School asking kids to bring in packed lunch

[KurriKawari]

DD12 is back at school in September. Only food on offer will be a "grab bag" of something hot like a panini, drink and cookie. They've suggested kids bring in own lunch to avoid cross contamination and queuing. I'm not keen on a cookie every day so thinking of sending her in with own lunch box. Any interesting ideas apart from sandwich/wrap, yoghurt and fruit? Thanks.

Wow, that's wasteful.

@happypotamus

Gosh that sounds crazy !!

Who on earth has time to make sushi?!

I think you have to be realistic about what DC will eat in front of their peers, creative lunch boxes sound lovely but I know when I suggested anything a 'bit different' to my DS he wasn't keen and had a ham roll and banana for nearly every packed lunch during his school career - fortunately he is a lot more creative now he is a Uni student and doing his own catering.

I dont think anyone in my duaghters shool had sushi or miso soup! (Soup sounds lovely though. )

My duaghter wont eat sandwhiches but will eat pasta/pesto type lunches or crackers and cheese. Im not sure our school would approve cold pizza.

Apparently "everyone" has crisps and/or a chocolate bar though.

Ragwort agreed. Most senior school kids don't want to stand out. After years of exciting lunches at primary my DS asked me to stop making weird lunches.

@Ragwort

I think you have to be realistic about what DC will eat in front of their peers, creative lunch boxes sound lovely but I know when I suggested anything a 'bit different' to my DS he wasn't keen and had a ham roll and banana for nearly every packed lunch during his school career - fortunately he is a lot more creative now he is a Uni student and doing his own catering.

A great valid point. And please don't do boiled eggs. Very smelly and embarrassing.

Sushi is regular lunchbox item in Japan, and it's normally not raw fish for lunch box. It's easy to make, you need cooked rice, nori and some filling, and mat to roll. No harder than making sandwich.

Who on earth has time to make sushi?

Haha it doesn't take too long to be fair and can be stored in the fridge, but I wouldn't be arsed making it the morning before school. Also would be a bit reluctant as they can't pop it in a fridge if it had fish in.

As has been said, wraps etc are a good shout, just ask her maybe but be sensible and if she just suggests 10 x chocolate bars then no.

At our school, the lunch bag has to be thrown away, it cannot be taken home so no Tupperware, cutlery etc. It is a nightmare but part of the LA risk assessment to pre ent cross contamination.

Ohh boiled eggs is a good idea!

It really isn't.

Boiled egg in properly chilled bag is definitely ok. Maybe not if it was kept room temp in warm weather.

Get her to make her lunches with guidance. Also get a wide lid thermos so she can take leftovers

and if she 13 plus get her to make it herself

DD has been doing her own packed lunch since she was 9

These are brilliant and worth the money (I’ve tried many)-my daughter and I take them to work and school. Usually either soup, pasta, curry or chilli (cook a bit extra the night before)

No way is DD12 taking boiled eggs into school. Not sure any 12 year old would.

@siblingrevelryagain thank you, that looks fab!

I'm impressed with the sushi makers, but it is not easy. I went to a class to learn and then attempted at home. I suspect it takes a bit of practice. I would also be concerned about toxins forming from cooked pasta or rice if there is no proper chilling available.

I guess it depends on the cultural background. For a Japanese family the sushi lunch is probably equivalent to the cheese sandwich lunch British kids often eat.

so no lunch boxes/ flasks/ cutlery/ ice blocks to keep things cool. At least to start with it will be the same in September.

I think ours is going to do the same. With packed lunches left out in the warm corridor for hours it does worry me.

Winners in this house for something different-
Wrap with hummus, falafel and grated carrot.
Bagel thin with turkey slices and edam
Slices of pre made Spanish tortilla (from supermarket don't have time for home made)
Pastry rolls - shop bought puff pastry with cheese/veg/ham rolled sliced then baked.

My DS takes a bento box with a little thermal nested in it. He usually has sushi, miso tofu soup or leftovers and he’s obsessed with edamame with different flavours. He thinks he is very cool.

Wow Clearly a different demographic from when my son was at primary school in Glasgow. I love MN for the little glimpses it gives me into how others live.

Clearly a different demographic from when my son was at primary school in Glasgow

Jeelie piece, packet of 10Ps and a quenchy kup 😆

I am going to have to be creative, my youngest doesn't really eat bread, which normally with school dinners isn't an issue, we just accept on the odd days she has to take a packed lunch for school trips, she'll be starving when I pick her up. Every day though, that's going to be tough.

I have to drop them at the childminder by 7:20am to get to work on time, I really don't want to have to include complex lunchbox creation as well !

Why is it all the 'new normal' changes seem to make family life harder?

@DisgruntledGuineaPig

I often make my sons lunchbox the evening before when he’s in bed and leave it in the fridge over night.

It’s tough when kids won’t eat sandwiches. I’ve got one that loves them and one that won’t touch them!! I struggle daily with the non sandwich eaters lunch!!