It’s only day four of my son’s new school year and I already feel a bit defeated by the whole lunchbox packing thing. I started off the week inspired by my favorite lunch-packing experts to try out some creative sandwich ideas, but so far these new offerings have come back virtually untouched.
Today’s lunch? A rather sad-looking peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
In the old days, I might not have felt bad about this. But with the advent of social media it’s easy to feel inadequate when some parents out there take lunch-packing to incredible heights and then post daily photos of their handiwork on Facebook or Pinterest.
In a new article in U.S. News & World Report, “Judgment Day: Lunchboxes Give Parents Another Reason to Compete,” reporter Kimberly Leonard digs deep into this issue and I was pleased to be one of her quoted sources. My ultimate take: you can tell pretty quickly when a parent or blogger’s posted lunch photo is intended to make other parents feel like losers, and when it’s shared in a generous spirit of education and encouragement. (You can find bloggers and writers in the latter category by visiting the Lunchbox Packing tab on this blog’s Resources page.)
Take a look at Leonard’s piece and let me know what you think. Do photos of beautiful lunches posted on social inspire you — or just make you feel like a failure?
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Tracy Slagter says
I love creative lunch posts and photos, even if I think some of them are a bit over-the-top. I look at them mostly for content ideas beyond sandwiches, because kids get tired of eating them and I get tired of making them. But perhaps the best thing that’s come out of all of those lovely, colorful lunch photos for me is the need to eliminate waste: get rid of packaging, pack real food, and pack things your kids won’t toss in the trash. My kids’ lunches aren’t full of cutesy themed cut-outs and cupcake liners, but they ARE lunches that are healthy and taste good, they’re not full of plastic wrappers, and we can make them quickly before heading off to work each morning. Sustainability on multiple fronts!
Bettina Elias Siegel says
I agree, Tracy. Thanks to posted photos (and my work here on TLT) I’ve learned about all sorts of reusable packaging ideas, including these and these) and I do get ideas for the food as well. (I just had bad luck with “consumer acceptance” this week! 🙂 ) Thank you for commenting!
Sarah says
The best thing I ever read was by a mom who made super cute lunches for her kids. She said she is a creative, crafty person and since she has to make lunch for her kids every day, she doesn’t mind it taking an extra 15 min to look “cute” be it lets her be creative. Killing two bits with one stone. Her blog is Wendolonia. That stance I totally get.
As for me, my kids are still K and under and only go to school for 4 hrs a day. They have snack time and aren’t huge eaters, so I don’t pack that much. 1/2 sandwich, some fruit and veggies. Maybe a cheese stick.
I love to look at the super cute lunches but don’t feel pressured at all by them.
Bettina Elias Siegel says
Hi Sarah! I agree – if making lunches cute is your thing, go for it! Things only go off the rails when parents for whom such lunches are not their thing feel pressured to keep up. Thanks for your comment here.
Emily says
Oh, you make me laugh! I used to try to pack the cute bento for my son, and so often it came back with minimal damage and a very frowny face for embarrassing him! I’ve started taking pictures and blogging his lunches this year, since now he’s 11 and I’m struggling to find ideas for packing lunches for the older kids (size, variety, etc). So it’s more a running diary with the intent to perhaps encourage others – and I hope it’s seen that way by those reading it, and not as some form of mommy competition. :S
Bettina Elias Siegel says
That’s really funny, Emily! And as I said, I think a reader can feel the intent of the poster, whether it’s done to educate and encourage or whether it’s to show some sort of superiority. I’ll go check out your site now, and thanks for the comment!