Trares
Something tasty has been developing at Anthony’s school over the past year.
For as long as he’s been going to school, I’ve packed his lunches in the morning. Packing lunch is more an art form than a chore, which I’ve learned from experience over and over again.
My approach has always tried to balance nutrition with fun with the food I’d pack. Sliced carrots and a container of fruit would be balanced with Goldfish or peanut-butter crackers. Sometimes, there would be something for dessert, to end the meal with a bang.
The problem with having me plan lunches is that I am an extreme creature of habit. Once I find something I like, I could essentially eat the same thing day after day after day. No exaggeration — I’ve had a bagel for breakfast and a turkey sandwich for lunch for as long as I can remember.
That’s fine for me; I’ve yet to get bored of that. But Anthony likes variety. Too many days of the same thing in a row gets tedious. And you better believe I heard about it that evening.
So packing lunch is constantly an evolution, as I try to find different combinations that both meet the yummy factor but still provide the nutrition that my wife and I prioritize.
Thus, it was a welcome development last year when, after some convincing, we got Anthony to try buying lunch from the cafeteria. I had fond memories of my elementary school lunch days, when hamburger day and pizza day were always a hit.
His hesitancy was understandable; he didn’t know exactly what to expect from the process and was nervous to try it.
But his first time through, Anthony loved it. He became a regular resident of the lunch line, buying any time there were chicken nuggets, cheese pizza and French toast sticks. He tried the bento box option, getting yogurt and veggies to go along with a dessert option. Sometimes, he’d buy ice cream if they had it.
Anthony even got a little bit more adventurous, trying a Thai noodle bowl or potstickers on occasion. He didn’t really care for them, but I was happy he tried.
His interest in school lunch has carried over to this year, and it’s been a relief. Even if he buys lunch once or twice a week, that gives me a chance to reinvigorate my packed lunch menu, putting together combinations that won’t bore him but still give him the energy to get through recess and third-grade math.
The process is working well so far. And that’s something that tastes great to all of us.
Ryan Trares is a senior reporter and columnist for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
