Elaborate Lunches and Product Recommendation

So, I visited my daughter for lunch today. Today was the first day she was buying lunch and I kind of wanted to see what the set-up was like in the cafeteria, what it would be like and, of course, what food they would be serving, if they had a salad bar etc. Hey, I waited one week.

I’m down with packing her lunch but I also want her to get a hot meal so this is our best bet. I know there are awesome thermoses out there but this will also give her a little more independence and variety.

So I get to the cafeteria and I must say, they ran things pretty efficiently. They eat in groups so not all of the kids are eating in there at the same time. K and 1st grade eat together and leave, and 2nd & 3rd grade and so on. .  they also sit with their class, which I think is great. At my daughter’s school, they have lunch helpers who roll in all the lunch bags in carts and lay all the kid’s lunch bags on the assigned lunch table so the kid just has to find his/her lunch bag and sit down. There’s no worrying if your kid is eating alone etc. I had no idea how any of this worked so today was great for me!

I walked away with these things:

1. The kids have less than 25 minutes to eat lunch. So, if they are buying, they will have less time when they actually sit down and eat.
2. The kids barely eat at all. They eat just a little. Most of them are talking with each other, which I think is great. This and recess might be the only time for them to socialize. Hey, if the kid is hungry, he/she will eat. And they will soon learn how much time they have as they get into their groove and become more familiar with lunch time at school. . . at least I hope this is the case.
3. You can always give your child an after school snack as soon as they get home. They will not go hungry.
4. I’m not sure I am going to spend 20 minutes (or whatever) assembling an elaborate lunch (when I do pack her lunch). Maybe I’ll save these cute intricate ideas for when she’s a little older  . . ? The notes I’ll keep doing for sure. .  but maybe not the sandwiches shaped like butterflies.

• Roomy, insulated bag keeps food and drinks cold
• Large main compartment big enough for sandwich, apple and juice box and Interior mesh pocket for utensils, lunch money and more
• Adorable zoo face with crafted details and fun matching zipper-pulls
• Top handle attaches onto another bag or ZOO PACK
• PVC-free and complies with California’s Prop 65 for safe food storage