https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:43:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867385 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 15:02:31 +0000 Foodnerd81 2867385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: sandwich cutters are totally not necessary but my kids love them and eat their sandwiches better. If I leave crusts on, they will eat the middle but leave a huge border around the crust, but the sandwich cutters go close to the edge so they actually eat more. I often feed my 3 year old in the car on the way to pick up big sis and I hear her going “roarrrr!” As she is eating her Dino pbj. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867383 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:55:45 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: I’ve tried super basic shapes like triangles that you can just use with a knife. He takes apart the sandwich to get a look inside and then doesn’t put it back together. I’ll have to let you know if a stat shaped PBJ has a better outcome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867356 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 13:07:59 +0000 SweetiePie 2867356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: If you can find it, applegate is the best. Not because it’s organic (I stopped caring about that so much) but I find it’s just the best tasting and least greasy. I’ve tried replacing with hormel and boars head and it’s just not as good.<br /> And once he’s comfortably eating that, I would try to branch out. Like let him have a little taste of turkey and do it with a flavor on it. Like cracked black pepper or they have salsa (boars head) since he will be used to the flavoring in the pepperoni. Then you can do a ”lunchable” with turkey breast and crackers and cheese. Sort of like doing some bastardized version of food chaining :silly: 😂<br /> And there are tons of turkey and chicken sausages these days. Aidells and applegate and so on. They could work well too.<br /> Also, have you tried sandwiches in shapes? I started out cutting my sons sandwiches into shapes and that’s what got him to initially try it. Just use a cookie cutter and its actually pretty easy. You won’t have to do it forever, just till he gets used to sandwiches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867344 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:46:34 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: yeah, when I think about the costs savings it’s worth a try. A frozen bag of peas at home lasts a four nights of dinner. More funds for weekend fun! :happy: @SweetiePie: great idea to think of it as homemade lunchables! I’ll have to try out turkey pepperoni this weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867317 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:28:40 +0000 looch 2867317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I think that's fine, I mean, you have to look at the entire day and week of food that your child is consuming. Some days, things may be off, but as long as you balance it out over the week, it's more balanced than looking at a single day.</p> <p>I personally don't care if my son eats the same lunch every single day. He gets enough variety with other things now, that it isn't worth the struggle. I think the main thing is that there is a limited amount of time and I need him fed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867309 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:44:39 +0000 SweetiePie 2867309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So we are in ny public school and lunch is free. So I pick and choose the days he has school lunch and when I pack. If it feels really unhealthy I pack (like one day the main is mozzarella sticks and I just can’t wrap my head around that and I’m not a health nut at all). Or if it’s something I know he won’t eat (a couple days a month they have Jamaican beef patty, for example) I’ll pack.<br /> But I only have him mostly eat school lunch because it’s free. If we had to pay for it, we’d pack every day. I don’t think that the menu is healthy or diverse enough to justify paying for it. And he LOVES having a lunchbox and seeing what I packed that day, so it’s not even like he’s be upset. </p> <p>If you could do day by day I’d say do a mixture. But if you have to do week by week I would just choose one week a month that’s maybe really busy at work or you just don’t feel like dealing with lunches and have him eat school lunch. Otherwise I’d just pack. I personally don’t even think $25 is that much, but I still am not sure it’s worth it if you don’t absolutely hate packing a lunch. I’m all for outsourcing things you don’t like doing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867308 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:36:11 +0000 SweetiePie 2867308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: You could do a homemade lunchable kind of thing since he’s not into sandwiches.<br /> Whole grain crackers, turkey pepperoni, cheese, fruit, veg and a sweet treat. We do this a lot. It’s so easy for me, he loves it and it covers all the bases. