Winning the Lunch Wars

This post may confirm that I have entirely too much time on my hands but in my effort to share fun information, I thought this would be a good place to start. 

The Lunch Wars
With Stay Day beginning, you may find yourself in a battle that you didn't anticipate and if you don't strategize, your pint size warrior may be poised to wage this one for years or until you figure out how to balance nutrition, play & creativity.  There are many profiles for picky eaters, from the lunch meat protesters to the eater of only prepackaged snacks, and let's not forget that with allergies we negotiate the land mines of peanut free (among others) environments.  It made the joy of Stay Day a little less joyful for me because I was stressed that my child would go hungry since her lunch appeared relatively untouched when she would return home.  Now, with two children who I need to provide lunch for every day, I have finally figured out the balance between pleasing them and feeling confident that they will eat a healthy lunch.  Here are a few tips:

Be Creative
For me, using my creative powers has made this fun. It also helps that I am the mental age of a 7 year old. A former PNS mom introduced me to the lunch punch which is a bread sized cookie cutter that not only eliminates the crust issue (kids who protest crust), but transforms your child's sandwich from ordinary to extraordinary - a car, puzzle pieces, a kissable toad.  Not interested in buying another thing - use large cookie cutters but understand that the waste might be a bit greater since the lunch punch is designed for this purpose.  You can also use small cookie cutters to create cool shapes out of veggies and other food items.  Put funny faces on your child's fruit.  I'm sure you keep a ton of stickers like goggly eyes or just plain labels that you can make faces out of to transform ordinary fruit into characters.  If you don't want to do it yourself, you can purchase this item to get your started.   Lastly, putting a note in your child's lunch box is a nice treat for them to let them know the you are always thinking of them whether they are the ones to read it or it is read to them.

Compromise
I tried to fight the single serve war to cut back on the waste of extra packaging but I now prioritize healthy eating over my single serve issue.  If your child likes the squeezable applesauce, buy it and consider it a win that you added another fruit to their day. If your child likes pirate booty now and then, this product does come in single serve bags if you want to save time making their noontime feast.  The indication of success is whether or not your child eats 75% of their lunch, but keep in mind also that kids get excited when given the opportunity to eat with their friends and you may find them attacking their stash while you are en route home.

Keep it Simple
Over the summer I picked up a great check list from a local grocer that put together categories that should be hit upon to create a healthy lunch for your child.  It has made things so much easier and as a result, I have finally internalized this list. I may not hit every category each day but I have done better at providing my children with more balance while making the assembly process more efficient.

Recap
Providing a healthy lunch for your child needn't be painful.  With a little planning and cooperation, you will create the balance hat is write for you. Below are a few links so that you can view/purchase some of the items that I have mentioned.  If you purchase these items through the PNS Amazon.com link, you will also be supporting the PNS Fundraising effort.  Also included is a link to a check list and other websites that will hopefully provide you with additional useful information.

The Guide (All links should be changed to reflect our amazon link)
www.thelunchpunch.com
http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Lunch-Notes-Peagreen/dp/0811871053 
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2010/08/27/back-to-school-lunch-box-survival-tips-and-checklist/

Column 4: Praise for those who serve

On September 2nd, my family and I had the honor of being invited to a promotion ceremony for our friend, and now Marine Corps Colonel, Skip Nordhoff.  Skip and my husband have been best friends since their college days. Skip completed Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and upon graduation was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, serving for seven years on active duty.

The ceremony took place in the Charlestown Navy Yard.  The backdrop of the USS Constitution, the American flag waving and Skip and three of his fellow officers, all in uniform, could not have been a better location.  A dozen close friends and family stood to listen not just to the ceremony but to bear witness to his gratitude toward his family, his fellow servicemen and friends for their commitment and support to him over the last 22 years (seven active duty and fifteen in the reserves).

This month I, like so many people, have spent much time thinking about September 11 as well as its aftermath.  The commitment of men and women like Skip who make their own personal sacrifices and their support networks who sacrifice as well has been ever present in my thoughts.  I remembered when Skip was called to service in Iraq three and a half months after his daughter’s first birthday and a few months after his deployment how his wife moved their family into a new home alone.  To help facilitate the move, I drove down to help and was there the next morning when he called to tell her that Saddam Hussein had been captured.  Watching my friend celebrate and dance around the kitchen with their children is a memory that I will never forget.  He spent eight months in Iraq.  Just two years ago, he was mobilized again, this time for 17 months of which 12 were state-side, but also included all of last fall (4 months) in Afghanistan. Watching his son and daughter pin “eagles” on his collar to signify his promotion to Colonel with those memories intertwined gave me greater perspective into the depth of their sacrifice.

The reality is that this story is not unique to one man and one family but the hundreds of thousands of families who support their loved ones to serve and protect our country.  When I called Skip this morning to ask him how he would characterize his years of service, he simply said that he was just fulfilling his personal obligation and responsibility.  There are many people in our town who serve and have served their country. There are also the countless people, their families and friends, who share in their joys and who worry each day for their safe return. I have nothing more to say than thank you but I think there are no better words than that.

Column Three: Put your expectations aside and let them lead

Last week, I decided no shelve the column that I had begun.  I guess that is the beauty of a column, the deadline is yours to impose.  I hope that this one resonates with those who have kids heading to school.

Put your expectations aside and let them lead


I can remember my first day of kindergarten vividly. The classroom was enormous and on the first day, the dramatic play area located toward the back was bustling with new classmates and activity.  Because I loved to cook in my pretend kitchen at home, I settled in at a burner with a spatula in hand hoping a new friend would miraculously appear.  Thankfully for me, a girl approached. Names were not exchanged, at least not before the important question was asked.  “Do you want to be friends?” she said.  “Yes!” I said and that was that.  The first chapter in our adventure story was in development.  We are still friends today.

Last year when my daughter started kindergarten, our house was full of the same anticipation.  Because her birthday was in September, she began school a year later than her preschool friends and was excited to experience for herself what she had been told.  While I was also excited, I have to admit that I was a bit anxious.  Would my daughter make a friend on the first day?  If she didn’t, would it turn that excitement into anxiety?

It was nice to be able to visit the classroom prior to the first day to acquaint the kids with each other and their new routines.  I enjoyed meeting other parents and finding out that I was not the only one who hoped that their child left feeling comfortable and ready to begin the next day.  I tried to keep one eye on her as she did her best to meet new kids.  I found my spirit lifting when she spent more than a minute chatting with a new person and falling a bit when the exchange ended sooner that I felt a meaningful connection could be established.  The time passed quickly and soon it was time to leave.  She and I left with another mother and child and that is when it all came together.

Walking to our cars, while the adults were chatting, I began to notice that our kids were doing what kids naturally do, no pretenses just two girls who began to notice that they both were wearing the same earrings, loved jumping off the brick wall and singing silly songs.  Right before my eyes, I watched my daughter find her very first friend and it had such an effect on me that I called my friend, Jenny, to tell her.

The weeks following the first day of school were full of exciting developments: genuine affection for her teacher, for the new things she was learning and many new friendships. I feel so fortunate to say that she had a wonderful year.  September brings so many new opportunities no matter what grade your child is entering.  What I learned from last year is to let go of my expectations and just let her lead the way.