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DEL.ICIO.USSummer makes me long for a lunchbox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With my kids out of school, I’ve gotten a reprieve from the daily grind of packing a lunchbox, with the exception of a few day camps for my younger son, Jack.
I equate making school lunch with wearing a school uniform. It’s easier to be on automatic pilot, with the same thing day after day. A sandwich, fruit, cut-up veggies, a cookie and drink. No questions asked.
When school’s not in session, everyone’s equilibrium gets slightly off. My kids suddenly demand something more exciting than a lunchbox style meal. Suddenly I’m hearing, “A sandwich again?” They expect Buffalo wings, burritos and pizza instead of the same-old, same-old boring thing. Guess who that makes more work for…
What about your family? Is it a relief not to have to pack a lunch? Does it take more effort to come up with something new and exciting or do you just go with the flow?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Family foibles
Comments
By FCM
June 20, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Mine like sandwiches…in fact most of the time as I head into ask if anyone is hungry I find they made themselves PB & J or Deli sandwiches.
To be fair they do school lunch. Additionally, I have been doing brunch at 9AM…they like their cereal at 7AM.
Today I had some steak that needed to be used so we had that. Tonight they are doing Camp Rock Fest in living room so I am heading out to get some ‘camp party food’….I am not sure beyond s’mores what that will be.
By Jenne
June 20, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
How old are the kids? If they are over the age of 4 or so, they can make a sandwich. Making simple foods like sandwiches or gorp was a favorite project in my kids’ preschool. Summer is a great time for elementary age kids and older to practice cooking. There are lots of easy recipes out there for them to learn on. Kids should be able to fix a simple meal by age 10 or so at the latest. All three of my kids started learning to cook when they were pre-schoolers. They are now all adults and wonderful cooks. They also had fun with their mom and dad while they learned. Teaching kids to be self-sufficient builds self-confidence.
By JT
June 20, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
I’m 33 and pack a lunch everyday, and i used to go with the same ol sandwich chips, drink etc! but How Boring is this I can’t eat this everyday, but we don’t have alot of leftovers everyday because cooking has become a maybe 2 or 3 times a week ordeal, so I’ve been eating more fast food than I would like : (!!! I need some ideas??
By FCM
June 20, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
JT—try making stuff on the weekends, I will be doing this as I head back into the workforce. Or boxing up half of the out to eat stuff for a lunch later? I went out this week and the entree was huge! I boxed it and had half of the left overs (Potatoes and Chicken) for lunch. I am slicing the remaining Chicken to put over a salad or in a wrap.
Mixing it up by doing a pasta salad: Pasta, cheese, olives, veggies, topped with oil and vinegar…yum!
Fry up a bunch of ground beef on Sunday with just garlic, salt, and pepper. Then for lunches you can have pasta ( add the beef to pasta and jar red sauce), tacos sprinkle some taco seasoning over the beef stuff in a shell or tortilla, add the fixin’s. Put some of the beef on an English muffin top with Mozzarella and some of the sauce and Pizza for lunch!
Chicken on the grill—make extra. Add to salad, make Chicken Salad, wrap in a tort with Buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, and ranch. Make a Quesadilla out of it.
By Made me sick
June 21, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
Salads are great in the summer! But I won’t be ordering or eating anything from an on-line bakery!!!