Post by cricketwife on Aug 5, 2021 14:52:18 GMT -5
DS1 is going into 2nd grade and DS2 just turned 5 and is starting kindergarten. I’d like to have them take on at least part of parking their own lunches and snacks, if not all. I have some ideas, but would love to know from others’ experiences — 1. Hos old were your kid(s) when they started packing their own lunch? 2. How did you start the process/ transfer or responsibility? (they immediate did all of it? Some? Part?) 3. Other advice /thoughts/suggestions?
Up until now, I’ve done all the packing for school and daycare.
ETA: private school, no free lunches. In fact, the cost of lunch ($5.50) is why we pack. 😊
My main advice is since free lunch was extended to get them to do that most days.
1. Really started pushing for her to help in 1st grade 2. 2nd grade basically had her do it herself since she can get everything. She also takes the same thing most of the time, which makes it easier.
My kids are entering 3rd and 5th. They started packing their lunches last year because they were tired of school lunches and lunchables. I didn't have to do anything because they were tired of the food, so they took initiative. Our free school lunches were more like snack food. Occasionally, there was a full turkey sandwich but usually it would be something like yogurt and carrots, so that is why we couldn't rely 100% on that.
Post by expectantsteelerfan on Aug 5, 2021 16:47:02 GMT -5
This is one of those things I always felt like I 'should' do but in reality it's just easier for me to pack lunches. My kids are 12 and 9 lol. I mean, all summer long they make themselves their own lunches, so they are totally capable, but in the morning when we're rushing out the door is not when I want them making extra messes or dirtying extra stuff, etc.
My kid's lunches are sandwiches, a fruit, and a snack. If they want a specific snack, I'm happy to tell them to grab it and put it in their lunch box the day before, but if it's that morning of, they get what I feel like grabbing.
I'm just sharing this in case you are having them make their own lunches thinking it will be helpful and you find it's not, to give permission to not feel like you have to have them do it.
We started both kids packing their entire lunch, with supervision, when they started kindergarten. We just presented it as a responsibility of a kindergartener. They have bento style boxes, so we require a "main" that is protein based, plus a fruit, a veggie, and they can put a treat in the small treat spot.
Every kid is different, but both of my kids could absolutely do this at that age. However, we still check the lunches each night to ensure they packed enough.
Post by game blouses on Aug 5, 2021 17:53:32 GMT -5
Mine are 7 and 9 and they do 75% of lunches themselves. I have a Tupperware box of various lunch items that I take out, and they pick and choose what they want in their lunch, plus fruit. I do the entree part unless it’s a sandwich (which is usually is). My kids hate the school lunch and almost never get it.
My mom packed my lunch until I was 17. I’ll show myself out.
I don’t think I ever brought a lunch, at least from when I can remember. Always hot lunch, my mom was wayyyy too lazy for all that lol. I’ll join you on the way out. 😃
My oldest started in 2nd grade after he spent like $50 off his lunch account in a blink of the eye "because I didn't pack enough" (note: I *daily* ask if he had enough lunch. He always said he had plenty. SO.). His "consequence" was that then he got to pack lunch so he had ultimate control on portions. Once he started, we just didn't stop.
My youngest, by virtue of having his older brother pack, helped & ultimately started packing lunch in K.
We do the same thing for 4 days & then they typically buy one day. My H would "make" the food on Sunday night (a big batch of quesadillas, pasta salad, frozen pizzas, etc. Kids pick what they want) & do Monday's lunch because by the time he was done the kids would be in bed. Then, they'd just portion out food, grab a fruit & snack, and refill water bottles after that at night for the next day. It's *chaos* trying to have them do lunches in the morning so I strongly support having them do them the day before.
This is one of those things I always felt like I 'should' do but in reality it's just easier for me to pack lunches. My kids are 12 and 9 lol. I mean, all summer long they make themselves their own lunches, so they are totally capable, but in the morning when we're rushing out the door is not when I want them making extra messes or dirtying extra stuff, etc.
My kid's lunches are sandwiches, a fruit, and a snack. If they want a specific snack, I'm happy to tell them to grab it and put it in their lunch box the day before, but if it's that morning of, they get what I feel like grabbing.
I'm just sharing this in case you are having them make their own lunches thinking it will be helpful and you find it's not, to give permission to not feel like you have to have them do it.
Thank you. This is exactly where I am. I feel like a 2nd grader *should* pack his own lunch, but Ai know it’s going to be waaaaay more work. That’s why I was hoping to get some ideas, but there aren’t many in this thread 😂.
