The Tyranny of the Lunch Box
Discuss with your group: Packing waste-free, nutritious lunches. From KIWI’s August/September 2010 issue.
180 days of school means 180 days to come up with something for lunch. My oldest son, Sam (top), and Rory (left) help, but who do you think is cutting, supervising, and cleaning up?
Back to school means back to packing lunches: fresh, healthy, waste-free lunches that kids won’t trade away. Feeling a little panicked, anyone? You’re not alone. KIWI columnist KJ Dell’Antonia, a mom of four, chronicled the ups and downs of packing nutritious, green lunches all year long. Here’s how her family’s school year started:
August
Bento boxes! The New York Times has a super-cute article about bento-box lunches: no waste, and lots of room for small, healthy things. I order four.
September
Should not have ordered from Hong Kong. No sign of bento boxes. First few weeks’ lunches are packed in mismatched containers, but they are balanced masterpieces. I refuse to remove crusts.
October
Bento boxes are here! Sandwiches don’t fit unless you cut them small. Sandwiches are coming home with one careful bite taken out of crust-free middle. I cut off crusts.
Follow the rest of KJ’s year by purchasing KIWI’s digital edition.
Talk About It
- Bento boxes are one of the many options for packing an eco-friendly lunch. How do you cut waste for your child’s midday meal?
- What is your child’s favorite healthy lunch? Is she willing to try different things, or does she want to stick to the same items every day?
- When Dell’Antonia lets her daughter pack her own lunch, Rory chooses three slices of salami, one squeeze yogurt, and five grapes. Do you let your child choose her own lunch items? Is it successful?
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Whimseys
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Melinda
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Gloucester
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Cynthia M.
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Jenny yessaian
