If you’re looking to maintain even a flicker of confidence in your mom skills, steer clear of searching for “healthy school lunch ideas.” The first result will lead you to some obviously childless folks over at bonappetit.com, who think that a Grilled Asparagus and Gruyere Panini, along with Curried Egg Salad Pinwheels, belong on their list of “25 Quick and Easy School Lunches.” Apparently, I’m supposed to roast asparagus the night before or slice it into delicate ribbons, then layer it with gruyere and drizzle some lemon juice before slapping it in a panini press the next morning. As for the egg salad, I’m expected to hard-boil eggs, whip up a curry-infused concoction, trim the crusts off some bread, and create “pinwheels”—a term I can’t even say without sarcasm—secured with toothpicks on a bed of artisanal lettuce.
Listen, I adore my child and want him to eat healthily. Since he started preschool, I’ve rolled up nitrate-free turkey, sliced fresh veggies, and halved grapes to prevent choking. I’ve even lovingly placed dollops of hummus and yogurt in cute little containers with his name on them. I confess that during his shapes obsession, I cut his cheese into circles and squares—yes, I went there.
I’m all about weekend meal prep—think cold salads and casseroles—to ease the weekday chaos. But pressing a panini, hypothetically speaking since I don’t own one, while trying to manage a toddler who’s decided that 6 AM is the perfect time to be naked? Not happening. I won’t drizzle. I won’t pinwheel. The fact that I’m even using “pinwheel” as a verb is a total contradiction to my parenting philosophy. My energy needs to be reserved for the essentials.
Even if I weren’t a working mom, I doubt I’d spend my time pinwheeling. My own mother was a stay-at-home parent, and the lunches I remember were simple: a classic baloney sandwich on white bread with a thermos of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup, complete with a handwritten note. No shallots in sight. I never saw her concocting homemade pesto or grilling veggies for fancy Lunchbox Pesto Shrimp Skewers. She was busy reading me stories.
Plus, a wise commenter on that “25 Quick and Easy School Lunches” list pointed out, “Really, I don’t think you should send your kids to school with skewers.” Preach.
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In summary, while I strive to provide healthy meals for my little one, the idea of crafting intricate lunches is more than I can handle. Let’s embrace the simple and focus on spending quality time together instead.