Love seeing the kids pack their own lunches. So many kids are grown and don't know how to survive without the help of their parents. Big high five to you and Dave.
Omg, I'm so tired of seeing YT moms doing fancy pepperoni & cheese roll-ups when there is food at school. I was a school lunch kid with a working mom. What are we doing to moms with all these expectations? Eat the free food at school, pack them with some healthy snacks - done and done.
Cynthia Well said. I totally agree. I just don't understand why you would go to all this trouble when they can eat in the cafeteria, pack a few snacks and DONE.
@@cynthia-n9w my mom packed my lunch for me pretty much everyday. I didn’t like hot lunch, hated waiting in the long lines. I always appreciated a lunch that I knew I would enjoy and my mom liked making them for me. I seriously do not see a problem with making your child a lunch… I’m a mother myself now and do in fact know how to survive and I love cooking and can’t wait to pack my son a lunch if he wants me to. Why can’t we just let people do what works for them and stop judging ❤️
@@ReadAndThrift I'm not judging anyone except society who is expecting moms (esp working moms) to do WAY more than they need to. Also, this channel is about frugality... so, there's also that.
@@cynthia-n9w "Free food"? Lunches weren't free in my area until recently. When my daughter attended a different school, the lines were so long she didn't have time to eat after she got her lunch. I pack her lunches so she has time to eat, and so kids who really do need the free lunches can have faster access to them.
My kids got free lunch most of the school career until high school (Mom got her finances right). But my kids would take food from home -- son would eat both -- daughter would eat from home and give her free lunch h to a kids who house hold was on the fence financially (parents made to much for free lunch but not enough money to buy lunch). Surprisingly my daughter would take extra food from home to feed other kids after her free lunch stopped.
My son did this too. One day a friend didn’t have lunch $$ or $$ on account so my son went through the line and got the school lunch on his account to give to his friend. When I picked him up, he told me about it and said he knew I would be happy with with his decision! Yes, I was! 😊
I was the same! I wanted to be the mom who had fresh baked goodies every afternoon, perfect IG worthy bento lunches for my kids, a house that you could take white gloves to & all the pintrest worthy activities. Then I was graced with an incurable autoimmune disease, a first child with special needs & food aversions, a husband who travelled for work and 2 more kids who are each 3 handfuls. I'm glad when the laundry is clean, the kids are clean, and I buy my fresh baked goodies from the store.
Smart mom move, Christine, allowing kids to pack their own lunch.🤚 The best gift we can give our kids us to teach them independence. I'm so thankful mine know how to cook, keep house and provide for their family. It doesn't hurt them one bit to have good life skills. 5 stars video!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well said Christine. Too much pressure is put on Mums. One of my daughter's lunch box was filled with carrots stick, caspicum other veges and fruit and a meat and salad wrap while my son's lunch box was sandwich, banana and what I called snacks. They chose their lunches and ate them. Kids are all different and there is no right or wrong.
I love that you let you kids take pretty much as much food as they want. I remember being in school and friends would come in with something like just a small lunchable and a drink and they were almost always still hungry. I also love that school lunches are free right now. Kids deserve to be able to eat. Everyone focuses better when they aren’t starving and thinking about food. 💜 It’s funny that I watched this because I’m 30, single and have no kids but I always love your videos. I watch them when I just need a little bit of time to myself to chill out.
Same here. It's nice in the warm weather. We usually have leftovers for lunch in the winter when we really appreciate a warm lunch. But the rest of the year and especially summer want something cool/cold.
I love that this video shows that most kids don't want or need the fancy, stressed we aren't doing enough lunches! My kiddo has taken pepperoni, strawberries, a container of milk and chips almost every day since kindergarten (he's in 4th now) and I have learned to accept it. It's what he likes, it's mostly balanced, and he eats it all, and in the end that's all that matters.
