9 out of 10 kids say - bringing the wrong lunch is hazardous to your social life...

**Lady_V** · 08-27-2006, 07:37 PM

Hiya Everyone ... official counter tells me that DD goes back to school in 10 days!!!

I was sitting down on my 'thinking chair' trying to figure out what I will need to buy for DD's lunches on a weekly vs. monthly basis. I thought it would be cool for her to bring lunches from home... as long as it wasn't the usual pb&j or fluffernutter (object of statehouse attention as of late).

My neighbor's son walked by and I asked him if he was happy that school was starting, he said yes... so I decided to feel him out as to how kids deal with the home/school lunch. It's okay to buy school lunch and it's cool to bring lunch... UNLESS you bring the wrong kind of lunch...

In elementary school there is a wrong lunch? From what I gathered from him... kids who bring 'un-American' lunches are made fun of... lovely... Prodding a little more... I discovered spagettios are 'American'... what he was trying to say is 'ethnic specific'... I didn't correct him since he is only 8.

I am not sure how I feel about all of that... I know it's dreadfully wrong for a child to be singled out because they brought a 'home' lunch. Their parent spent time preparing a meal and packaging it up for the journey to school. I also know I am thinking as an adult and a parent. I am trying to think like a child, but I don't get it... My DD was born in Cambodia and there are certain foods she prefers over others and I had no problem making and sending them... food is food. I know if I sent her with Chinese food there wouldn't be a problem... but if I make a more traditional Khmer meal... BLAH... I am venting...

Maybe I am really missing something... I wanted to be creative and give DD whatever she wanted for lunch... and I want her to be a strong woman (in the making) and stand up for her beliefs... I am not about to make my 6 year old the martyr of the cafeteria, but I don't want to send a 'pc' grilled American cheese sandwich day after day... argh - I am venting again... lol...

So... what will be in YOUR kids lunchbox this year?

**celina** · 08-27-2006, 08:09 PM

well if she's a tough kid....when dd goes to school with shrimp and pasta, or brocoli and a bun with pate...she says...she'd rather that that fake food like spegatios....and it'll make her strong and smart...shes 5 gotta love her....

i say give it a try she'll surely tell you to NEVER send it again if its an issue...and most schools have a NO SHARING rule..which is sorta ashame...cause i discovered i liked a bunch of stuff by trying my friends stuff...her mom bought different things than mine...like pomegranates etc...somebody might discover they love cambodian food...

**AmyBoz** · 08-27-2006, 08:31 PM

My kids are bringing what they've always brought...peanut butter and jelly and a yogurt. It has nothing to do with being cool or uncool. It's easy for me to slap together 4 PBJ sandwiches in the morning and it's cheap. If we ate different foods, I'd certainly send them with different foods and tell them that they need not worry about what other kids say. If you are being judged by your lunch...not your problem.

Ah, childhood...not so innocent anymore.

**Scattymum** · 08-28-2006, 05:16 PM

my DD always brings *different* foods to school and is always being asked to trade lunches with her friends. nothing special about what it is but i dont do sandwiches

A typical Ciara lunch box would be
half a cucumber ( my kids are mad on it - we get through an awful lot in a week)
Red Pepper
celery
cheese cubes
raisens
salted popcorn
pasta/ rice salad
soup ( in a small flask)
carrots
celery
cocktail sausages
grapes, apples, bananas

she loves things that she can pick at rather tahn sandwiches, so i make a mix of what she likes.

Id send her with what she likes, she will tell you soon enough if she wants something different.

good luck

**YankeeMom** · 08-28-2006, 07:09 PM

My older two (girls) almost always buy school lunch because they have a decent cafeteria. But when they do, it's whatever they want. Not whatever they want their friends to see them eating.

My boys don't care what it is so long as it's food

I say if it's what your daughter wants, send her with it. She'll let you know if she's being pressured because of her lunch.

**Kimberlina** · 08-28-2006, 07:28 PM

Having no experience at all with sending luches to school, I say send her with what she likes, but listen when she tells you she doesn't want X anymore. And pay attention to her lunch box in case she just isn't eating things. IF it should come up that she doesn't want to take things because other kids pick on it, then I would talk about it, but I wouldn't bring it up myself if I were in the same position.

**kabin63** · 08-30-2006, 01:14 PM

My DD likes a ham and cheese sandwich, carrots, celery, yogurt, a couple of small cookies, cheese sticks and things like that. She doesn't seem to care what other kids think about it either.