Packed Lunches Are Back On The Horizon

Meal planning has been the bane of my existence for the last month, and so I haven't been doing it.  As a result, we've been eating unbalanced, strange meals.  Mostly things that I don't have to cook.

I figure a few strange weeks of eating aren't the worst thing I've subjected my family to.  But with school starting in one week, I've got a good dose of panic going, and I'm not ready to deal.

I'm not ready!  Whose idea was this whole back to school in the middle of August?  WHO?

I came up with some great suggestions for packables last year... but recently, I've been really inspired by a few fellow bloggers:

Lunch in a Box - this is right up my alley - I love the presentation and the smaller portions.

Pack My Lunch - she's been on a slower posting schedule this summer, but she's got some fantastic ideas for even the picky kids.

The title of this blog just cracks me up, and she's got some fantastic stuff here, too.

 

I'm determined to pack lunches for the kids this year - last year, I made it through two discouraging weeks of nearly-full lunch boxes being brought home (and the news that my kids were mooching off of their friends who had pringles and "fruit" snacks) before I decided to purchase hot lunches for my kids - I figured it would be better to have the school food get rejected, so I could still pretend that I'm a good cook.

This year, I'm not going to be defeated!  (Or okay, not that easily!)  My kids aren't sandwich eaters... so I'm thinking leftovers are going to be the way to go.

How about at your house?  Are you ready for school lunches?

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Our school district has a contract with Chartwell's to provide the school lunches, with the addition of fresh food prepared right at the school. They can make a salad from the salad bar, and there is fresh or canned fruit every day. So I feel pretty good about letting them have the hot lunch if they want it.

If not, I am once again gathering ideas for interesting school lunches. I don't do the bento-style ones like you linked to, mine are more traditional sandwich-side dish-fruit or veggie. My very favorite book to use is "Brown Bag Success-Making healthy lunches your kids won't trade", by Sandra K. Nissenberg and Barbara N. Pearl.

[Biggie @ Lunch in a Box]

Thanks for the shout out on my blog! I was thinking I was ready for preschool, but it turns out that Bug's not eligible until he actually turns three in October. So we've got another month of regular bentos to go, then! I must admit I'm ready for him to start school -- he needs more stimulation and group activities.