Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 23:27     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
I cook from scratch basically every night and often eat leftovers myself at work, but almost never send them with the kids for lunch. Most things just taste gross cold. One of my kids will eat my home-made chicken nuggets cold with homemade honey mustard dip, or cold vegetable-cheese ravioli, but I think that's about it. I'll eat fish cold, but haven't convinced them about that yet. The idea of eating cold spaghetti and meatballs or cold beans and rice turns my stomach, and there no way the kids would eat it either.
I send a LOT of fruits and vegetables every day, with either: 1) a pbj on whole grain; 2) yogurt; or 3)cheese and/or sliced salami.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 23:13     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:School cafeteria on France provided balanced, hot meals. Normally included things like grated carrots, followed by chicken, veggies and rice, followed by a piece of cheese or yogurt, then a piece of fruit.


That doesn't answer the question.

The question is what people PACK.


I'm not the quoted PP but I also mentioned french school cafeterias in my response. I think it's because packed lunch are such a mediocre option, and we really wish we didn't have to do that. It would be like asking "how do you get to work in the morning?" And I answered something about the metro being broken, and about my little razor scooter. I really would rather take public transit, but this razor scooter is all I got.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 23:10     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Except for a few @ssholes, this is an awesome thread.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 22:58     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In my country there was no idea of a "packed lunch". at lunchtime we would go outside and pick fruits and vegetables from the surrounding school farm for our lunch. Once a week, from middle school onward, we would participate in the slaughter of a lamb or sheep, which we would process and would provide our protein for the week.

I was 23 the first time I saw a zip-lock bag. I will never forget just opening and closing it, again and again. Such a wonder!


This is really interesting. Where are you from?


Thank you. I am from London.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 22:39     Subject: Re:What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm South Asian, DH is white American. I pack a combination of whatever is left from the dinner before plus veggies/fruit/some form of hummus and chips. DD loves daal so I send a lot of daal and rice with her. I usually put in some veggie in the daal - peas or broccoli, which also helps. It is meant to be eaten warm but fine at room temperature. [/quote

Cold or lukewarm daal -ew


Indian here and cold or lukewarm daal is yucky, so you are being plain lazy.


Indian here, and you two sound like spoiled children. "yucky". "ew". Do you have no class?

+1
Plenty of Indian school kids in India eat daal at room temperature. We certainly did and no one complained.


+1 . Dal , chawal, sabzi, roti sabzi was the standard.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 21:28     Subject: Re:What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm South Asian, DH is white American. I pack a combination of whatever is left from the dinner before plus veggies/fruit/some form of hummus and chips. DD loves daal so I send a lot of daal and rice with her. I usually put in some veggie in the daal - peas or broccoli, which also helps. It is meant to be eaten warm but fine at room temperature. [/quote

Cold or lukewarm daal -ew


Indian here and cold or lukewarm daal is yucky, so you are being plain lazy.


Indian here, and you two sound like spoiled children. "yucky". "ew". Do you have no class?

+1
Plenty of Indian school kids in India eat daal at room temperature. We certainly did and no one complained.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 20:14     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Oh. I wasn't the only one to ask! Just read the rest of this. Thanks for sharing.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2015 19:52     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:In my country there was no idea of a "packed lunch". at lunchtime we would go outside and pick fruits and vegetables from the surrounding school farm for our lunch. Once a week, from middle school onward, we would participate in the slaughter of a lamb or sheep, which we would process and would provide our protein for the week.

I was 23 the first time I saw a zip-lock bag. I will never forget just opening and closing it, again and again. Such a wonder!


This is really interesting. Where are you from?
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2015 20:12     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I volunteer at my child's ES during lunch. Kids who bring rice and other grains make a huge huge mess. There is literally like 2 minutes beTween K classes leaving the cafeteria and 5 th graders coming in for lunch. Please be mindful that young kids will create unprecedented messes with your Elaborate lunches. Also keep in mind, that young kids will struggle with difficult to open containers and that they have 20 minutes for lunch (mcps) and then they start lining up for recess.


Yes! pack processed food so they can clean up faster!
0_o



Well actually rice is processed so unless you are packing raw fruit and veggies it is going to be processed.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2015 17:26     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
I think all of the PB hate is weird. PBJ is low-class? Jeez. My kid doesn't eat meat, so I give her lots of nuts, seeds and nut-butters. I don't see how that is any different from sending beans (which I also do), or chickpeas, or any other protien.

Also, French mom, how often do you really pack bone-marrow in your kid's lunch? I honestly have a hard time believing that all of the other children at your DD's school eat lunchables every day, and your DD whips out a marrow bone.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2015 16:45     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:I volunteer at my child's ES during lunch. Kids who bring rice and other grains make a huge huge mess. There is literally like 2 minutes beTween K classes leaving the cafeteria and 5 th graders coming in for lunch. Please be mindful that young kids will create unprecedented messes with your Elaborate lunches. Also keep in mind, that young kids will struggle with difficult to open containers and that they have 20 minutes for lunch (mcps) and then they start lining up for recess.


PP: "Oh Asian kids are so messy! Please assimilate and bring Lunchables so your kids don't make a mess with their stinky "Elaborate" Asian-y food!"

That being said, she does raise an important point about how schools need to provide a few additional minutes for lunch, kids simply don't have enough time to eat.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2015 16:44     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am Indian and my kids craft the menu. It is a mix of Indian, Mexican, American and Italian food.

1) Spiced Rava Idli with coconut flakes and veggis.
2) Veggi upma and bread upma'
3) Stuffed sandwich in sandwich maker with veggies (spiced sauted veggies, cheese and potatoes.
4) Stuffed sandwich with cooked spiced minced chicken or lamb with mint chutney
5) Mac and Cheese in a thermos
6) Hot dogs
7) Quesadilla
8) Pizza
9) Spaghetti and meatballs
10) Paneer and veggi burritos
11) Chicken Biryani
12) Rolled stuffed parantha.
13) Egg salad sandwich
14) Ham sandwich
15) Grilled cheese sandwich
16) French toast
17) Chicken nuggets

Also as sides - fruits, raw veggis with dips, cheese sticks, yogurt and rice pudding etc.

I have also packed breakfast sandwiches from McDonalds at times because my kid loves it





This is an impressive list! Your kids get waaaay more variety than the kids who buy every day get. Good job!


Best list ever!
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2015 16:41     Subject: What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:pbj is so low class and bad for you


It's bad for you only if you are a fat-phobe. And even then, it's not bad for you. Not sure how a slice of whole grain bread and a handful of nuts is junk food?
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2015 16:39     Subject: Re:What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm South Asian, DH is white American. I pack a combination of whatever is left from the dinner before plus veggies/fruit/some form of hummus and chips. DD loves daal so I send a lot of daal and rice with her. I usually put in some veggie in the daal - peas or broccoli, which also helps. It is meant to be eaten warm but fine at room temperature. [/quote

Cold or lukewarm daal -ew


Indian here and cold or lukewarm daal is yucky, so you are being plain lazy.


Indian here, and you two sound like spoiled children. "yucky". "ew". Do you have no class?
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2015 16:32     Subject: Re:What do non-Americans pack their kids for lunch?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also, all the posters saying they pack leftovers are far worse than American moms who at least bother to make a fresh sandwich. Who lacks leftovers for kids???? Yuck!!

Smart ones do. Sorry your mama raised an idiot .


I eat leftovers for my lunch. If it's something good, why not?