1- Green grapes are the best! 2- Store your Gogurts in the FREEZER! The keep better, stay colder longer, and it doesn't change the texture. 3- those salad kits are great. My 7th grader has been taking them since 2nd grade. Last year he had a classmate teasing him. He just looked at him and said "Real Food...."
I had the same dreams! Lol. My son's doctor said that I'm the "I talk to my kids" mom and she said that we are rare! So I'm proud of that! I'm always talking to my kids and they are all 4 boys from 21 down to 6. Don't let anyone say boys don't talk!! Lol. They talk my ear off at times! Love the video and it was eye opening to see how different your children's eating habits are.
My strategy is the bin system. 4 bins. They must take 1 item from each bin. When I get home from the store I repack everything into lunchbox size and put in bin. 1bin is mains, 1 bin is crunchy (popcorn, pretzel, etc), 1 bin is veggies, 1 bin is fruit. My district has free lunch all year for every child. PS I pack my lunch this way too.
Christine, this video is an example why I watch you every day. You make it real. Most of us had illusions of being the perfect mom. You think you accepted who you are. I want every one to watch this. You are so honest and REAL. And you DO so much that you are a perfect mom. Who else tries to save money discount shopping, traveling, running, marathons, clean house and children who all seem happy and healthy. You're doing great!
My vegetarian daughter packs her lunch every day. My other daughter loves the convenience of a free lunch. Knowing that they can both pack it themselves is great.
Been watching you channel for a while, but I just found this video. Thank you so much for the reminder that we don’t have to be supermoms who are perfect at everything! You’re such an encouragement. Thank you!
My two kids were putting together their packed lunches by the time they were 8. Like you, all was there to pick things from different catergories - sandwich, cheese/meat snack, crisps, fruit x 2, yogurt, cereal bar and a small treat. I just checked that their boxes were not just full of one thing they favoured 😁 I was a working mum, looked after pre school kids at my home from 8am before I did my kids school run, busy mornings sorted 😀
Thank you for that opening. I’m learning to let go of other people’s expectations and limitations. What you said was simple yet powerful and uplifting. ❤️
We have free meals here in Texas but on lunches can't bring anything peanut butter to school which is sad so many kids love it.if they freeze yogurt they will be almost slushie like my kids loved it.also the more lunch and breakfast plates kids get it helps with the figures so they can get free again next year. Thanks Have a blessed day.
My parents had to deal with 4 teens at the same time (3 girls and a boy), and then a few years later 3 more (all boys). Between the hormonal fluctuations and the growth spurts, our poor mother was run ragged trying to break up fights and keep us fed.
Pretty positive everyone agrees but Christine, you're the most relatable mom youtuber out there...you are cooking nonstop, love super healthy food but also don't demonize cookies and brownies and delightful things! LOVE THAT! I have zero problems with packaged snacks (especially now that I'm on my second kid 🤣) but would love to get a video on the frugal perspective of kids lunches/growth spurt eating/ and keeping on budget with a growing family. Basically, would love to know how you budget for the convenience of packaged items and growing kid appetites! Do you plan for this during the year or just cut back on other things? Not buy something else to allow for it? Trying to prepare for when my little boys are eating me out of house and home and if anyone has tips...its you! Thank you so much for all you do!
I’d been behind watching your videos because my little one went back to school and I’m so glad I watched this today. I was feeling horrible because haven’t been packing great lunches. So I needed to hear what you said about maybe not being that kind of mom but I’m another kind. The kind who builds legos after homework kind of mom and she loves that. So I feel so much better today. Sometimes we just need to hear someone else tell us we’re not failing our children. We’re doing the best we can.
I love how your channel shows real mom life and not try to make things complicated. Keep doing what you are doing and blessings to you and your beautiful family.
That's really nice that you told all the moms out there that message.Im old and retired so my daughter is all grown up with a family of her own but has a daughter my grand daughter that is a sr.this year.you are a very good thoughtful mom.many blessings to you
My kids are grown now and I miss those days. I loved making lunches and putting little notes and treats to brighten their day. One time my husband put real dog biscuits in my Son's lunch because they looked like Scooby Snacks. His friend's still talk about it. We always had fun with the silliest things. Hope all you Mom's know how much you mean to your kid's. Great job and appreciate this time.
