Lunchbox

Vintage Beatles Lunchbox

My mother-in-law mentioned an interesting article in the Washington Post about lunchboxes… I looked for it online and sure enough there is a worth reading article that was published on Aug 27th.  (Thanks, Gran!) To view the article you have to register (for free) at the Washington Post. Registering was quick and simple and I love having access to the news without paying for it and having piles of newspapers around my house.

The article Angst 101: Packing Lunch is timed, of course, for back-to-school season and all of the associated stresses. The article covers briefly the history and evolution of the lunchbox and the options available to today’s family. There are choices to be made in the type of lunchbox, the type of backpack–should they match or would that make your kid a loser?  If we can’t stand Barbie and that is exactly the lunchbox your 5 year old wants, should you give in?  Plastic or Vinyl? Personalized name, or would that cause a kidnapping? Inner containers or just a plain old lunchbox? Obviously, there are many choices to be made, and thankfully lots of options. Keep in mind, there will be a new choice each year!

I think we all agree, and as the article states, that lunchboxes should be made of safe materials.  If there are lead-free and BPA-free products, it seems best to opt for those options.  Other than ensuring that the lunchbox is made of safe materials, I hope the decision on which lunchbox to buy becomes a fun search instead of a stressful one!

Lion Face Lunchbox

Deciding which lunchbox to buy is more of an immediate decision… what to pack in it becomes more an ongoing evolution of your effort and creativity.  The article quotes one of the most popular blogs out there concerning lunches and what to pack at Lunchinabox.net, written by Deborah Hamilton.  I fully agree with a couple of things Hamilton supported in this article.  Firstly, Lunchables are essentially losers. Although popular for their ease of use, they are overly processed food with waste-promoting packaging. Secondly, it is okay to be a Mom without the time, energy, and/or creativity to pack cool looking food art everyday. Granted, I think food art is awesome and kids who get spoiled with artistic creations in their lunchboxes are quite lucky. For those of us lacking the time or skill, lets all do our best and aim to pack nutritiously, if not beautifully!

If you are interested in viewing the full Washington Post article visit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/27/AR2008082701181.html