Today I dealt with unexpected peer pressure. For the first time, Rachel and her fellow classmates ate lunch together in their homeschool co-op classroom -- not in the gymn with their families. Perhaps for the first time, Rachel realized her lunch was different. Her lunch was not fun.Rachel's lunch did not contain white bread, it did not have sandwich meat, nor any type of chips. There were no fun drinks or cool desserts (except for the homemade oatmeal cookie). Rather, her lunch consisted of a wholegrain bagel spread with butter, an apple and the aforementioned cookie. (She vetoed the cheese that the rest of us also enjoyed). Oh, and she also had a water bottle.
It's funny that I had the same reaction (though silently) two years ago when we started homeschool co-op. But the difference doesn't bother me, I'm the parent. But now I have a daughter who realizes what she has is different and not fun. She would definately prefer the other food.
I guess some more education is in order -- to make sure the kids understand why we eat the things we do and don't normally eat other things. I think some creativity is also going to be required. Healthy lunches can be fun (it just takes more planning and more time on mom's part).
I wonder what the kids will think when they find out I ditched the valentine's chocolates in favor of giving them dried fruit and nuts. I don't think I imagined myself as this kind of mother when I was a kid....
6 comments:
Last year, my kids told me that, "Some kids didn't like the snack we brought." I generally chose healthy things. So, it started young for us. :) But I will say, my kids ADORE dried fruit leather bars and consider them a real treat.
It's a fine line of making healthy eating "cool" - you are wise to think up creative, nutritious alternatives. Your kids will love it or at least some day appreciate it. :)
ahh... let them have at least one valentine's chocolate
Have her sit next to Miriam. She brought gluten free crackers, cheese, banana and a tiny square of chocolate.:)
You are doing a wonderful job with your family. I find that my kids as they watch their peers are looking for just one small way to fit in- whether it be a certain kind of hair accessory or a different style of shoe.... It's never as big of a concession as I imagine.
I have some 100% juice boxes (from Aldi- 8 for $1.89) stashed away for such "emergencies". Often at games the other kids are buying soda and I whip these out and all are happy. I think they just want to drink something out of a container.
My daughter tells everyone about her elementary school lunches, especially when I would pack a turkey hot dog (no nitrates, of course)inside a thermos of tomato soup. Whole wheat hot dog but was on the side. :)
My son was in public schools for a few years. His big thing he always longed for was those packages that have the lunch meat and cheese in them (Lunchables?).
Being ADHD, he had to stay away most processed foods but on a special occasion (such as a school field trip), I let him take one with him.
They made him stay on drugs, anyway (which is why we finally pulled him out of school and homeschooled).
mmmmm... Sounds like the whole area of lunch boxes canbe a bit daunting. Stick to your guns as long as you can and if you have to give in a little, don't let your other children see!!!
PS
something I did when Sean went to school was put a little love note in the lunch box just for him!!!
Maybe you can include stickers etc?
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