Anonymous
04/25/2019 12:44
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
Anonymous wrote:Do people really make cute bento lunches for their kids or is that an only on pinterest thing? I have seen some
Really cool bento lunch boxes I was rhinking of getting for my three yr old starting preschool but wondering what parents really send. Thanks!
I have one of these. I didnt't make 'cute' things, but it helped in creating a meal with variety. Sandwich in one, a fruit one, some cucumbers in another, one for cheese and last one for some nuts or crackers etc. BUT The problem is that all of it becomes too distracting for a 4 year old IMO. She would eat a bite of each and then pretty much leave it. Now I have switched to a simpler one with just sandwich ( main dish) in one and other one for a fruit-veg cut up mix and she eats much better. So I'd say a bento is good if your kid is a very good eater or is a bit older. Other than that, I don't think it took that much of effort to prepare the lunch box.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 11:44
Subject: Re:Kid’s lunches- the reality
We do the metal bento box (planet lunch) and it's really not that much extra time to clean it or prep it. We run the dishwasher every other day anyway, so we throw it in there when we can. Otherwise it takes literally a minute to wash it, and it just gets done alongside other snack/dinner dishes.
I guess I like it because my child is a creature of habit, and since preschool we have packed a section of fruits, veggies, protein, cracker type thing, and a small sweet - and this is what he expects and consequently what he eats (usually all of it, every day). Can you pack all that in a regular lunch? Sure, but aren't you just packing and then cleaning multiple containers if you do that (at least, that was my experience before we started with the bento - just sent the same stuff in multiple pyrex things).
I do not boast being a perfect parent, but packing him a good looking and good tasting lunch is something that brings me a lot of joy. You do you if that's not your thing. You don't really need to be inspired by pinterest to go this route either.
I guess I like it because my child is a creature of habit, and since preschool we have packed a section of fruits, veggies, protein, cracker type thing, and a small sweet - and this is what he expects and consequently what he eats (usually all of it, every day). Can you pack all that in a regular lunch? Sure, but aren't you just packing and then cleaning multiple containers if you do that (at least, that was my experience before we started with the bento - just sent the same stuff in multiple pyrex things).
I do not boast being a perfect parent, but packing him a good looking and good tasting lunch is something that brings me a lot of joy. You do you if that's not your thing. You don't really need to be inspired by pinterest to go this route either.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 11:38
Subject: Re:Kid’s lunches- the reality
We just bought the tupperware with compartments so we can divide things for our son. We made sure that it fit into his lunch box and throw them in the dishwasher when he brings them home. My husband makes the lunch in the morning and I can guarantee you that there is nothing cute about it. S sandwich, some fruit, and a juice box. Ice pack on top. Good to go. We noticed left overs coming home in kindergarten, not much but some. So far we have seen very little come home in first grade. I suspect that more food will be needed next year. But it won't be cute and it will be in a tupperware container. Probably one we already own and can toss into the lunch box.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 11:17
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
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."
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:55
Subject: Re:Kid’s lunches- the reality
We have bento boxes for our kids but we don't do any cutesy stuff with the food. Kids get normal lunch food but smaller portions and more variety due to the various compartments.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:53
Subject: Re:Kid’s lunches- the reality
I packed my preschooler's lunch into a bento. It was easier/not more work than the standard brown bag sandwich and sides lunch. My preschooler did not like sandwiches then so she ate better with say, rice, cucumbers, salmon, and sliced apples in bento compartments. Most were dinner leftovers. Everything looks cute and neat if you put it into a divided compartment.
Only a couple times did I try to do cute -- like I got these letter cookies and spelled out her name. It probably wasn't cute anymore after she threw the box around before lunch. She liked it but she never cared that much whether her lunch was cute or not so I did not do it regularly.
Only a couple times did I try to do cute -- like I got these letter cookies and spelled out her name. It probably wasn't cute anymore after she threw the box around before lunch. She liked it but she never cared that much whether her lunch was cute or not so I did not do it regularly.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:47
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
I use a plastic container with silicone cups inside to create a fake bento (because as much as I loved the Bentgo and the other metal one, there was no way I was spending that much on a lunch box!). But I send normal foods - bread, lunch meat, yogurt, cheese, fruit, carrots, etc.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:40
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
Anonymous wrote:My kid really likes crusty bread and would not be happy if I cut those off!
No ones cares.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:36
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
I work with kids and have seen thousands of lunches in my life. I would say I’ve seen a cute lunch maybe twice. Most people are just doing the best they can with getting the kids lunches packed.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:33
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
My kid really likes crusty bread and would not be happy if I cut those off!
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:26
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
To clarify #3-- you're basically hole-punching the shapes out. It's really easy.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:26
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
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.
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.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:01
Subject: Re:Kid’s lunches- the reality
Anonymous wrote:I use easy lunch boxes with 3 compartments from Amazon. Big compartment normally gets a sandwich (sometime in the shape of a heart because its easier than cutting the crusts off) or hummus cup with crackers and the 2 small compartments get fruit (normally berries or oranges) and vegetables (normally peppers or cucumbers). There's normally room in the big compartment if I want to throw in a small dessert or extra item. They go in the dishwasher and are super easy and saves us from using tons of ziploc bags. My DD goes to one camp that requires bag lunches than can be thrown away and I'm shocked how fast we go through bags for those 3 weeks!
This is exactly what I do. Except I buy ziplock lunch containers at the grocery store.
Anonymous
04/25/2019 10:00
Subject: Kid’s lunches- the reality
Anonymous wrote:I’ve been teaching preschool for 10 years. The first week or two there are cute drawings/notes and heart shaped sandwiches. Rarely after that.
This made me laugh!
Anonymous
04/25/2019 09:55
Subject: Re:Kid’s lunches- the reality
I use easy lunch boxes with 3 compartments from Amazon. Big compartment normally gets a sandwich (sometime in the shape of a heart because its easier than cutting the crusts off) or hummus cup with crackers and the 2 small compartments get fruit (normally berries or oranges) and vegetables (normally peppers or cucumbers). There's normally room in the big compartment if I want to throw in a small dessert or extra item. They go in the dishwasher and are super easy and saves us from using tons of ziploc bags. My DD goes to one camp that requires bag lunches than can be thrown away and I'm shocked how fast we go through bags for those 3 weeks!