featuring GOOD FOOD MATTERS
I was introduced to the world of packed lunches the day my middle child started nursery.
After a year of daily lunchbox packing, there followed a blissful break when my 2 older children were in ‘infants’ – that part of schooling when you benefit from free meals. My 3rd child, a baby, finally rejoiced some undivided attention and maybe a few more elaborate meals.
September last year I found myself back on the lunchbox wagon.
So I proceeded to sending my eldest to school with a ‘packed lunch’ three times a week.
The first lunchbox passed, unnoticed – score! The second came back with the pudding not eaten. Not too bad – desert is not supposed to be that good for you anyway! But when the third time she told me that the other kids ‘made fun of my lunch – they said the green stuff looked disgusting!’, I realised I was being faced with a problem and had no idea how to solve it.
Here’s a range of lunchboxes I have been packing, then and ever since. My mission to send my daughter to school with a healthy box, uncurbed. My self-confidence, wavering. The doubt – in bloom! Is my child going to hate me forever? Is any sauce allowed in a lunchbox, or is even the least offensive tomato sauce a no-go? What is a lunch box anyway?
· Hummus wrap. Her favourite. Paired with a couple of slices of fruit and a small yoghurt – score!
· Pasta. One of those love-hate things. Loves it at home, hates it at school, as it’s ‘messy’. Even pasta and pesto is messy? And what is wrong with using a fork?!
· My husband makes a mean sushi. I was surprised how good these are for lunchboxes.
· Avocado between two slices of bread. Some call it ‘smashed’ avocado. I just press it with a fork. She loves avocado… but this is the above mentioned ‘green stuff’. Never to feature in a lunchbox again.
GOOD FOOD MATTERS
This week I am dedicating the blog to a small charity with big dreams. They rely heavily on volunteers and people working on a part-time basis. Each of those people is incredibly driven and powered by the mission of the charity – I know that, as I know one of those people personally. Her passion for balanced nutrition and starting children on a good path by teaching them healthy eating habits is infectious.
And now onto the charity. Good Food Matters’ guiding principle is that every child has the right to know where food comes from and learn to use it for their own health.
The charity is based in the London borough of Croydon, in New Addington. They operate from an eco-friendly kitchen they built and equipped themselves. Even more, in their garden they grow their own food, they have a greenhouse, keep bees and encourage wildlife.
The charity run regular courses for people in the community. They work a lot with the neighbouringneighbouring schools, teaching the children skills of growing and cooking good food. Most importantly, the trainers cook alongside the children and the dishes they create are joyous and innovative creations, designed together by the teacher and the trainees.
Lastly, this is a charity truly focusing on and responding to the needs of the community. They work in partnership with the local services in Addington and have engaged with the Youth Offending Services, with disengaged young people not in education, with children leaving care, refugees and the list goes on. Check out their website or pay them a visit!
And what about us? Our own journey is far from over.
My eldest still goes for simplest, easiest to grab-and-go food in her lunchbox. My middle pretends to eat the school dinners, whilst having a ham wrap instead, every day. My youngest plots the trajectory of her undercooked carrot to the most inconvenient corners of the room. But here are…
A few lessons I have learned about lunchboxes:
1. I always make too much. My eldest has little time to eat and she would rather play than eat anyway.
2. It may be her favourite food at home, if it’s not easily grabbed and placed in the mouth, it will meet with protest.
3. Wraps are better than homemade bread. Shop bought hummus, better than mummy’s own. This goes for anything shop bought in fact. There are days when I simply pick my battles. [or, like the other day… I go with the white lie: ‘Mummy, yesterday’s hummus was excellent! You’re getting so much better at making them’ – ‘Thank you’ and made a mental note of the brand I had bought.]
4. The lunchbox I am in love with. If you only get one, then get this one.
5. Variety. They might eventually discover they actually like green beans… Here are a few things I found easy enough to pack: boiled eggs, olives, tortilla, savoury muffins, falafels, pierogis, pancakes.
6. Don’t take it personal…. Who am I kidding? I still experience a pang of excitement if the lunchbox is completely empty.