Mom Guilt about hot vs cold lunch

[Deleted]

Aug 31, 2015 22:23:44 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Lu's school has a catering service that's all locally sourced, organic, blah blah blah, which means it's way more $$$$ than I'm willing to spend on lunch. If it's cheap and decent, I'd be all over it!

I'm pretty sure this is the case at L's school. Find out the cost next week. But I am pretty willing to pay anything not to worry about the lunch. She doesn't eat sandwiches. What can I give her?

[livinitup]

DD's child care had wonderful lunches, so I was a little new to the packed-lunch routine when her Kindergarten class required it. With that practice, I was really excited for her to start 1st grade and I was pumped to pack lunches. I bought the bento boxes and bookmarked my favorite ideas. I loved getting it ready at night. I loaded her school meal card with money for the occasional chocolate milk or dessert. For variety, I printed the hot lunch menu and I told her she could choose one hot lunch a week. I figured pizza day would be a favorite, and I liked the option of a hot lunch. I know school lunches have come along way, and our district is pretty typical with keeping-up. I felt great about the hot lunch options. Turns-out, she loves buying lunch. Turns-out, I also love her buying lunch so I can skip the bento boxes. Sound logic to me. I would be SHOCKED if my pedi, or anyone suggested it wasn't a very good option. I'd also disagree.

I feel great about my DD's food options, and we spend quality time around meals. Getting online with her BFF is a big part of her love for buying lunch -and that's okay. She's allowed to pal around at lunch time. I review her purchases and we talk about balanced purchases and sweets in moderation.

Summer Camp meant I was back to packing daily lunches. It's still NBD and I enjoy it ... But boy did I miss the option to say to DD, "Hey, buy your lunch tomorrow, okay?". Unless your child has some food-related issue(s), your pedi is off his/her rocker. For real.

[matildasun]

Aug 31, 2015 20:06:02 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

Aug 31, 2015 19:57:25 GMT -5 6fsn said:

I really think some of our lunches are horrid- cheese filled breadstick, green beans, peaches. I only let him buy once a week because I'm cheap.

In Columbus City Schools it's free for everyone. It was something like 70% of kids qualified for free lunch but they had a hard time getting people to turn in the paperwork so they just made it free for everyone.

Of course we moved and now I'm all "$2.50? What am I, a Rockefeller?!" lol

Our system just made lunch free for everyone. I love not having to remember how much money she has in her account.
She loves school lunch, especially tuna fish sandwiches (lol).

[Willis Jackson]

Aug 31, 2015 21:04:45 GMT -5 lucybrown said:

Aug 31, 2015 20:27:08 GMT -5 6fsn said:

$2.25 here.  I made 10 "main dishes" for his lunch for $2.50. 

$2.50 is high? Ours is $3.35. I'm so new at this, I obviously have much to learn.

Guilt is gone, thanks. I blame this on the roller coaster of emotions about my baby starting kindergarten.

Well, it's more than $0, which is what I was used too. 

[thebreakfastclub]

My SIL is exhausting with her rules on when her kids can buy lunch. We need to look at the menu in advance, decide on our best choices, circle the days, do our sticker chart. I can't.

I assume my son will be buying in the cafeteria quite a bit. Cold lunch is called dinner in my house.

[jeaniebueller]

The kindergarten roller coaster is hard. I don't blame you at all for overthinking this I usually just go over with DS the hot lunch menu and he picks which days he wants hot lunch and which days we'll pack (picky eater). Or, if I don't have time to pack his lunch or haven't been to the store, he gets hot lunch too

[Deleted]

Aug 31, 2015 21:27:50 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Honestly it's hit or miss. There are some days I walk in the cafeteria and think I would have no problem having my daughter eat that for lunch. Other days I cringe. For example nacho supreme day is a favorite at my school. Chips, nacho cheese, taco meat, beans, some fruit and milk. Except the kids only take the chips, cheese, fruit (because they have to) and milk. So I have 20+ first graders that only ate chips, cheese and chocolate milk for lunch and that's suppose to sustain them for the rest of the school day. It doesn't.

Yes there have been some improvements to school lunches but in large part I wouldn't call most of them "healthy". It's not going to hurt them though and if they have a well balanced breakfast and dinner they'll be fine.

This is a problem at our school too. Or should I say with my DS They do offer a variety of foods and the kids get a choice but that doesn't mean they necessarily choose the healthy foods. I stopped giving DS lunch money because I found out he was eating a grilled cheese sandwhich, a giant chocolate chip cookie (he made sure to specify the size to me, lol), and a thing of chocolate milk every day. And that's it. Oh vey.

They do offer healthy choices though and if your kid eats them, then no problem. I don't think there's any reason to feel guilty about that.

[origami]

My kids also do the cafeteria hot lunch. I really don't care what they eat there. I don't even look at the monthly menu. They get healthy breakfasts and dinners (errrr usually) and im sure as shit not dealing with nut-free healthy lunch making and packing. I can barely get it together to send in a daily snack.

[momin2013]

I would absolutely pay for the hot lunch if it's available (I highly doubt that will be available when DS starts school, so I am also insanely jealous you have it as an option; I don't think it's typical for elementary school to offer it here).

I'm wondering why the doc even feels he can judge the healthiness of the hot lunch option. Does he have a copy of their menu or something? How does he even know what the foods are going to be?

[SJ]

Is this an appropriate place to "admit" that DD gets Gerber meals most evenings for dinner?

[Velar Fricative]

Our daycare does not serve organic or locally-grown super-healthy food but they do serve food that my kid will eat (pasta, chicken nuggets, etc.). I always thought child nutrition was my hill to die on until I had a picky toddler. I got sick of the healthy homemade food being returned to us and realized I wanted her to eat *something*, so I let daycare feed her.