One thing that’s a little hard for DS1 is he doesn’t really eat sandwiches. I can maybe get away with sending a sandwich once a week, but definitely not every day. And he also doesn’t want the same thing every day, which I read on here is common with kids. I almost always send him a hot lunch in a thermos which means that it can’t be made the night before, he has to boil water to heat the thermos, then heat the food, then transfer it to the thermos.... in the morning! 🤪 We may just stick with the status quo.
We started both kids packing their entire lunch, with supervision, when they started kindergarten. We just presented it as a responsibility of a kindergartener. They have bento style boxes, so we require a "main" that is protein based, plus a fruit, a veggie, and they can put a treat in the small treat spot.
Every kid is different, but both of my kids could absolutely do this at that age. However, we still check the lunches each night to ensure they packed enough.
I do plan to use the Bentgo box for my kindergartner, but what does packing it look like on the most basic level for you? Where/what are the proteins? Have you portioned them out? Does you kid just dig through the pantry or fridge?
When I packet the Bentgo, it’s ....what’s in the fridge? Oh, this can go there.. that will fit there, etc. and because of the small sizes, it’s often random leftovers and such.
This is one of those things I always felt like I 'should' do but in reality it's just easier for me to pack lunches. My kids are 12 and 9 lol. I mean, all summer long they make themselves their own lunches, so they are totally capable, but in the morning when we're rushing out the door is not when I want them making extra messes or dirtying extra stuff, etc.
My kid's lunches are sandwiches, a fruit, and a snack. If they want a specific snack, I'm happy to tell them to grab it and put it in their lunch box the day before, but if it's that morning of, they get what I feel like grabbing.
I'm just sharing this in case you are having them make their own lunches thinking it will be helpful and you find it's not, to give permission to not feel like you have to have them do it.
Thank you. This is exactly where I am. I feel like a 2nd grader *should* pack his own lunch, but Ai know it’s going to be waaaaay more work. That’s why I was hoping to get some ideas, but there aren’t many in this thread 😂.
One thing that’s a little hard for DS1 is he doesn’t really eat sandwiches. I can maybe get away with sending a sandwich once a week, but definitely not every day. And he also doesn’t want the same thing every day, which I read on here is common with kids. I almost always send him a hot lunch in a thermos which means that it can’t be made the night before, he has to boil water to heat the thermos, then heat the food, then transfer it to the thermos.... in the morning! 🤪 We may just stick with the status quo.
If you don't want to stick with the status quo, you could pick one night that he pre-packs a cold lunch. My kids don't really eat sandwiches either (b/c the mostly prefer PBJ given that we try to keep lunches vegetarian & we don't pack that out of courtesy to those with allergies). It wasn't *that* bad of a transition for my kids but ymmv.
Some easy cold lunch 'mains' ideas that aren't sandwiches: quesadillas (you could do microwave ones so your kid could probably even cook it), cheese & crackers, rollup of lunch meat/cheese, breakfast for lunch (bagel with cream cheese or waffle with sunflower butter or jam), pasta salad (kinda labor intensive if just for your kid & an adult not having that too), hummus with dippers (pita chips, carrots), or frozen food (my kids will eat pizza, samosas, or spanikopita cold). We then add fruit and/or veggies plus water. My kids aren't big lunch time eaters so they typically eat any snack at snack time or at home later.
ETA: you could also start with a "high value" lunch as the one they pack. Like, my kids *love* frozen pizza week. LOL. You want X? You pack it!
I still pack like lunches for the 6th and 1st grader. I don’t see myself stopping. It’s easier for me to do it, like pp said. They do other things around the house and this is something I’ll continue doing for a while.
This is one of those things I always felt like I 'should' do but in reality it's just easier for me to pack lunches. My kids are 12 and 9 lol. I mean, all summer long they make themselves their own lunches, so they are totally capable, but in the morning when we're rushing out the door is not when I want them making extra messes or dirtying extra stuff, etc.
My kid's lunches are sandwiches, a fruit, and a snack. If they want a specific snack, I'm happy to tell them to grab it and put it in their lunch box the day before, but if it's that morning of, they get what I feel like grabbing.
I'm just sharing this in case you are having them make their own lunches thinking it will be helpful and you find it's not, to give permission to not feel like you have to have them do it.
