By: Tanya Pimental
As the school year approaches each September, you start to see all kinds of fancy lunch ideas. I have to say, the idea of sculpting fruit and making dragon sandwiches is at the bottom of my priorities. While it is important for me to send a nutritional lunch, I don’t feel that my craft abilities are best used in a lunch box that will, ultimately, go unappreciated. And let’s not forget, I am not a morning person.
I thought I’d share with you some of my simple lunch box ideas and the tools that make it happen. I like a bit of variety, but that being said, I ate a cheese and ketchup sandwich every day for a few years. I also always had two cookies, either Oreos or Vienna Fingers. And because I often longed for pizza on Fridays, I typically let my kid buy lunch when the menu is to their liking.
Some very basic things will ease the process when creating lunches. I like to use a large cookie cutter; I have a heart and a gingerbread man. I have not had any reason to buy any sandwich-specific ones. Also, my apple wedger is used often around here, and I swear by my vegetable peeler.
I saw this great trick on Pinterest (of course) to use sponges for ice packs. I now have 4 large utility ice pack sponges in rotation, and the sponge absorbs the water. It’s one of those things I wish I had thought of myself. And of all things, I am loving my easy lunch boxes!
In terms of food, I keep it simple with peanut butter and am thankful for no allergies. We like our fruits and the occasional carrot stick. A sweet treat is not needed for my first born but will be for my boy. Add water or juice and it’s a complete lunch.
I wonder if my children will remember the time I took to make them lunches when they make their own kids’ lunches one day. Although I don’t create dragon roll-ups, their lunches are nutritional and what they like. Kudos to those that have the time to be this creative each morning. In my house, any day that all three kids make it out the door in clean clothes, with their homework done, and their lunch complete is a win for this non-morning-person mom.
Community Voices for Health 
My son gets a PB & J everyday. With a snack and a juice in a brown bag (we have lost way too many lunch boxes). I think its boring, but he doesn’t complain at all.