I recently faced a situation I had been anticipating: my daughter, Lily, arrived home from school lamenting my lack of creativity in her packed lunches. My immediate thought was, “Oh no, has she discovered Pinterest?” Following that was the realization that I needed to tighten our parental controls to block such distractions.
It turns out that another mother—who undoubtedly has a Pinterest account—has been sending her child to school with meticulously crafted lunches, complete with charming Disney-themed dishes and whimsical carrot shapes. Naturally, Lily noticed this contrast, and my lunch-making skills were suddenly under scrutiny.
According to Lily, her Wednesday lunchtime was spent watching her friend, Sophie, enjoy a plate of Elsa-shaped organic pasta while she herself was relegated to a zip-lock bag of pretzels and a large dose of disappointment. This was disheartening to hear. As any guilt-ridden parent would, I felt compelled to give this elaborate Bento lunch concept a try.
I promised Lily an Olaf-themed meal, but when I scanned the recipe and saw ingredients like Japanese Nori noodles and edible modeling clay, I thought, “No way!” Preparing a lunch shouldn’t entail sourcing exotic ingredients from specialty shops. Between my busy schedule and other personal grooming priorities, I had to reconsider my approach.
After a couple of glasses of 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet, I devised a simpler solution to this overwhelming lunch trend. I present to you the “I don’t have time for that, here’s some lunch money” Bento Box.
Steps to Create the “Lunch Money” Bento Box
- Retrieve lunch money from your purse.
- Arrange the cash neatly and tape it down.
- Use a Sharpie to add a personal message.
Forget about crafting miniature broccoli trees or intricate shapes. The “I don’t have time for that, here’s some lunch money” Bento Box allows for genuine communication between you and your child. It can cover various topics, such as addressing worries about school or offering friendship advice.
While this method still requires minimal effort, consider the joy on your child’s face when they discover a note like this inside their lunch.
Even if your child doesn’t end up buying lunch, I implore you to abandon the melon baller and embrace the simplicity of a square cheese sandwich. Remember, you don’t need to earn the “MOM OF THE YEAR” title; in your child’s eyes, you’ve already achieved it.
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In summary, there’s no need to stress over elaborate school lunches. Embrace simplicity, focus on connection, and remember that your efforts are more than enough.
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