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[quote=Anonymous]What you do or don't do with your children for breakfast and lunch is a parenting decision as much as it is about convenience. Serving one's child what one's child desires has to do with taking the easy route and with feeling guilty (I work full time, shouldn't I show my child some affection by fixing lunch?! wouldn't you know, there are parents who add notes and cut out heart shaped sandwiches for their kids...). This plays out on both ends of the SES spectrum. The packed lunches may just look a bit different. One has (mostly white) bagels or Whole Foods toast bread with peanut butter (or cream cheese, if PNB is banned) in it, along with some high fat/sodium Wheat Thins. The other comes with fried chicken and a bag of Cheetos. One adds a high sugar juice marked organic, the other comes with a Sunkist. One may add some veggies, which promptly land in the trash can. The differences are mostly trivial. I know so because I managed the lost and found for a while.
If you do the math, both of these packed lunches (exceptions granted on both ends of that spectrum!) are nutritionally poorer, less healthy, and less varied than what is being served hot at school at this point in time. If your kids complain, it's not because it isn't healthy or fancy but because they prefer PNB sandwiches, Cheetos, and juice. Of course, there is absolutely no denying that school lunch could still do a whole lot better, especially when it comes to food preparation. And, please, Dear Lord, let us replace the milk with some water!

I got this question recently from my son (who grows up in a 250K income household): Mommy, are you against making me school lunches to save money? I had to put my thinking hat on and said the following: "There are many reasons why I insist you eat school lunches most of the time (exceptions granted, let's have a look at your menu):
1) Most importantly, there is  no way I can fix you lunches that are - consistently - as varied and nutritionally balanced as what you're being served at school, and please don't just eat the bread and carrots! 
2) I have a life. I would much rather play another game with you and then relax and go to bed on time so I can be rested when meeting you in the morning than fixing you lunch. That is how I show my motherly love to you.
3) Yes, the money we save lets us take you out to some of your favorite restaurants and try new foods."

He seemed visibly relieved, knowing that we're not pinching pennies and that mom loves him just as much ;-)[/quote]

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