Updated: Aug. 19, 2020
Originally Published: Aug. 27, 2017
The back-to-school rush is upon us. Facebook is overflowing with photos of bright-eyed children in shiny new shoes, while school buses are back on the roads, whisking our little ones away for a day filled with lessons (bless those teachers) as parents rejoice in not having to referee sibling squabbles or slather sunscreen on their kids.
And, of course, there’s the inevitable groaning about making school lunches.
For generations, the lunch box has been a point of contention among parents. I can only imagine my mom, as she slapped together bologna and white bread, daydreaming of a time when she wouldn’t have to chase after us with paper bags, shouting, “Forget your lunch and you’ll be starving!”
As if it wasn’t enough that our kids demand breakfast and dinner every single day, now they expect us to create sandwiches shaped like owls and stuff them into fancy boxes? No, thank you, Bento boxes and your Pinterest-perfect aspirations.
Let’s be real: many of us are just plain exhausted from making lunches. (Okay, I know some of you love it and call it a “labor of love,” but seriously, come on.) But me? Packing lunches is not my idea of a good time, which is why I initiated a little revolution last year, and I extend an invitation for you to join me.
I am reclaiming my mornings! My kids now take charge of their own school lunches, and the liberation is incredible.
My grassroots movement kicked off when my son leaped downstairs one morning, horrified by the baby carrots I had packed instead of his preferred sliced apples. You’d think I asked him to dip carrots in motor oil by the look on his face.
It was 6:30 a.m., and I could barely function, yet he had strong opinions about deli meats? Oh, heck no.
Our mornings are chaotic enough with all four of us heading in different directions before the sun rises. On those frantic mornings where we’re running late, I find myself frantically yelling while wearing my fluffy bathrobe. I simply don’t have time to do anything more than hand over a juice box and a Lunchable as we dash out the door.
I’m not about to send my kids off with fruit skewers shaped like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I need way more caffeine and cash to start carving sandwiches into Hogwarts shapes. So if my kids want gourmet lunches, that’s their responsibility. They are free to mold, shape, and cut their meals as long as they don’t miss the bus.
Of course, allowing your kids to make their own lunches requires a bit of planning and some ground rules. Because honestly, if left to their own devices, my kids would probably pack nothing but Snickers and Yoo-hoo. While I’ve opted out of being the head of the sandwich assembly line, I do encourage them to strive for a healthy balance.
So, I implemented “The Rule of Five.” Each lunch must include: one fruit, one veggie, one dairy item, one treat, and one protein. I take care of stocking the fridge with easy-to-reach fruits and veggies while sipping my coffee to supervise.
As for other rules? There aren’t any. Just make your own lunches, kids.
Admittedly, we start the year off strong with healthy choices. I won’t lie; by the end of the school year, their lunches may resemble my late-night college snack choices, but frankly, I don’t care. I haven’t peeked inside their lunch boxes for a year, and I’m proud of my kids for stepping up to the plate (pun intended).
Since handing over the brown bag reins, our mornings have become significantly calmer. There are no complaints about lunch quality because if they arrive at school and their soup is cold due to a poorly sealed Thermos, that’s on them. They’ve learned which ingredients keep them full and are starting to avoid empty calories and junk food—realizing on their own how much better they feel when they eat well. Plus, they now understand how much time it takes to prepare a lunch, and when one of them mumbled, “I miss when Mom made lunches,” I simply smiled into my coffee, pretending not to hear because there’s no going back now.
So, fellow parents, join me in tossing those fancy Bento boxes out the window. Step away from the cookie cutters and decorative skewers. You’ve crafted your last rose-shaped apple, mamas. Stand firm. Show your kids their lunch boxes and wish them well on their culinary adventures.
The freedom of never again having to create a scene from Moana with cheese is absolutely blissful. Trust me.
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Summary:
Encouraging kids to make their own school lunches can be a liberating change for parents. By establishing a few simple rules about healthy eating, parents can reclaim their mornings and teach their kids valuable life skills. This approach not only alleviates stress but also empowers children to make better food choices on their own.