As the third week of school ended, I’m feeling increasingly inadequate as a ‘lunch packer’ for my favorite girl. She’s had Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches for 4 out of the last 5 days. If this were a real job, I’d have been fired for sure.
Last year, I had to pack a lunch (always PBJ) only once a week or sometimes not at all. The Würzburg cafeteria offered more non-meat options and they also allowed the children to order a salad instead of the main meal.
FG decided a couple years ago that she wanted to be a vegetarian which, being a non-meat eater myself, was not a problem with me. It’s not difficult to get her the nutrition she needs when she’s at home since she loves beans, spinach, cheeses, broccoli, salads, etc. The school here doesn’t have veggie friendly options so I am having to pack a lunch every day. The problem for me is packing items in a way that’s easy to transport, will stay fresh and easy for her to eat in the 15 minutes they allow for lunch. Broccoli is so much better freshly steamed ~ not sitting around for a few hours.
Thankfully, before we moved to Guam, my mother set us up for life with Tupperware containers so the storage of items isn’t the problem, it’s what to put in the container that has me stumped.
While searching the blog world for some much needed inspiration, I came across a couple of lunchbox sites ~ who knew you could dedicate a whole blog to packed lunches. If I can’t find inspiration at these sites then there’s no hope for FG’s lunches. If anyone else is having lunch box block, check out The Tiffin Tin and The Vegan Lunchbox.
Displaced Beachbums 
Hi Patti-
I check on y’all often, even though I must admit savannah is pretty close to paradise too!
But what I wanted to say is: welcome in my shoes! I have packed a lunch for my student EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DAY since she started kindergarten. And yes, she is a picky eater, not vegetarian but that does not make it much easier. I can not send her with left-overs here because they can not reheat anything. I will definetly check out the websites for inspiration. Anyway, she has allready threatened to pick a college near us so I can ALWAYS pack her lunchbag.
Kay
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How nice to get out at 11:30! I’d like a schedule like that. Patti — I’ve been enjoying browsing through your blog. When I was a child we lived in Germany (my father was in the Air Force). I loved it there. Best, BL
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I too had that problem, although mine is not a vegetarian, just a picky eater! She was not one for PB&J,tuna or lunch meats(all the harder to find something to pack) always wanted something heated. I’d been to the cafeterias here, I wouldn’t eat the food either. Soggy french fries, dead roaches in the corner). Wish I had known about the Tiffin Tin back then. We packed a lot of Pizza lunchables in those days. She started packing her own about 6 yrs. ago, and thank goodness this year she gets out at 11:30. Just in time for lunch!
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Thanks BL ~ I never thought of it as comforting only as boring. I like your perspective much better 🙂 I didn’t cringe this morning when she asked for PB&J AGAIN after I gave her several alternatives and I made sure there were lots of fun side treats that she loves i.e. grapes, wheat crackers, etc.
BTW ~ love your writing and will check on your blogs often.
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Hi Patty — I’m thrilled to have found your blog. I’ve always wanted to live in a lovely island paradise, and now I can indulge my fantasy that I actually do, without having to pack up my house and move.
As for lunches, some children are enormously comforted by finding the same thing in their lunchbox every day. And if that’s the case, then there’s no fighting it. You can surround that PB&J with other yummy things: fruit, veggies with some kind of dip (or not), trail mix, a whole wheat muffin, yougurt, whatever interests you or your daughter. You can get her involved in that endeavor too, and at some point she’ll be packing her own lunches, which is the goal!
Best, BL (she of the weirdly obsessive (but fun to write) Tiffin Tin).
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