Also, thank you for the Mother pep-talk. It was needed. Especially when you get online and see all of the beautiful organic creative lunches and outfits some kids go to school with. At the end of the day, do our kids get proper nutrition and are they loved. 👍 You're totally awesome
The "goat" years...aaah i remember them well. Constant grazing on EVERYTHING, food budget doubles, neighbours sending the kids home because they ran out of food too 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for the video. The night before school started I told her her budget and said pick whatever. She eats healthier than me BTW. She was able to get stuff for close to 3 weeks. Proud of my big girl!
The ice packs are meant to go into the bottom compartment of the lunch bags. Might help organize things a lil better for them! Things that you want to keep cold go in the bottom and then stack the rest on top.
You made me a little emotional at the end thank you for your sweet and encouraging words. We all need to hear that some times..It’s okay your doing a great job..❤️ Thank you!
I heard PB&H and my immediate thought was “peanut butter and ham” and I didn’t even think anything was wrong with that. I love ham, I love peanut butter. Who am I to judge an innovator putting the two together?
My kids are all grown but loved taking their lunches, and they looked like your kiddos. I love how encouraging you are and your upbeat attitude is always a hit with me. Thank you for sharing your life with us and your recipes.
I enjoy seeing your kids pack their own lunch. They know what they will eat, so it don't get wasted. I bought my lunch in middle school and took lunch in high school.
I am down to my last of four kids in his last weeks of school ever. I have done this lunch packing for years and looking forward to the finish 😀 keep up the great work young mums!!
I love this video ❤️❤️❤️ it’s just what I needed to hear, some reassurance that if my kids lunch box is not full of homemade stuff it doesn’t mean I’m not a good mom. I work full time and go to nursing school full time and have one of my kids with special needs. So needless to say time is precious around the house and I usually have my kids pick up things they like from the store instead of homemade everything
Yes, yes yes. My 15 year old boy wakes up at 4:45am for seminary, then school, then football...doesn't get home till 5:30! So we pack a HUGE lunch and he gets the free lunch also!!
Love that your kids pack their lunches. My Senior daughter will eat her lunch and if still hungry, goes through the lunch line. Free breakfast and lunches in our area (central Texas). She plays VB and softball. On game days the Booster clubs buys dinner. Don't feel bad about the homemade snacks. I make granola bars And the kids will skip it and take the store-bought. 😀
I do minimal prep work and organize it in bins in the fridge or designated drawers and them label it for how many of each section my kids can take. And then they just make their own lunch. It has worked amazing for the last 5 years. I also pre make sandwiches and freeze them for the kids to use as make shift ice packs to keep the lunch cold.
Christine, a few things. 1- no state wide free lunches here, WI.. 2- Black or RED grapes are THE best!!! 3- Your kids lunches look similar to mine. Every morning the kids pack their own lunches utilizing some packaged snacks and some put it together on your own stuff. The 7 yr old is really good at packing it herself. The older kids can even pack microwavable meals, and are enjoying that option. Some days I set out some "use me up, would you please," "ideas". Other days they just hit the kitchen like pirates raiding for treasure. Fantastic video as usual!
As my kids age I put the lunch responsibility on them. Yes I will make some of their lunches. Or put stuff in the fridge and they warm it up for their thermos the next morning. They have unrestricted access to everything in the house as I'm already gone for work and most of the time they make decent choices.
Thank you so much for this encouragement!! I really needed to hear this today! Been feeling like a failure lately 🙈 And I totally relate to teenagers eating all the things! Thank you for your videos! Always enjoy them! They're fun, easy to watch and informative!!
You're flipping adorable!!! I love the PSA at the end. I'm not even a mom yet but it made my heart happy to hear it. It's a good reminder that we all have different talents and we all succeed in different ways. Thanks for your fun videos.
