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Home › Articles › Back to Preschool Headquarters › Singing the Lunchbox Blues?

Singing the Lunchbox Blues?

Part Two

By Donna Smith

Pages:  1  2  

Cleaning the Box

Whether your child has brought home a "science experiment" in his lunchbox or not, all lunchboxes eventually develop a funky odor. Ely suggests "good 'ol baking soda. Make a baking soda paste and scrub it into the box and let sit – maybe even overnight. Rinse well and air dry. It should be fine after that. If not, try vinegar or lemon." Be sure to rinse out the lunchbox with soap and water every day to keep it clean and ready for the next day's lunch.

Surprise!

Another way to keep the lunchbox exciting for your child is to hide little surprises in it from time to time. Stickers, a new eraser, a funny card, a personalized pencil, a "question of the day," a coupon from something special when they get home or a note are good ideas. "Notes are great, especially when you know they have a test or something that day – or even a flower is a nice touch," Ely says. Another idea is to send a questionnaire for them to fill out about how they liked the lunch you sent. This not only gives them something fun to do, but lets you know what they liked and didn't like about the lunch.

Don't sing the homework blues this year. Remember that nutrition is key when packing your child's lunch, and if you make it fun, they will eat it!

Return to Part One here.

More Tips for Lunchbox Success
  • Give your child a "menu" to look over that includes what you have on hand to send them. They'll have a ball circling what they want (read it to younger children and show them which item to circle) and enjoy having a say in what goes into their lunchbox.
  • Ask your child what he trades for if he is trading his lunch. That way, you'll know what he prefers over what you're sending (unless he just trades for the sweets!).
  • If you have smaller children, make them a lunch too while you're making your school-aged child's lunch. They'll feel "big" because they're eating from a lunchbox, and lunch will already be prepared for the day!
  • Keep ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise packets from restaurants for your child's lunchbox. Also save those plastic utensils and napkins.


Pages:  1  2  


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