Making packed lunch

@Jellybeanz456 yes this too! Once my mum stopped making my lunches prob about year 8 - is about when I stopped properly eating lunch, start of an eating disorder then and also why I'm up and downstairs in the mornings so I can see mine have eaten breakfast before they leave as I also didn't eat breakfast at secondary school and my mum never knew as I was crafty.

I think the point is op can't be arsed to make her kids sandwiches when they can do it themselves.

My DS decided in Y6 that he wanted a packed lunch instead of school meals (they changed the recipes and menu and he didn’t like the food). At the age of 10/11 he was perfectly capable of pulling together a half decent packed lunch and it’s a great time to start them being a bit independent.

He is 19 now and doesn’t rely on Mummy to feed him.

@Tbskejue yeah I get it but oldest has adhd/asd so it's not as straightforward- needs constant supervision so easier to just do it then supervise him at weekends/hols. Middle can make his own sometimes does but has phases of fancying himself a chef wanting extravagant creations or opposite and is lazy and would just take crisps haha. Youngest mostly has school dinners but on school trips she is keen to choose her own and help so I suspect as she gets older she will make her own.

My child just wouldn't eat if I didn't sort him one, he'd just say I'll be fine I'll eat later so yes I make him something literally takes 2 minutes to make a sandwich an just chuck fruit crisp an drink into a tub for him. Atleast then I know he's had something.

You seem v prickly about it. Guessing it’s been a hot potato in your house?

Mine all just had money on their fob in secondary school to buy food at school. If they wanted pack lunch I probably would have had them make it themselves! I did make them a good breakfast though 😋

I make mains for my DC's but not for DH. They put together the side bits like fruit, chocolate, drink etc but I do a sandwich mainly because I can put some salad in it or vary the fillings. I also sometimes put leftovers in a food flask.

I sometimes make a packed lunch for my kids aged 15 and 20. Sometimes they'll make one for me. It's nice to help each other out and do something for each other.

@Aria20 I get your logic but those are the kind of reasons that we have our DC either make their own or be involved; they need to learn those lessons as kids or be selfish adults or ones who don’t know how to pack a healthy lunch

My mum made my lunches even when I returned home after college to teach!
Am very proficient at housework now so I don't think it did me any harm.
I will do the same for my children too as they move into secondary school.

I made DS’s lunch every day of his internship and I made him lunch when at secondary. That’s it now as next summer he will be living independently. Most SAHM’s would be making packed lunch I’d guess (I work full time) but up to you what you done but your kids are probably right other parents do it still, or at least stock up on the ingredients

I make lunches for mine age 15, 13 & 6 - sometimes for DH too if he wants one.

Reasons being 15yo would eat everything and leave not enough for others, 13yo would just eat crisps and a drink and 6yo would prob just pack fruits! They need to eat a balance of food, use stuff that is open first, ensure there is enough for everyone etc so it's quicker and easier to do it myself.

In the school holidays though they can and do make their own lunches - hot or cold options and often make mine too so they are not being held back independence wise.

Mone make their own. I help as needed, buy them what they want at the supermarket etc. But they know what exactly want on a day to day basis, like an extra snack as they are doing sport for example.

My 15 year old makes his own, he has a cheese sandwich every day. I usually make my 13 year olds because I make mine and we have the same. If I'm not having packed lunch she'll make her own, very occasionally she'll make mine.

Mine help make lunches. Eldest is 7.

Its not hard to put ham and salad in a wrap and add a yoghurt and a piece of fruit from the bowl

Those that work with my DH reckon hes spoiled and Im a kitchen goddess

I always cook more then whats going to be eaten and I throw together a meal in a ex Chinese takeaway carton and shove it in the freezer.

There is always a loaf of bread or rolls in the house and a fridge with cooked meats and cheese and salad, theres eggs and tinned fish, so if there isnt a frozen meal - hes fit to make his own - the food is there , along with fruit, yoghurts, crisps etc

Years ago I found out I was being a mug for getting up at silly o'clock to make his piece, then found out he was away to the cafe for a fry

Make sure the makings are there and let them get on with it, Now DH only goes to the cafe as a treat

This.

DD is 10yo and makes hers on the days she wants a packed lunch, she usually packs up the non-fridge bits the night before then in the morning just finishes it off with a sandwich and yoghurt.

Hmm my DM made our lunches until we left school and also made my Dad's. 20 rounds of cheese and marmite sandwiches on a Sunday evening, into sandwich bags and into the freezer.
Each morning after breakfast, we'd grab our sandwich from the freezer and an apple or banana and leave. We had water fountains at school and in 6th form a hot drinks machine in the common room. No wonder we were all slim and healthy!

Bento style boxes seem to be in fashion. Have you tried introducing this to your DD? It might be fun for her to try.

Also though I don’t make my husbands lunch (if anything he’s more likely to make mine) and I’ve been surprised at how many women seem to make their DH lunches too

I’ve been surprised at teenager DD saying this; we definitely don’t and my primary age DC are encouraged to help make their packed lunch. I see it as part of learning what a balanced lunch is.

I made it clear to my kids if they wanted packed lunches they make it themselves. They've been doing it since they were at secondary on & off. Its good for them - they learn how to manage time & think about planning & shopping for food (they tell us what tjey want for tje supermarket order. Occasionally we help - like on an exam day but generally its good for them to get on with it.

Of course it’s not unreasonable to expect 17y.o to do their packed lunch unless any extra circumstances or trade off.
I usually do packed lunches for both DD and DH. DD has additional needs (extra circumstances). DH does our breakfast while I do his packed lunch (trade off).
I don’t mind our arrangement, it works well.

Can you make it together and use it as bonding time?.