Who makes school lunch

[ChantsHinch]

I have 2 DD, 14 and 19. Both in school. I make their lunches and a friend of mine was shocked that I still make my girls lunch. I thought we were all doing this??? Just wondering when you stopped making school lunches for your kids?

My 14 year old has been making her own packed lunch for about a year (she was on school dinners before that but wanted to change so I said fine if she makes it herself). Sometimes I do it for her if she’s got loads of homework or something but she’s usually good at remembering and making it herself.
Younger DD is still in year 6 and having school dinners but if she wants a lunchbox next year i’ll
be encouraging her to take responsibility for making it herself.
I used to make my own lunch in secondary school too, never did me any harm.
Making a lunchbox for a 19 year old is a bit ridiculous

We stopped when they started secondary. I asked them at the weekend what they wanted getting in so there was stuff they like in the fridge/cupboards.
they’re both now at college and tend to use their allowance/wages to get something from town in their breaks so have reduced what I’ll get in fresh as it was going to waste so it’s now pasta/noodles/porridge pot sort of stuff, they have access to a microwave and ketttle so it’s much easier. They’ll always grab some crisps/chocolate time stuff to throw in their bags.

I'm amazed they are still happy for you to do it! I stopped in secondary partly because if the DC made their own lunches, they had free choice of what they put in them.

Two DDs 10 and 12 and both make their own, I do keep an eye on them to make sure they aren't full of junk.

I didn't start, my son started year 3 in September (age 7) so the funding for free school meals stopped. He wanted packed lunches, we don't really have time for that so the deal was he could have a packed lunch if he did it himself. All I do is help him with the butter on his sandwiches and cut his cheese. He even carefully cuts his own fruit up (with a kid friendly knife and under my supervision of course!). Couldn't be doing with adding another chore to my mornings and it's a good way for him to start doing more for himself! I do wash everything up and make sure it's clean for him for the next time.

This.

DS is 21 now but if I’m in the kitchen making dinner and start to make my lunch I’ll offer to do his.

He will then do another job somewhere else as running a house should be a team effort.

I made my teens packed lunches until they left home as I was making my own anyway. I now have teens staying in my home on and off and will make everyone's even though I'm not longer having one myself.

I hate making packed lunches. Mine have always had school dinners but when eldest moved to secondary she started making her own lunch or taking heated leftovers in a thermos. My youngest begged for packed lunches while still in primary so we conceded she could once a week but on the condition she made it herself.

My 14 year old makes their own packed lunches and if their younger siblings (7 and 9) want packed lunches they get their own (usually I pay for school meals).

I always made my daughter’s lunch until she left school. Most of her friends’ parents did the same. It was hardly an onerous job and took maybe five minutes each morning.

I think it's nice you do it if you have time and they like it OP. I think posters all faux shocked "Oh I didn't know ANYONE still made lunches once their children were out of the womb" are being a bit dickish. We all do different things for our kids and hopefully what works for us and them.
I have mostly stopped for my 13 y o but will occasionally still do it to be helpful or to give a more healthy selection. I wish my older teen would let me occasionally as he forgets and could really do with more calories during the day!

I do think it’s completely babying for you to be making the lunches of teenagers that age!

DH makes DS(13) packed lunch every day and older DS in 6th form usually makes his own unless he’s running late when he asks nicely if one of us can make him a sandwich.

I stopped in Y4. By then, of course, I had done it with them often enough that they understood what to do. I made sure the supplies were always available. In primary we paid for school lunches online, and could top up our account whenever, so it was simple to be spontaneously flexible.

In secondary, we put enough on the dcs’ lunch cards for them to have 2-3 generous meals at the school canteen every week. We had a range of responses among our children, from one choosing to have soup and a roll every day, rather than make any packed lunches, to another choosing to blow their lunch money on one big lunch and several snacks, and making 4 packed lunches every week.

Mine are 14 and 16. They’ve been sorting themselves out for a couple of years. They prefer to do it themselves

Same!

Mine often make mine as well. Working on the theory above that thry may as well while they do theirs.

I control what goes in them by only having food in the house that I am happy for them to eat.

It depends on the day; if they ask for help as they are running late or just woukd like me to, I’ll do it. Dh is less friendly about it but will do the same.

ds are 10 and 12.

lunches are very basic, ds12 has a sub roll with two meats, sliced proper cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Ds10 has crackers and cooked chicken. They then have cucumber and grapes, a yoghurt and a cheese string. Once a week crisps or a chocolate bar. Ds10 has a mini pizza once a week and he has a smoothie a few times a week

they aren’t exciting and I don’t love the upf elements but they work for us.

I'm up first so make everyone's lunches, including DH's. We've a small kitchen anyway so its easier. DS could make his own; he cooks himself meals regularly but in the mornings he'd just be in the way.

I make my 14 year olds. Why wouldn’t I? I find it weird so many of you don’t.

Surely the 18 year old needs to self regulate.

I won’t because I think being able to plan, prepare, and make a nutritious meal is part of growing up. I counter with, why would you. I also make my own, and work!

Why would not making lunch be weird? It’s encouraging independence and responsibility and they are more than capable.

Stopped at secondary school. They are now both 17 and well used to making it. Occasionally if DS is late - he has a long commute - I will make his sandwich but he puts the rest together himself.

I made mine lunch until he finished school. I don't see slapping a sandwich together as a massive chore. My mum used to do it for us, so I did it too. I can't imagine leaving a 9 or 10 year old to make their own lunch every day. I'm sure it teaches independence etc but nah.