@frugalfitmom A 2 bread-end sandwich !! He's my guy.. I love that so much, i once went to the bakery just to inquire if i could buy a couple loafs of just the ends of the loafs. They said they could do that, then the girls says.... Why don't you just buy buns OMG... life changing moment for me. From that day forward, i buy the bulk 24 pack of in-house buns, and keep them in the freezer, cause they thaw really fast, and stay fresh longer too.
Where I live, we don't do schoollunch. I love the pack your own stuff too. My teens get more (whole-wheat) bread than in this video. At least 4 slices for lunch. (Some of them hate breakfast, or wake up too late for a proper meal.) Boys go even up to 6 to 10 slices at a certain point. At least 1 sandwich with savory (meat, cheese, sandwich spread, egg salade), so 1 sandwich with butter and sweet stuff (jam, chocolate spread). Fills them up better, and saves a lot on treats, like crackers, that taste nice, but does not give them a full tummy, and has too much salt or sugar usually. Their treats are 1 piece of milk based something (custard, cheese, yoghurt drink, etc) a handy fruit (appel, banana) and a veg (cucumber, carrot, etc, or lettuce and tomato on the sandwich). And their water bottle, sometimes with some flavor. (But I need tips of how to not loose the bottles and jars!) The athletes get a packet of dried soup, to mix up with hot water at the event. Sweaty kids need a little salt. Some juice for immediate energy. And a cold pasta or potato salade (which is wonderful to put all kinds of extra cooked or leftover stuff in). Not in any way it looks like bento. It more looks like a survival kit, they drag with them. (If they don't forget to take it...)
1) this is wayyyyy more variety than we had growing up, ha and 2) some good ideas for my lunches now while I am having morning sickness and have to nibble over the hours
I miss having it easy with PB&&J, my oldest son developed nut allergies at 12 and our school doesn't allow peanut butter anything for lunches because of several kids with allergies. That's okay, there's plenty of yummy and easy lunches. Good job Christine! By the way you are the cool, outdoors, adventurous, bike riding mom. We all have our own gifts in different ways!
I love that you let your kid made a nutella sandwich. I feel like I would freak out but I realized that your kid made their own lunch and took care of his own meal and that is awesome. Maybe not an everyday occurrence but once and a while no big deal. I hope I can remember this when my son is your sons age!!
Me and my 5 older siblings went to Catholic elementary and high school. Blessed to have have had the free lunch program. We ate at school everyday and if there was enough bread, made a pb&j while doing homework in the afternoon. Not much funds for any snacks besides that. But I was full all day and never once envied other kids who decided to bring lunch.... honestly looked like a hassle!
You can use a frozen juice box or juice pouch as a freezer pack in a lunch. If they want a little extra drink in the afternoon they can drink it in slushy form.
I always feel bad since my kids packed lunch is almost the same thing everyday. But then I remember that I asked her what she wants and she likes eating the same thing every. Single. Day. I don’t know how she does it 🤷🏻♀️
No lie. I took a cheese and mayo sandwich for lunch 4 days a week (Friday was pizza day) from kindergarten to about sophomore year. I could still eat a cheese sandwich everyday but as an adult, I remind myself that I require variety 😆
Green grapes only!!!:) A huge shout out to all of you who still make a lunch without sending peanuts/nuts to school . As peanuts/nuts can kill my son, I appreciate all the extra work others do to help keep him and those with allergies safe at school. Thank you all so much!
My granddaughter hates the school lunches, she's 7. Her mom packs her lunch every day, bento style so she posts them online. My granddaughter is kind of picky, not liking veggies and healthier foods but she loves fruit, which she gets 2 or 3 different kinds at lunch time, she loves peanut butter, which is a decent protein and yogurt which is a good dairy. I worry it's too much sugar but she is getting her belly full and it gets her thru the day. Her mommy can make sure she tries at least a bite of veggies at dinner time. Thanks for sharing Christine!
