Kid’s lunches- the reality

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend/acquaintance who does cut things into adorable shapes and whatnot pretty much every day. While a very cool person, she annoys me on many other levels (LOL)... but not this one.

1) It's cute.

2) I am not threatened in any way by it.

3) It actually doesn't take significantly more time for most things. I bought a set of the specially-shaped cutters on Amazon for $8 for a party theme, and found that it doesn't take more than an extra 30 seconds, total, to cut melon in cute shapes vs chopping or whatever. There's theoretically some food waste (scraps) but not if you eat it yourself. So this friend is spending ~a minute more per day to make something cute for her kid. I don't do it every day (although we also have those egg molds for hard boiled eggs, which I occasionally use-- takes two seconds).

4) For some kids, this really does seem to help them enjoy more foods than they normally would. Just like having something nicely plated in a restaurant affects our own tastes, this can help a lot of kids enjoy their food on the margins. As someone else pointed out, it can also have the effect of competing with/beating packaged crappy foods with Minnie Mouse or Paw Patrol logos on them, so that's a plus, even if mildly dystopian on some level.

5) My friend is an artist who mostly stays at home, so she enjoys it tremendously. It's therapeutic for her.

6) I'm not worried about something like this "spoiling" kids, nor am I worried about this unfairly raising standards for other parents. See #2 above.

I love that you dress this all up as your "friend" but then accidentally admit that you bought the specially shaped cutters in point #3. Hint: People do not make 6 point lists defending the actions of their friends, just their "friends."

You're right. She's really more of a friendly-ish, online acquaintance.

I'm actually not a huge fan of hers, but I guess I empathize a little because while I don't do *this* specific thing, I do similar things, like go all out with birthday party themes. I guess you could use a little help with reading comprehension, because that's why I did end up buying one of those food cutter sets. For a birthday party. And I haven't used them since. *shrug*

I guess I do find it confusing/irritating when there's backlash for anyone choosing-- for their own family and/or because they enjoy it-- to do something that most people wouldn't want to do. I find it oddly defensive that some people assume bad faith (and online sock-puppeting, apparently?) when they see anyone doing more than they have to. It really says a lot about a person that she assumes anyone doing anything "extra" is only doing it for (as the kids say), "clout" or worse-- in order to feel superior to others. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I don't understand this? Do it or don't do it, but are you really that insecure that cute lunches are personally bothersome to you? No one expects it. It's just a thing that some people do.

[Anonymous]

My kids don't eat sandwiches so the divided containers make it easier for me to make lunch. I just shoot to fill the sections. Otherwise I am scrambling to find enough containers and lids and use way too many ziplocs. My divided containers actually broke finally after years and this is reminding me that I am using way too much ziplocs since then.

[Anonymous]

I had lunch with my son for his birthday and of the 8 kids in his preschool, 5 had the bentgo (including him). I like the small compartments - it lets me use up random bits of leftovers and when I’m scrambling, makes it easier for me to pull together a lunch somehow. I don’t do cutesy Pinterest things most days, but I will do shapes or use some cute toothpicks I bought off amazon to try to get my kids to eat new veggies or foods. I like the flexibility - one day I put sandwiches in, the next pasta. My kids like their foods separated and that they don’t need help opening containers. Teachers like that the kids have just one container to put away. If I could find a stainless version that didn’t leak or let food shift between compartments, I would switch bc I hate hand washing the plastic. But we’ve used ours daily for 2 years with the exception of 3 weeks in summer and school breaks, so I find them worth the money. That said, once the baby sleeps more regularly, I might try to do Pinterest bentos once a week because I find it fun. I hope people wouldn’t judge me for it, since I could care less that their kid has all prepackaged food. Just feed your kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid really likes crusty bread and would not be happy if I cut those off!

No ones cares.

This is the only place someone DOES care!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:omg I can't get over how much work it must be to wash those bento boxes nightly. That's what stops me.

It goes in the dishwasher...?

[Anonymous]

We use the cute, prepacked and disposable bento boxes....also known as a Lunchable haha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use the cute, prepacked and disposable bento boxes....also known as a Lunchable haha

There is literally zero nutrition in those things. My stomach hurts and I'm exhausted just thinking about eating that garbage.

[Anonymous]

I have never seen a metal bento box-I just looked them up, those are cute!!! As long as the child brings them home though lol.

[Anonymous]

I have a 1st grader and we use a Bentgo box. I like that it keep stuff separate and im not wasting baggies. I wash the insert by hand and let it dry. The main box I only wash once a week. I do a cookie cutter sandwich sometimes but the rest is just stuff I throw in.

[Anonymous]

Best lunchboxes in my opinion are - Yumbox for 3-5 set, then Planetbox. Have tried many.

[Anonymous]

I used the bento boxes, but I don't do anything cute with the food. My kids could care less. They care that their bread or pretzels aren't stale or soggy. The boxes are dishwasher safe and don't leak.

[Anonymous]

I use the Planetbox which is crazy expensive but they do have 25% off sales. I don’t do anything Pinteresty but it makes it much easier to pack lunch. The only thing I don’t like is that I have to hand wash it bc we run the dishwasher overnight and I pack lunch at night too. But it isn’t hard to wash.

I might buy a second one the next 25% off sale bc having an extra would make my life easier.

[Anonymous]

I tried but my kid didn't care one bit and gave up.

[Anonymous]

I've seen so many kids open those bento boxes and spill everything in them on the floor.