergy but we never take nuts out in public as it is the right thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have this same problem but my problem is my kids' school doesn't allow peanut butter or anything with peanuts in it, or even made in a factory with peanuts.

It's ridicules.

So lucky you that you can at least pack a PB&J. I wish I could

You would feel that way, if your child had the food allergy. We don't have a peanut allergy but we never take nuts out in public as it is the right thing to do.

Oh, before this thread gets totally derailed, let's pretend like OP said "sunbutter sandwich" or "turkey sandwich".

The point is, if the kid eats the sandwich for lunch and doesn't manage to eat the fancier lunches, send a sandwich. Not rocket science. Sorry that your husband is so high maintenance, OP.

[Anonymous]

Boy, OP --- I know your struggle! I have a very, very picky eater (i.e. the kind of kid who won't eat the mac-n-cheese at school or really anywhere, even if it's homemade b/c "it's too cheesy!" Seriously, he only eats Kraft mac-n-cheese). He won't eat chicken nuggets or pizza at school b/c neither one is up to his standards. He used to eat the PB&J at school, but now he says he doesn't like it.

What do I do? I make him PB&J at home, I make him cheese and mayo sandwiches, sometimes with baloney on the side (doesn't want that IN the sandwich). That's pretty much what he eats for main dishes (he does eat some veggies/fruits, chips, and a granola bar or crackers with it).

As much as we WANT our kids to eat a variety of foods, untimately you cannot force the horse to drink (or eat, in this case). What is most important to you -- (1) that your son eats a variety of foods or (2) that he has enough energy to receive and engage in his education? I choose (2) -- so my kid gets some protein, fat, carbs, sugar everyday (even if it's in the form of PB&J or baloney or cheese) -- so that he can participate in school.

This is a power struggle that your husband is playing with your son -- guess who is going to win? It's not your husband.

My son cannot afford to lose any weight -- he needs to gain... so I'm pulling out the baloney, peanutbutter and cheese.

[Anonymous]

By the way OP -- (I'm the cheese and baloney PP), I totally get where your DH's frustration comes from. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to put your time and effort into making food that is outright dismissed by your child... that is the reason DH needs to step back from this ledge. He's getting too wrapped up in it b/c he's invested his time and effort in it and wants to see his efforts succeed. He needs to take a break on lunches for a week and let you do it... and then you or he needs to make lunches that DS will eat.

[Anonymous]

My first grader never ate a thing out of his lunch in K.

This year he eats a single kid's Z-bar (cliff bar). I'm thrilled. Breakfast and dinner are big--and they have a class snack so I'm not worried. I also give him an apple and cheese stick, milk after school

[Anonymous]

I had kids that did the swap in school. During a play date the other kid Said my potato salad taste great. Much better than her mommy' pasta....

[Anonymous]

My kid ate the same lunch every single solitary day from kinder through eighth. The only time we mixed it up was when we were out of cucumber. His friends occasionally laughed at him, but it was simple, well-balanced, and what he wanted.

Your husband is nuts and taking something very personally that isn't about him. Not every person on this planet enjoys meals, particularly meals eaten amid chaos. Some of us just want to be nourished and done with it.

[Anonymous]

They SWAP foods. They eat from other kids' lunches.

Don't die on this hill.

Your DH needs to chill out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband is in charge of packing kids' lunches. He makes nice ones - a thermos full of pasta or a good, healthy sandwich w/ rotisserie chicken, or a quesadilla - yummy, healthy options. He also usually packs a snack like a go-gurt or go-go-squeeze or goldfish or pretzels, as well as a fruit or vegetable every day. No dessert.

Our 6 year old 1st grader comes home pretty often with almost nothing eaten. Literally almost nothing is touched in his lunch. Today he ate a cereal bar and had everything else still untouched in his bag. He said he doesn't have time to eat, but we've noticed that when he gets a PB&J, he always eats it with no drama or time complaints.

DH is so exasperated and angry at the waste of time and money and food. He and I can't agree what to try now.

I say: This shouldn't be a big deal. If he wants PB&J, just give him a PB&J every day. Who cares. That's what I ate every day growing up and I turned out ok. Let's not make food a big stressful thing.
DH says: Not going to give him a PB&J daily. In fact, he's not going to give him much lunch anymore - maybe just a cereal bar or a piece of fruit. He can eat when he gets home. The days of wasted lunch are over.

Please help us and weigh in. Both of us disagree with the other person. I know this is so silly but it's a daily battle so it's driving DH insane. I think we need some new outside opinions.

"Yummy" varies by person. What you consider "yummy" he may not. PB&J is fine.

[Anonymous]

Let him eat the PB&J and be happy that he eats something!! Save the fun stuff for weekend lunches and dinners

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let him eat the PB&J and be happy that he eats something!! Save the fun stuff for weekend lunches and dinners

This. And find out what other foods he would eat in his lunch, also, to also include with the PB&J. Your DH is being silly.