I’ve made my kids make their own lunches for school since 1st grade! I’m not doing them any favors by doing simple tasks for them. I just give them a few guidelines-a fruit or veggie along with their choice of sandwich, yogurt, chips or crackers and only a treat once a week and a drink. Sometimes they’ll pack a snack too. I also have made them fold and put away their own clothes since then! By about 11/12 years old, they wash, dry and put away their own clothes.
My, now 15 year old, daughter started cooking with me very young. Her Omelets are now better than mine. This came in handy when I broke some ribs and could barely move. She just took over cooking. And she did great! I was so proud of her, she was 12 years old and helping her mom. I think that we are pretty good team.
Christine, love your videos! I am pregnant with baby #4 and you inspire me so much. I have definitely cut my grocery budget from following your tips. Anyway, this is so random, but I remember in one banana bread video you said you can’t eat bananas raw…you probably have what’s called “Oral Allergy Syndrome.” There are certain foods associated with different pollen allergies and if you eat those fruits/veggies raw it upsets your stomach vs eating them cooked. Bananas are associated with a Birch pollen allergy. Just FYI!
I did the whole "fancy lunch" thing for one year (kiddo was in second grade in public school and homeschooled the rest of the time). It was fun and I enjoyed it most of the time, but I'm kinda glad that part of childhood is behind us. And it was just for 1 kid. If I was packing 4 lunches, there's no way I'd have done all that. Lol
My kids eat at school once a week but told me that school lunches used to be better, I thought it was the new district, as we moved. But, come to find out, that they were better, before they were free. I wish that they still had better options that they could buy!
We freeze our gogurts but also use a smaller ice pack depending on what else they pack. We also found some cheap sandwich boxes at Dollar Tree because they don't like their sandwiches to be squashed 😅
My boys get free lunches too but, luckily for us, they love it!! Our school district is awesome and makes everything semi-from scratch. It has been sooo nice on my wallet.
Hi Christine! Happy New Year! The Snyder butter seasoned pretzel twists have a little "bite" to them. They were just "okay" until I dipped them in Ranch dressing. The other new flavors are about the same. Good on their own but better with a favorite dip. Enjoy!!!!
Yes free lunches in our school. First day of school my son tried it and said it was horrible. Stale and not healthy. Today he went with homemade lunch. I need lots of lunch ideas on the budget! :)
My son's said the same thing! Middle and high school. We moved and I thought that it was the new schools, but my son was told that the lunch used to be better at the high school. I wonder if it's because of free lunches and the schools have low supply?
my kids have a packed lunches Monday-Thursday and then buy a lunch on Friday. I don't think its ever been anything super fancy so i appreciate this video .
My kids feel the same way about the free lunch. My middle schooler has last lunch and fewer options are left when he goes through the line and he often times has only a few minutes to eat. I’m so glad there is a microwave available so he can have more options, especially since he has braces and needs softer foods some days. Microwave mac n cheese is saving the day! My 4th grader will rarely eat a sandwich, so he packs a lot of home-made lunchables and snacks. The drinks are a bit challenging, a juice box is too little, a bottle of water leaves too little room for enough food and no matter how many times they ask, they’re NOT taking a soda to school, lol.
Watching your video makes me realize I may not be giving my son enough food. He’s 12 and can pack it in as well. He’s super sweet and won’t complain/ask for more so I need to make sure I’m giving him enough. My daughter played volleyball and she packed lunch/snack just like hailey. :)
Growing up as poor kids we got free school lunches and we were happy to have it. We never had brand name, undividually packaged snacks either. You say you don't make gourmet lunches, but to some kids those are gourmet. P.S. love your channel! Im always amazed at how responsible and well behaved your kids are!