Now, I do live in NYC where there are regulations, so I know she can't be fed bacon cheeseburgers and fries every day (or any day). And she does eat the breakfasts we pack for her (she loves yogurt and many fruits) and as long as we're keeping meals at home healthy, I decided it wasn't worth the battle. Maybe she'll become less picky when she starts K, who knows.

[Deleted]

I sometimes cringe at the daycare foods since we are at an at-home vs center. (I'm looking at you, ramen). But I love our DCP and she works with DS's allergies so I figure a little unhealthy stuff won't hurt. Besides, he eats veggie straws at home most days so I'm not pretending to be super healthy mom.

I figure if anything I'll be wanting to avoid hot lunch because of the cost, not because of the health factor because LOL.

[brady2012]

I just switched DD from a center that provided lunch to a full day pre-k program at the elementary school, but they don't get to eat in the cafeteria so she has to bring lunch. I truly thought she became more adventurous when she was eating what other kids around her were eating. I am fairly certain she would not have eaten turkey egg rolls or perogis if I served them to her. But since little susie was eating them she ate them too.

I am sad I have to pack lunch, yesterday was day one and I already looked to see what was on the hot lunch menu for the school aged kids so I can hopefully stop packing every day next year.

My kids generally eat fruit/protein/carb for breakfast and protein/carb/veggie for dinner. What happens at lunch time eh, this may be flammable but as long as they eat and are full I am happy.

[Deleted]

Newer studies show that usually hot lunch is usually healthier than the sugary over processed stuff that ends up in cold lunches.

In any cases my kids pick what they want. Both of my school kids chose hot lunch every day in September (we have to order ahead). Mostly they choose the salad option. Considering their unwillingness to eat too many veggies at home I was surprised. My 6 year old said that the school lettuce is better. Whatever I'm celebrating that she's eating lettuce!!!

[mrssandro]

DD hates the lunch at school except for Fridays.(pizza and ice cream) I would want her to buy her lunch everyday as it would be easier on me.

[CloudBee]

What's the alternative to "hot" lunch if you're buying, these days? For the longest time it was PB&J, but aren't peanuts off limits in most schools?

[zarapipe]

DD started K and it looks like she will buy half of the days and I will pack her a lunch other days. This week it is 3 hot lunches and 2 days of packing. She doesn't always like what is being served and that is when I pack it for her.

$2.40 for a hot lunch that is basic cafeteria food.

Today it was-
spaghetti
or
breaded chicken fillet
peas or salad
texas toast
peaches (probably canned and full of sugar)
Milk or juice

[vmars]

School lunch didn't get good until highschool. Then we had huge homemade chocolate chip cookies, soft serve ice cream, bagels with melted cheese. Nothing healthy but it was delicious. In middle school it was gross and I just brought my own lunch which was pb&j, juice pack and some cookies.

[londoncalling]

Sept 1, 2015 10:55:03 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

What's the alternative to "hot" lunch if you're buying, these days? For the longest time it was PB&J, but aren't peanuts off limits in most schools?

Ours is sunbutter and jelly on wheat.

DD is begging for hot lunch since so many kids get it.  I can't stomach the idea of paying $2.50 for a hot dog  and a cookie - which will be the only thing on the tray that she actually eats.

I'm so disappointed now that I'm studying our menu.  For elementary they have some form of pizza offered 3/5 days one week this month.  And what the hell is a ham pizza salad?

[Willis Jackson]

Sept 1, 2015 10:55:03 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

What's the alternative to "hot" lunch if you're buying, these days? For the longest time it was PB&J, but aren't peanuts off limits in most schools?

At our school it's choice between hot entree of the day, chef's salad, or turkey sandwich.

Our school doesn't serve nuts or pork but you're allowed to send them in packed lunches.

[Jalapeñomel]

Sept 1, 2015 11:18:48 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Aug 31, 2015 19:57:24 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

When I lived in South Korea, Burger King catered our lunches. It was before those nasty fries they have now, and it was awesome. I felt bad for the kids who had to bring their lunches. Lol

Funny you say that. My high school in Korea's lunches were catered by Wendy's. I remember eating liquid cheese + french fries for W1050 near daily.

How odd!!  Korea was awesome!

[cjeanette]

Sept 1, 2015 10:55:03 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

What's the alternative to "hot" lunch if you're buying, these days? For the longest time it was PB&J, but aren't peanuts off limits in most schools?

Not at ours.  There is a peanut free table.



Choice of: Choice of: Choice of:

Chicken Nuggets Bosco Stick with Sauce and String Cheese Fiestada Pizza Shrimp Poppers with String Cheese

Deli Chicken and Cheese Tri-Wich Grilled Chicken Drummies BBQ Rib Sandwich Macaroni and Cheese with String Cheese

PBJ Sandwich with Cheese Sun Butter Meal PBJ Sandwich with Cheese and Crackers PBJ Sandwich with Cheese and Crackers

Yogurt and String Cheese with Cheez-its Yogurt and String Cheese with Grahams Yogurt and String Cheese with Crackers Yogurt and String Cheese with Crackers

Served with: Served with: Served with: Served with:

Mashed Potatoes with Country Gravy * Baked Beans * Orange Waffle Fries Peas

Fresh Baby Carrots Fresh Celery Black Beans Fresh Cauliflower

Tossed Salad Tossed Salad Tossed Salad Tossed Salad

Fresh Broccoli Chilled Pineapple Chilled Pears Fresh Apple Slices

Fresh Fruit Fresh Grapes Chilled Mandarin Oranges Frozen Mangoes

Rosy Applesauce Cheetos Snickerdoodle Cookie * Muffin

100% Juice 100% Juice 100% Juice 100% Juice

Milk Milk Milk Milk

MONDAY 7 TUESDAY 8 WEDNESDAY