Back to school means, for many American parents, the return of the lunch box. The lunch box, which goes into school backpacks, is a classic in the United States. There are all kinds of them: rectangular, insulating, compartmentalized, plastic, metallic… On Instagram there is a proliferation of accounts that accumulate images of crunchy bentos. But not everyone has the time or talent to turn an egg into a little ghost, a sandwich into a big-eared bunny, and a tangerine into a Halloween pumpkin. Especially when it comes to repeating the maneuver five days a week, from September to June, which around 40% of families do on the other side of the Atlantic.
For Jessica, who did not want to give her last name, it is a task she does reluctantly. This New Yorker started it when the teachers of her two children, ages 5 and 9, called her to tell her that they weren’t eating anything in the dining room. “They are quite picky about food, she admits. But I thought if they were hungry, they would eat. Not really. »
Quality of food served at school, special diets, food allergies – there are many reasons to choose the lunch box. Although the vast majority of public schools participate in the state-subsidized national school feeding program, the issue is also financial. “The threshold to qualify for free or reduced-price meals is quite low, says Jennifer Gaddis, assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin. Some families are left out as they struggle to make ends meet. They would like to benefit from it, but they believe that it will be cheaper for them to prepare their lunches. » Eight states and cities like New York have opted for free access, regardless of parents’ income, but this remains an exception. “Every night it drives me crazy having to clean the day’s lunch boxes and prepare them for the next day, even though meals are offered at school”said sighing, Jessica.
“It has become routine”
One thing’s for sure: packing a lunch box can quickly become a headache. Some do it at night, taking advantage of the remains of dinner, others in the morning, preparing a sandwich that they complete with fruits and vegetables. Despite the desire to do it right, the temptation to turn to processed and pre-packaged foods can be strong, especially when you are trying to feed multiple children and there is no time.
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