To Pack or Not To Pack?

Ah the age-old dilemma that plagues school aged families; shall we pack a lunch for school or have school lunch? Hot lunch or cold lunch? What would I even pack? What is for school lunch tomorrow? Will you eat it? 

Some things you should consider when you are pondering whether to pack or not:

To Pack

Pros	Cons
You are in control of the types of foods and quality of foods your child eats	Need “lunch foods” stocked in fridge
Your child can choose what they want	Have to shop for the foods
Your child can pack their own lunch	Packing a lunch every school day
You will know what your child eats and doesn’t eat	Washing the lunch containers
Lunch can be a variety of foods	It takes a little time out of your day
A well-balanced healthy meal is provided
Your child gets to pick their own lunchbox
Your child has to learn responsibility for bringing their lunch to and from school.
Your child learns a lifelong skill - packing a healthy lunch!
You can meet your child’s specific dietary needs with ease

Not To Pack (Choosing School Lunch)

Pros	Cons
Don’t have to think/worry about it, school takes care of it	The food provided is void of valuable nutrition
No lunch dishes to clean	No choice in what kids are eating, you get what you get
No lunchbox to keep track of	It is expensive
It is easy	School lunch is oftentimes gross
	A well-balanced meal is not provided
	The average school lunch has 11g of added sugar in it!
	You have no idea what your child is eating and what they’re throwing away
	Child learns a life habit of going out to eat for lunch
	It is a challenge to meet child-specific dietary needs

Let’s unpack the main reason choosing school lunch is not an option for your child; the food provided is unhealthy!

Many school lunches are dominated by processed foods that are high in sodium, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives. Processed meats (like hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and pepperoni) and pre-packaged snacks often make up a significant portion of these meals. These foods contribute to poor dietary habits and can lead to long-term health issues like obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.* 

Meanwhile there are many benefits to packing a school lunch. I believe the main benefit is

being in control of the type, quality and quantity of foods your child eats for lunch. This is worth any of the cons listed above. Ensuring that your child gets the proper lunch nutrition is investing in their health and future health. By choosing to pack a lunch your child can have a say in their food choice and learn what a healthy lunch looks like. They will be practicing a life-long skill that will carry them into adulthood. Think of all the adults that eat out every day, your child will not be in the same habit. This will help them to be healthy and save some money along the way. 

Now is it possible? Can you navigate the school lunch packing every day? Yes it is and yes you can! My children have never had a school lunch. We have packed a lunch every day for eleven years. It started out with me packing it, then they started helping and learning, and now they pack their own lunches.

Some tips to consider: 

1. Pack the lunches the afternoon/evening before. (We prefer the extra sleep and the less stress of worrying about them than the morning of). 

2. Get creative! Lunch can be leftover dinner, sandwiches, salads, soup, charcuterie (the new Lunchables - ha!), etc. (Hint, my older kids prefer leftovers every day. I just make more for dinner and they pack the leftovers for lunch. Easy and healthy - win/win).

3. Buy a small thermos to send heated food in. Thermos Funtainer

4. A lunchbox that freezes is our preferred method for keeping the foods cold. PackIt

5. Lunch containers: choose stainless steel or silicone. I went with silicone so the kids can heat their food (my older kids have microwaves in the lunchroom). All In One

          Or LunchBot

We will share our family lunch favorites with you and would love to hear from you too! What are your go-tos for school lunches? Do you have any tips to share? If you are just getting started with packed lunches, what success are you having and what questions do you have? Leave a comment. We are all in this fight for our children’s health together and would love to hear from you and create a platform of community discussions.

*Source: A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine highlighted the high levels of sodium in processed foods commonly served in school cafeterias, which contribute to poor dietary patterns