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867307 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:34:16 +0000 SweetiePie 2867307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: fwiw, I see a nutritionist for some health issues (colitis) and her goal is to get me eating a more balanced diet overall (initially it was help getting inflammation under control). But she tells me if something is overall unhealthy and I should avoid. She has zero issue with grilled cheese. I eat it a fair amount since I’m home with the baby and I like warm meals and grilled cheese is easy. She just said to make sure I pair it with fruits and veggies (which you’re doing) and it’s fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867304 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:26:32 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok, so based on what my kids eats for me- he would likely get this if I packed his lunch:</p> <p>Dannon yogurt or Poly-o string cheese<br /> Berries- strawberries/ blueberries/blackberries/ raspberries<br /> Apple slices<br /> Ritz crackers or SunChips<br /> Peas or String beans or Cherry Tomatoes<br /> Turkey meatballs or Smoked beef sausage </p> <p>Sweet/fun:<br /> Superhero graham crackers (DH introduced this and LO has now agreed to call it “cookie crackers”<br /> Craisins &amp; raisins mix</p> <p>It feels very grazy/ snack-y to me, but he’s not a sandwich kid and is not very adventurous when it comes to eating his non-favorite foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867291 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:56:48 +0000 periwinklebee 2867291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pack LO's lunch b/c I don't have a choice. He gets leftovers from food I've cooked for dinner, as well as sliced fruit. It would be super easy, except his daycare requires everything in small bite size pieces so it ends up being slightly annoying. If there was an option to buy healthy food, I'd probably be willing to pay $25/week for it, just to have one less thing to worry about and to give him more diversity in his diet (since I pack leftovers). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867289 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:52:42 +0000 Anagram 2867289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pack our kids lunches, because I don't really like what their school offers and I don't think it's very healthy.</p> <p>But...realtalk. I sometimes have really busy/tired/lazy weeks (I mean, ssssshiiiiz, I work full time and I do this at night after work on top of the other million things I have to do), and sometimes the things I'm packing are not at all better than what they would be having at school.</p> <p>So just do a cost/benefit analysis of your own life. Do you have more time or more money? If you pack their lunch, realistically, are you always going to be packing more healthy options? I've seen what the other kids in school are eating at lunch and probably 75% of the home packed lunch are actually less healthy than what the school is offering. Like, kids will have just a bagel and cream cheese in their lunch from home. And it will be a flavored cream cheese. Lots of macaroni and cheese from home. Lots of chicken nuggets. Lots of things like jam sandwiches with a side of cucumber slices. SO nutritionally....figure out what you'd be packing and make a decision.</p> <p>I used to pack what I would consider fairly healthful foods. Lately, I've been packing quick things that aren't that healthy. Yesterday, both girls had a homemade grilled cheese with a side of broccoli. The grilled cheese was kind of fancy (fontina, gruyere on sourdough) but it wasn't healthy at all. The side of broccoli was the only good thign there). Today, my kids have pasta in their lunch box. So I'm not really killing it in the nutrition department this week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867273 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:18:59 +0000 Foodnerd81 2867273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: @MenagerieMama: once upon a time (aka almost 6 years ago before I got pregnant with my first) I used to really enjoy cooking. Looking up new recipes to try and getting the ingredients wasn’t even that bad. Add kids and it’s like, ugh, everyone has to eat AGAIN?! </p> <p>But i agree that $25 seems high for that. If everyone was eating mostly the same things I would likely do it, to encourage my kid to eat more things that all the other kids are eating (even if it wasn’t the absolute healthiest, I really want my kids to try more new foods and peer pressure helps). But if they could just choose nuggets every day not sure how much that would help. I basicallymake the same few lunches every day anyway and for less than $5. But if it made my life easier (not having to shop for, plan? Clean lunch boxes, on top of the actually throwing together a lunch) is consider it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867269 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 23:24:12 +0000 MenagerieMama 2867269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: amen. I am very type A and excellent at most parenting thing but meal planning is my nemesis! I even researched hiring someone to cook meals for us on a regular basis but DH wouldn’t buy it as a priority :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867266 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 23:14:02 +0000 SweetiePie 2867266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MenagerieMama: you are my anti-cooking soul mate. I feel like I’m a good mom and I take good care of our home. Except for cooking and meal planning. I suck. But I’m really really trying to change that. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. It’s stressful to think of what to make. Buy the stuff. Then feel pressured because the stuff will go bad if I don’t. I’m annoyed when it doesn’t come out perfect. My husband doesn’t care if he gets a home cooked meal so he doesn’t even appreciate it that much (but also gets annoyed when I don’t have a plan). Then the f*cking clean up after.