I use a kid's thermos, "Funtainer" food containers that keep food warm till lunch. In the morning, I boil some water and pour it in the container. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then I pour it out and add whatever we have on hand. Mostly leftovers--chili, soup, rice, chicken, pizza rolls, meatballs, spaghetti, etc. It keeps the food warm, then I pack fruit, salad and a small treat. It's easy to throw together and you could get the fruit & veggies ready the night before. I also have a small container for salad dressing so it doesn't get too soggy or mix with the fruit. Quick and easy way to give your kids some healthy lunch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are gogurts considered processed? It's yogurt, just in a tube...

Yogurt is inherently a processed food. You cannot make it without a process. The fact that it's in a tube or a carton or whatever is irrelevant. The container isn't what makes it a processed food.

I mean, to make yogurt you have to take fresh milk and ferment it using lactic bacteria cultures. That's the first step in the process. Then the bacteria are added to heated, pasteurized, homogenized milk, and the milk is then incubated at a specific temperature to maximize the activity of the bacteria. The bacteria convert the lactose (milk sugar) to lactic acid, which thickens the milk and gives it the tangy taste characteristic of yogurt.

Yet, no one complains that yogurt -- which is about as processed as food can get -- is unhealthy. On the contrary, the process can be manipulated to make it healthier (probiotic).

So, I don't get all the complaints about "processed foods." It's like a dirty word or something, but it makes no sense.

I think you need to do a little more research to understand what "processed foods" really are…you don't seem to have a complete understanding of the amount of preservatives and extra crap that is added to processed foods. When people refer to processed foods it's not simply because it has been made by using a process, but rather that it has extra additives, flavorings and most of the time A LOT of sugar. And if you didn't know it - modified corn starch is basically sugar…If we as a country (and society) do not start paying attention to what we are putting in our bodies we are having a real health crisis with our next generation. I'm sure people will flame me for saying this, but take a look around next time you're at the mall or any other busy public place - notice all of the kids that are overweight. It's sad and I don't think we are seeing it any longer because we are getting used to kids being this large.

And your point that no one complains about yogurt being unhealthy is patently untrue. Yogurt has recently been on the front lines as one of the foods that people need to watch because there is an incredible amount of sugar and additives put into many yogurts. There are great yogurts out there, but you have to make sure to read the labels.

OP - your kids' lunch wasn't great, but I applaud you for recognizing that you may need to focus on less processed foods in the lunch box. Don't beat yourself up and, in fact, celebrate that you are willing to acknowledge the criticism - even if it was delivered in a less than ideal way. Although you won't necessarily know exactly what the teacher said (because of you not being there and your kids' impressions vs. the teacher's intentions), I would leave that aside and focus on the real lesson and that is to concentrate a bit more on what your kids are eating. They need brain food to get through the day and an excessive amount of processed foods won't get them there in the long run. In addition, fostering healthy eating habits in your kids at a young age will go a long way in keeping them healthy even when they are not under your roof any longer.

Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid really had an unhealthy lunch and it's good someone taught your DC about fruit and veggies since you couldn't be bothered with it. How hard it is to pack baby carrots or an apple?

How these posts crack me up.

Anonymous wrote:I'd count a yogurt as a fruit, but no way do fruit snack go to school.

How is a yogurt a fruit?

(The sounds like the set-up to a dumb joke with an offensive punch line, sorry!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lunch should be food. You were feeding her shit because you didn't have to watch.

How rude.

OP, is your DD heavy? Maybe that's why the teacher felt compelled to comment/interfere/try to help (depending on perspective).

No. Skinny Minnies. Both of them.

I think PP earlier hit the nail on the head: they are learning about heathy eating habits in school now so maybe something was lost in translation. I don't know.

Anonymous wrote:I'd count a yogurt as a fruit, but no way do fruit snack go to school.

Yogurt does not count as a fruit.

Read the ingredients of GoGurt. I'd never let my kids eat that. IMO that's the worst item in the lunch.

I'd count a yogurt as a fruit, but no way do fruit snack go to school.

Anonymous wrote:Lunch should be food. You were feeding her shit because you didn't have to watch.

How rude.

OP, is your DD heavy? Maybe that's why the teacher felt compelled to comment/interfere/try to help (depending on perspective).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are gogurts considered processed? It's yogurt, just in a tube...

Well, they have ingredients that aren't great: modified corn starch (likely GMO), artificial colors like red #40, carrageenan. Non organic milk used to make the yogurt, so they likely come from cows treated with antibiotics and hormones.

OK, so stonyfield farm in a cup with a spoon? Is that better? I'm not the OP, just seriously asking...

I'm the one you are quoting from above. A step up for gogurt is the stonyfield or other organic brand of yogurt squeezers. Step up from that is yes, a cup of stonyfield or other organic with a spoon. Like another poster, my kids get whole milk plain organic yogurt (from trader joes usually) and I know it's technical processed, but I feel good about it. We add fruit and a little granola.

I am not 100% organic or everything from scratch, who has the time for that? But I will try to limit additional ingredients like the ones I listed above and attempt to get the best versions of what I can.

I'm bothered by the high sugar content of the flavored yogurts but haven't had success with getting my son to eat the plain (even with fruit mixed in). I've been buying the quart containers of plain and strawberry or blueberry and mixing them half/half to reduce the sugar content. Wish they'd just make it that way.

Anonymous wrote:That's an awful lunch! You really didn't know all was processed food and didn't notice there were no fruits or veggies? Still not the teacher's business but wow.

Since when is PB&J an awful lunch?
Gimme a break, lady.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the lunch was that bad at all.

I also don't think it's bad. I see way worse at my kids' lunch table, and the teachers really don't bat an eye.

Lunch should be food. You were feeding her shit because you didn't have to watch.

Good for her. She saved your kid from a lifetime of unhealthy eating habits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, your kid really had an unhealthy lunch and it's good someone taught your DC about fruit and veggies since you couldn't be bothered with it. How hard it is to pack baby carrots or an apple?

+1

Well, I did know I was opening mysel up to the snippy posters but I can try to explain.

Dinners, breakfasts and snacks - all at home - have several fruits and vegetables. In fact, when given a pate of foods my three kids always eat the fruit/veggie first and then their protein and/or carb, so they are familiar with, and enjoy, those foods.

But lunch is lunch. I work, my husband works, I pack something that can sit in a lunchbox with a freezer pack from 7:00 AM to noon. The GoGurt is frozen so I don't worry abut it spoiling all day.

As I sai earlier, I recognize it could be healthier and will start adding more friuits and veggies, but I appreciate your trying to make me feel bad.