To be dreading making packed lunches every day?

[ParsleyAndTime]

I know AIBU in a way, and obviously whatever it takes to prevent the spread of Covid is a good thing. But is anyone else dreading making (multiple) packed lunches every.single.day?

No school dinners, an endless line of wilted sandwiches until Christmas...

Or does anyone have any great ideas for exciting lunches? I’ve never thought I’d be the kind of mother who gives their child stew in a thermos but it’s been a surprising year...

This isn't a national thing, so it makes me wonder what the justification is for this policy. My GC are going back to hot school dinners. They aren't allowing bags in school, so pack lunches are out.

Hot dinners at our school too. I don't see why this won't work - the cutlery and plates will be cleaned after use. The kids all have to sit and eat together whether packed lunch or provided by the school. Staggered lunch times, a one way system, removal of communal pitchers of water...

Both my dc schools are doing hot dinners.

My 13 yo will take a salad. I will add roast veggies/beans/tofu and some kind of grain to make it filling. Then a dressing/salsa/dip. Can’t say I am looking forward to it but its healthy and I will probably have the same for my lunch so it won’t be a big job. I might think about sending him with soup or stew as the weather gets colder. He isn't a fan of sandwiches but might take a bagel or wrap sometimes for a change.

Nothing wrong with the odd sausage roll in lunchbox though OP - quick to do, change from sandwiches and you can give healthy tea.

Salad is a nice idea! I thought the no school dinner thing was happening everywhere tbh...

As is sausage rolls

Just to add school have said no hot food initially, just grab and go so it can be eaten in their bubbles. DS says he would rather eat my food.

Hot dinners at our school too. Disposable cutlery though and a reduced menu - apparently covid means they can now only produce hot dogs and pizza and chips...

No hot lunches here either. Apparently packed lunch + (so some days it’s pizza instead of a roll, or a burger etc...) can be delivered to all classrooms and eaten there. A hot lunch absolutely cannot be.

Hmmm.

Can't u find ways to avoid doing it daily? E.g. with some evening meals I can save the leftovers for packed lunch the next day like tuna pasta.

Also you could try making 2 days' worth of packed lunches at once maybe.

Mine make their own pack lunches, one of the kids schools aren’t doing hot lunches one is but advise snap if possible and the other is going to college where the canteen will be closed.

I hate making packed lunches too. The ones I do are rubbish, the ones the kids at school have make me feel like the worst parent ever. They are amazing. I don't really know what the issue is re hot dinners at certain schools but mine will have packed lunches to save queueing up.

YABU I've made sandwiches every school day up to Year 9. DS would not ear school meals.

@Ponoka7

This isn't a national thing, so it makes me wonder what the justification is for this policy. My GC are going back to hot school dinners. They aren't allowing bags in school, so pack lunches are out.

Hot lunches are still being provided at my DCs school but it's been suggested that taking packed lunches reduces the pressure on the system. My DCs have asked to take pack lunches because they don't want to spend the time in a queue and having to be indoors when they can be outside. I'm told that everybody with packed lunches eats them outside even though they can eat them inside - normally, not sure about next month.

How annoying OP! My DC love sandwiches, but you could try salads, rice salad, pasta salad, couscous, quiche, Spanish omelette, or you could send in hot food in thermos containers like soup, pasta, stew, curry with rice, etc.

I'd get a food thermos if for no other reason than it opens up easy lunch options like soup and heated up leftovers like bolognese, chilli, curry etc.

Lots of other meals you can make - pasta salad, mini fritata (make a muffin trayful and freeze), mini pasties - I fill with left over curry etc. DC favourite was some shredded left over chicken with some noodles, shredded cabbage and grated carrot dressed with soy sauce and sesame seeds.

www.amazon.co.uk/Prime-Horizon-Food-Flask-Stainless/dp/B07Q6LWLTG/ref=psdc_3313584031_t5_B00DGPPY20?th=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

We can't do hot dinners because we can only have one bubble in the hall at a time and then once they have all gone the tables and seats have to be wiped down with bleach solution before the next bubble comes in. We have 6 bubbles and even if each bubble just took 20 minutes that would take 2 hours.

We are not allowed to take hot food to the classrooms as we don't have the trolleys to do it and then it would have to be served.

Where children are eating in classrooms I assume most schools are doing packed lunches or something hot that can be put in a bag, so like a hot dog/burger.

Some of our local Primaries don't have kitchens so will have packed lunches delivered.

If children are on FSM and are off school due to isolation then lunches have to be delivered to them.

God you are definitely not being unreasonable. I noticed The Batch Lady on Facebook is doing a thing on packed lunches next week, might be worth checking out.

My DDs school are doing school dinners but it’s only the cold option (sandwiches or wraps) eaten in their classroom. They get a piece of fruit and a yoghurt or muffin, my DD came out of school starving when she went back after lockdown so I think I’ll have to do packed lunch as she often goes to the childminder or after school club and it’s a long day. I feel sorry for the kids who rely on school for a hot meal, especially as winter draws in.

Doesn't have to be exiting.

Just send something like
sandwich/roll/wrap
Salad bits (cherry Tom's, cucumber, celery, pepper sticks etc)
Fruit in some form or another
A yoghurt/cheese portion

Yep no hot lunch here for DS2 ( yr 7) but DS1 (yr 12) has the option at college.

Hate making sandwiches!!