<br /> I hate it. But I’m trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867234 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 17:58:04 +0000 MenagerieMama 2867234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would 100% pay. Packing my own lunch is enough angst, I wouldn't want to deal with it for my kids. Plus they eat a better variety at school with just different options and peer pressure. I also hate cooking and meal planning with a firey passion though. Nothing makes me more angry then having the "what's for dinner" talk. It's the one thing I truly fail at adulting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867211 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 15:39:25 +0000 peaches1038 2867211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in this situation and have chosen to pack a lunch. We make enough dinner for all of us to have leftovers for lunch the next day. Our school actually encourages parents to send food that needs heating. We add in cut up fruits and veggies, cheese sticks and occasionally crackers to round out the meal. It only takes a minute to pack it while cleaning up dinner and we are packing our own lunches anyway. We prefer to choose what he is eating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867167 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 12:49:34 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @Hypatia: you guys convinced me to at least try packing a lunch. Bento lunch here I come! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867140 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:10:33 +0000 Hypatia 2867140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I understand wanting the convenience, but I wouldn’t in this case because $5 is a bit much for a young kid, and most of the meals seem to be very carb heavy. Carbs are cheap and easy, but they aren’t very filling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867133 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 09:31:33 +0000 looch 2867133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am cheap, so I would not pay an additional $25 a week for a lunch that looks like I can make it for less than $10.</p> <p>I have found that with planning, packing lunch and snack is not that much more work added on in the morning. If I know what I am packing, the job is really easy, it's more of if I have no clue that I struggle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867131 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 09:29:07 +0000 Adira 2867131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>$25/week for lunch is a lot, but I'd still pay it for the convenience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867122 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 09:06:34 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peachykeen: I agree $25 seems like a lot for little kid portioned lunch. Most places were $20/ wk that I called- I looked at 3 different cities/ communities to move to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867115 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:45:33 +0000 peachykeen 2867115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If the options are fairly healthy I would buy lunch, although $25/week feels like a lot to me for daycare lunch (our daycare meals are baked into the overall price, so no clue what it really costs). I just started packing my 4yo's lunch when she switched to public preK from private because the options are pretty awful and it's not nearly as much work as I envisioned, but DD2 (1yo) will eat the daycare meals as long as she's there (although this is the norm there because it's included). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867089 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 07:51:51 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL toured my two favorites and this is the menu from the one that had the bigger playground. </p> [attach=3033/19/plh7qg.450x600.37BC7F31-0509-4940-B92B-B25DA26C2AE6.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867084 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 07:30:52 +0000 erinbaderin 2867084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For $25 a week I would definitely buy it just for convenience. I imagine it will be ok - I think kids eat differently when they're away from us whether or not everybody is eating something different. It also might be a good way to get your son involved - assuming all the lunches are reasonably healthy you could maybe let him pick what he wants to eat for the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867079 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 06:57:04 +0000 Petitduck 2867079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you like their menu and have the money then buy it. So much easier for you! I’d think anyway. It’s wild there are so many choices. I’d think it would be easier if everyone had the same choice and they all saw each other eating the same thing or similar if it was a meat/vegetarian thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/given-a-choice-do-you-pack-or-buy-los-lunch#post-2867078 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 06:26:11 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2867078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son’s current daycare provides 5 meals: Breakfast, AM snack, Lunch, PM Snack after nap, PM Snack around 5 pm. The daycare’s I’m considering have 3 meal times: AM snack and PM snack are provided, but parents can pack a lunch or buy lunch. The purchased lunch is $25 extra a week and parents choose from several menu options a day. The LOs are all over the place eating different things. I’m hoping LO will mind his own plate and eat well like he’s always done when he sees so many other food options. I’m leaning to buying his lunch for convenience and variety that I surely couldn’t keep up with, but there’s just so many choices! </p>