The Craziness Revolving Around a Pink Lunchbox

My daughter’s lunchbox was actually inspired by the other Poche de Maman mama, who makes impeccable lunches for her kids. My daughter’s lunches pale in comparison, but all the preschool moms were impressed by the lunch box that is made by Sistema and can be found at the Container Store. Thanks Cathy for leading the lunchbox way!

The good thing about the lunch box is that my daughter, who is nearly 3, is very self-sufficient. She recognizes that it’s her lunch and knows how to open it and will eat it without having to be supervised or fed. I observed her independence and confidence with her lunchbox a few months ago: she stuck her lunch bag under her chair and placed the lunchbox on the table and opened up all the compartments. There are three compartments that usually contain fruit, vegetable and pasta, wrap or sandwich.

So after a two-week break from school, the lunch-making started up again. I discovered that her lunchbox was broken – the plastic holding it together had come apart which meant that the food would not stay intact. I knew if she discovered her lunch box broken, she would be in disarray.

I panicked. If I put my daughter’s lunch in Tupperware or Ziploc bags, she would be confused and upset and most likely would not eat it. The only place I knew of where to get the lunchbox was the Container Store, which was about 20 miles away. Because she needed to eat lunch, we duct-taped the box and just prayed that the food would stay in its compartments. And that she wouldn’t be asking her teachers why there was ugly tape on her lunchbox.

“I need to get a new one ASAP,” I told my husband. “Can we order it online,” my husband asked. “No, it wouldn’t get here in time.” My husband had to go to a different city for work so I suggested that he stop at the store on the way back home since it was on the way. My husband had to drive his colleague, a 60-something year old academic who’s sight is severely impaired, and he didn’t think his colleague would want to venture into the Container Store to pick up a hot pink lunchbox.

Instead, my husband picked me up mid-afternoon from the train station, which I spent an hour walking to. Together, we drove back 20 miles to get the lunchbox. My husband never has afternoons off, so was hoping to get a cocktail, but the line at the Container Store was long. We even had a fight in the store as he anxiously looked around for shorter check out line (he sure wanted that cocktail), and tried to call me, but I couldn’t answer my phone because I was carrying two of the lunchboxes (I bought a spare in case this ever happened again) and some other stuff (Christmas wrapping paper was 75% off), so left my place in line which was a mistake because he lost his place in line to fetch me. No cocktails today.

My husband thought it was obscene that we spent 2 hours of precious babysitter’s time to purchase a lunchbox for our daughter when we could have enjoyed ourselves. And then I realized the following day was Pizza Day: All that panicking and rushing…

–Eunice Park

Bento Box School Lunches

When my son started preschool, I had the usual apprehensions of a mother sending her kid off to school for the first time: will he cry the whole time, will he like his teachers, will he make friends? But one of my biggest concerns was “What will I pack for his lunch?” I like the idea of bento boxes – they’re so cute & organized. I adapted a bento-style way to pack his lunch everyday. I like having compartments which not only keeps food separate but helps me think about providing a variety of tastes and food groups. My son loves fruit so his lunch always contains a good portion of fruit. If he doesn’t like the rest of his lunch, I know he’ll at least eat the fruit. I always try to put a green veggie in his lunch, and he’ll even remind me if I forget: “Where’s something green?” I’ve tried out several food options and now have a repertoire of go-to lunches. Here’s what’s on the menu:

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-Catherine Lo