Thank you. This is exactly where I am. I feel like a 2nd grader *should* pack his own lunch, but Ai know it’s going to be waaaaay more work. That’s why I was hoping to get some ideas, but there aren’t many in this thread 😂.
One thing that’s a little hard for DS1 is he doesn’t really eat sandwiches. I can maybe get away with sending a sandwich once a week, but definitely not every day. And he also doesn’t want the same thing every day, which I read on here is common with kids. I almost always send him a hot lunch in a thermos which means that it can’t be made the night before, he has to boil water to heat the thermos, then heat the food, then transfer it to the thermos.... in the morning! 🤪 We may just stick with the status quo.
I cannot imagine my rising 1st grader packing her own lunch. We do the same, her lunch is usually hot leftovers in a thermos. I portion it the night before, then reheat in the morning and it really doesn’t take that long. I have a hard enough time getting her to eat breakfast and get dressed without being late to school!
Post by steamboat185 on Aug 5, 2021 22:54:02 GMT -5
My kids are going into kindergarten and 3rd grade and while I’ve thought about having them pack their own lunch, I don’t. I make 2 loafs of sandwiches at a time and freeze them. I also cut up peppers and cucumbers ahead of time for the week. The issue is that all the snacky stuff in our kitchen isn’t centrally located. She’d have to break out the stool for at least one or two items and that isn’t convenient most of the time. We try to use as few individually packed items as possible so storage is a bit weird. Maybe I’ll look into moving some of the pretzels and other items down lower now that they are older and won’t just eat all the snacks.
I do make her do thing like take grapes off the stems and cut up celery and peppers.
Mine started packing in 1st grade and were fully packing by 3rd. I cut up a bunch of fruit on Sundays and they made sandwiches, picked their fruit, packed their snacks and put it all in lunchboxes.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
This is one of those things I always felt like I 'should' do but in reality it's just easier for me to pack lunches. My kids are 12 and 9 lol. I mean, all summer long they make themselves their own lunches, so they are totally capable, but in the morning when we're rushing out the door is not when I want them making extra messes or dirtying extra stuff, etc.
My kid's lunches are sandwiches, a fruit, and a snack. If they want a specific snack, I'm happy to tell them to grab it and put it in their lunch box the day before, but if it's that morning of, they get what I feel like grabbing.
I'm just sharing this in case you are having them make their own lunches thinking it will be helpful and you find it's not, to give permission to not feel like you have to have them do it.
Thank you. This is exactly where I am. I feel like a 2nd grader *should* pack his own lunch, but Ai know it’s going to be waaaaay more work. That’s why I was hoping to get some ideas, but there aren’t many in this thread 😂.
One thing that’s a little hard for DS1 is he doesn’t really eat sandwiches. I can maybe get away with sending a sandwich once a week, but definitely not every day. And he also doesn’t want the same thing every day, which I read on here is common with kids. I almost always send him a hot lunch in a thermos which means that it can’t be made the night before, he has to boil water to heat the thermos, then heat the food, then transfer it to the thermos.... in the morning! 🤪 We may just stick with the status quo.
My kids are 8 and 12, and I’d say we pack their lunches together. I wash and portion out the fruit for the week on Sunday, so they just grab a container and throw it in their lunch box. My 12 year old likes to take hot lunches in her thermos (usually a quesadilla), so I do that in the morning while she is getting ready for school. She packs the rest of her lunch though. Fruit, something crunchy, and dessert. My son likes to take basically a diy lunchable, so sometimes he throws all the pieces into containers and sometimes I do. He packs the rest, fruit, something crunchy and dessert. They also pack their own snacks and refill their water bottles. We get as much done the night before as possible, so in the morning it’s usually just the thermos for my daughter and an ice pack for my son.
Maybe you could have him pack the other items in his lunch the night before, and then you can still do the thermos in the morning. That’s how we do it. There’s also nothing wrong with you continuing to do it all. Sometimes I do, in the interest of time or my sanity lol
My kids handle snacks, I handle making the actual lunch part. They started handling their own snacks in kindergarten, when they went to public school. The goal is that when they come home, they empty the lunch box out and repack with snacks. Then I add the lunch food in the morning. I used to double check the snacks a lot more, but now that they're headed into 4th grade, snacks are on them. We have a set of plastic drawers with snacks, so they know exactly where to go for options. For the actual lunch part, it's just easier for me to throw it together while they get ready in the morning - make the sandwich, put the food in the thermos, etc. Takes me two minutes vs. taking them forever.
