Now that my kids are on their own for the first time this summer, the question of what’s for lunchlooms larger than ever. When I talked to my daughter today, she said all they had was leftover macaroni and cheese (and soft drinks, I discovered later). They didn’t eat any chicken nuggets or turkey lunch meat and forget the vegetables or fruit. It’s not like I don’t have that stuff available– it’s that they just won’t eat it. They’re much happier with PopTarts, cookies, candy or cereal (the sugarier the better). If these things aren’t available, they just don’t eat at all.
I threatened to have my mom come by each day and fix them lunch, but I know that isn’t the solution either. Last summer I stocked the freezers, fridge, and cabinets with all kinds of food for them. My daughter even drew up a daily menu for breakfast and lunch. It lasted all of two weeks. Then my mom decided the cupboards were bare (they weren’t) and took the kids out to eat fast food almost every day. This is the same woman who lectured me in high school and college to come home for lunch, telling me it was cheaper than fast food because she already had lunch stuff for me. I think she just wanted me to come home so she knew where I was for a portion of the day.
So tonight I wandered the aisles of Sam’s and Walmart, pondering what to buy for my picky, starving children. Hot dogs? Nope. Turkey? Nope. Ham? Won’t eat it. Chicken strips? Got ‘em. Bagel Bites? Nope. Pizzas or pizza rolls? Got ‘em. It’s not like they’ve never eaten these things or I’m refusing to buy them. They’ve eaten them at one time or another in the past. They just don’t like them any more, so why buy more? Then I saw it: pre-cooked bacon. BINGO! The only trick will be getting them to eat it as part of a sandwich, rather than devouring the whole bag in two days’ time.
I also bought lots of fruit: bananas, strawberries, peaches, blackberries, and blueberries (they won’t touch the ‘berries or peaches, but maybe they’ll go for the bananas). There are vegetableslike bagged lettuce, tomatoes (on the vine), baby carrots, and celery (none of which they will eat– especially if I’m not here). I’ve let the PopTarts and cookies run out, so maybe they’ll be tempted to eat the fruit if they want something sweet.
I’m at wits’ end. How to other working moms feed their kids during the summer? Do they stock up on prepared junk foods, bury their head in the sand and go to work? Give them money for fast food and pizza deliveries and look the other way? Or are their kids good eaters who will make and eat a sandwich, drink milk or water with it and have a piece of fruit for dessert? I’ve been feeding these kinds of foods to my kids ever since they were little, but now that they’re teens, they’re either not eating anything or making poor choices when they do eat, despite being surrounded by lots of good, fresh food. What’s a mother to do?
