School is starting soon!

Well, as the title indicates, school is indeed starting soon. For our children, it begins Wednesday. I am very excited this year! I have a second grader, and a kindergartener starting this year, and we are instilling the Bento box system for both. My son is using his from last year, as it hardly shows any wear, and my daughter was able to pick out her own new box. We did try to find a used system, but eBay didn’t have much when we ordered.

We’ve got the uniforms ordered, and bought, and backpacks are packed with school supplies and odds and ends. Video cam has been charged, as has the camera. Kids are ready, especially the youngest one going. She’s very excited to make new friends.

So then, everything is ready, but lunches. As you know, I”m doing 150 day of Bento on here, and every evening, you’ll have a new update of what we made for lunch, the kids will give it their own rating, and I’ll let you know how I think they ate that day.

Here’s some tips to make this time go easier.

One thing to consider is having your children make the lunches with you, or at least make decisions on foods while you pack. Children who feel like they have an input in what they eat are more likely to eat what you give them.

Keep in mind how the food pyramid has changed. It’s no longer a pyramid, but a plate. Ideally, you should follow  this as closely as possible remembering that protein does not have to be meat. There are many sources of good wholesome protein. that doesn’t involve meat. 

When you find a lunch your child likes, or find a food, write it down, and remember it. Then encourage them to try new foods, on their own terms. This will help them understand that trying new foods is a good thing.

Have your child bring home their leftovers so you can see what they are and aren’t eating. Also, we compost, so a few things they bring home can be composted. Things like a whole apple? They go back into the apple bin on the counter. This can save you time and money, along with giving you and idea what they’re eating. Also, if they’re hungry for a snack when they come home, why not just offer the leftover food to them then? They only ate the sandwich, but left the pita chips? Give them the pita chips and hummus for a snack. The more you offer a food, the more often they’ll try it.

IMHO, you should try to not pack anything milk or water in your child’s lunchbox for them to drink. All too often children are drinking too much soda, juice, and other drinks and not enough milk or water. You can even freeze your child’s water and use it as a lunch ice pack and it’ll be thawed by the time they eat. Parents think juice is a healthy option, and if it’s the only juice they’ll have that day, that’s fine, but ideally, they should have whole foods.

Try to pick a lunch system that is as close to waste free as you can get. The one we use, Laptop Lunches, is completely waste free. They not only have the pack they come with, but there are all sorts of accessories you can get as well to compliment the variety of foods you’ll be packing. The average “brown bag child” tosses more than 65lbs of trash each year in lunches alone. That’s a lot!