When L was in K (pre-covid), I would pack her sandwich (or whatever the main item was) and let her choose her fruit and veggie, then had a bin of snacks/fruit basket she could choose from for before/aftercare snacks, since she usually didn't care for what they offered. Though we no longer had to pack at the end of the year due to covid, she was making her own sandwiches by then, so I don't think I would have had a problem having her pack most of it herself with supervision to make sure things were secured, etc.
I give “rules” regarding what should be included and then I supervise while I make breakfast. The rules are 1 main (like a sandwich), 1 fruit, 1 veggie, 1 treat, 1 drink and something easy to grab at recess snack time. It’s kind of like a checklist to make sure they don’t put all crap in there. They were like first grade when they started helping.
Seeing as the only thing DD will eat that she can make herself is a peanut butter sandwich and peanut butter is not allowed in school, I'll be packing her lunches for a while. I usually make some kind of hot lunch in the morning that she eats at room temperature at lunch.
DD has been packing her snacks and drinks for camp all summer so it's not all hopeless. She enters 3rd grade in the fall.
I wish there was an option to buy more delicious hot lunches. The food from the school program is bleh, even if it's free for the next year.
DS doesn't attend school, but we are on the go often enough that we are taking packed lunches out with us several times a week.
I find that DS having a limited option on the go allows me to include items in his lunch he's then forced to try. If he packed it himself he would be packing 100% safe items. Instead he's taking small bites of raw peppers, sausages, and other foods he might turn his nose up to at home. I include foods he likes, but sneak in a lot of new exposures as well.
He's 8, and I see myself packing his to-go meals for a while longer for this reason.
This week for soccer camp he did pack his own snack. I gave him instructions to pack a fruit or veg (usually chose a clementine or cucumbers), protein (cheese or cashews, usually), and a salty packaged snack (always pretzels or cheez-its, his favorite). Having a guide, per se, seems to be making him more mindful to eat a well rounded snack. A nice filling snack. And he really needs that fuel on the field right now.
Our girls (7 and 4) pack their own snacks/sides each evening for the following day, and then my H prepares the main event (usually a sandwich or Lunchable - go ahead and judge) and adds it to their lunchboxes in the morning. I would like DD1 to take over her whole lunch, but H and I need to get on the same page about it first. As with many other things, we struggle with handing over responsibility and investing the time to teach rather than just doing it for her/them.
We started both kids packing their entire lunch, with supervision, when they started kindergarten. We just presented it as a responsibility of a kindergartener. They have bento style boxes, so we require a "main" that is protein based, plus a fruit, a veggie, and they can put a treat in the small treat spot.
Every kid is different, but both of my kids could absolutely do this at that age. However, we still check the lunches each night to ensure they packed enough.
I do plan to use the Bentgo box for my kindergartner, but what does packing it look like on the most basic level for you? Where/what are the proteins? Have you portioned them out? Does you kid just dig through the pantry or fridge?
When I packet the Bentgo, it’s ....what’s in the fridge? Oh, this can go there.. that will fit there, etc. and because of the small sizes, it’s often random leftovers and such.
Their Yumboxes have a large spot, two medium spots, and a small spot.
Large spot: We require a protein. My kids tend to do one of the following: Peanut butter and jelly; deli meat with cheese and crackers; chicken nuggets (they take them out of the freezer at night when they pack their lunch; they keep the lunch box in the fridge until leaving for school). One of my kids will sometimes do a mix of nuts and cheeses. One kid loves black beans and rice so a few times I've made that on Sunday and he takes it each day til it's gone.
Medium spot, fruit: whatever fruit we have on hand, or if we have no fresh fruit, then frozen blueberries, or applesauce. If I've bought applesauce pouches they'll take that, outside of the lunchbox. Or one kid will take a whole apple, outside of the box.
Medium spot, veggies: They tend to do frozen peas (when I buy peas, I pour them into a plastic seltzer bottle that we keep that in the freezer, this makes the peas easy to pour out), or sometimes one kid will heat up frozen broccoli and cheddar and take that (note, she could not do that in kindergarten). Or carrots with ranch.
Treat spot: it's pretty small, about the size of a large marshmallow. They'll take a few squares of chocolate, or some chocolate chips, or if I've bought mini cookies they'll take those.
My kid just started 3rd grade and she’s packing her own lunches now (I help as needed). Last year was virtual all year, and I packed all her lunches in 1st grade.