I live in the Prague, Central Europe, and we mostly give kids seasonal fruit or vegetable, jogurt, home made cake or whole-corn bread with ham or cheese for snacks. Your snacks would be considered as a lot of exceptional treats here :). But most kids have a paid "proper warm lunch" in the school canteen which is financially supported by the government in all schools (soup, main dish like meat and potatoes, dezert - cake or apple). But we usually do not have too much for dinner, lunch is the main meal of a day. It is interesting how things differ across the world, your lunch would make kids here hungry :)
I’m a home school mom, but still enjoyed the video! My kids have pbj or pb honey often! Nothing wrong with that. You round out what you eat through the week. Growth spurts are so fascinating!
my 11 year old is doing the same boy growth spurt. i can't keep enough food around! Thank you for the end of this video, you are doing great too, we see you being the best mom you can be. Moms United!
Yes free breakfast and lunches this year in central Florida, my daughter eats breakfast at home and she wants to pack her own lunch, love your videos Christine!!
Yes free lunches in Nebraska, as long as they choose an entree, fruit/veggie and milk. But my teenage son typically adds on 2 slices of pizza, a muffin, and two more cartons of milk (not free) in addition to the free lunch. Boys! 😆 Love your videos, thanks for all the great ideas!
My kids take super simple lunches. Sandwich or leftovers Piece of fruit Cheese or yogurt Homemade cookies Sometimes we have fruit leather or granola bars from the store, and that’s about it!
Wow literally perfect timing I was just thinking oh man I have to grocery shop and I don't even know what to get for school lunches or dinners I'm so just like done with everything and also spending way too much money on groceries so I've been watching your videos this morning and I was like oh man I should totally just like see if there's videos specifically about that because I know there is but my brain couldn't think of ideas so whenever I clicked on your videos tab this video popped up like four minutes ago so thank you so much Christine going to watch it now hopefully get some ideas. Love you so much! A frugal queen for sure.
Great lunches!! Tip for the cold yogurt. Freeze it and it will be thawed for lunch. Also I used to freeze the juice boxes and they acted ad an ice pack and also were nice and cold by lunchtime! Love your channel!
Where I live in Canada we are not allowed to send anything with peanut butter or nuts to school due to allergies. I WISH we could send PB&J. It would make lunches so much easier. 😭
I'm not a mom, but your upbeat, go-with-the-flow take on life is so refreshing and why I love your channel. Thank you for sharing!
Same I'm not a mom either lol but I love her videos.
Also not a mom. Came here for ideas for lunches to bring to work. 😂
Love seeing the kids pack their own lunches. So many kids are grown and don't know how to survive without the help of their parents.
Big high five to you and Dave.
Omg, I'm so tired of seeing YT moms doing fancy pepperoni & cheese roll-ups when there is food at school. I was a school lunch kid with a working mom. What are we doing to moms with all these expectations? Eat the free food at school, pack them with some healthy snacks - done and done.
Cynthia Well said. I totally agree. I just don't understand why you would go to all this trouble when they can eat in the cafeteria, pack a few snacks and DONE.
@@cynthia-n9w my mom packed my lunch for me pretty much everyday. I didn’t like hot lunch, hated waiting in the long lines. I always appreciated a lunch that I knew I would enjoy and my mom liked making them for me. I seriously do not see a problem with making your child a lunch… I’m a mother myself now and do in fact know how to survive and I love cooking and can’t wait to pack my son a lunch if he wants me to. Why can’t we just let people do what works for them and stop judging ❤️
@@ReadAndThrift I'm not judging anyone except society who is expecting moms (esp working moms) to do WAY more than they need to. Also, this channel is about frugality... so, there's also that.
@@cynthia-n9w "Free food"? Lunches weren't free in my area until recently. When my daughter attended a different school, the lines were so long she didn't have time to eat after she got her lunch. I pack her lunches so she has time to eat, and so kids who really do need the free lunches can have faster access to them.
My kids got free lunch most of the school career until high school (Mom got her finances right). But my kids would take food from home -- son would eat both -- daughter would eat from home and give her free lunch h to a kids who house hold was on the fence financially (parents made to much for free lunch but not enough money to buy lunch). Surprisingly my daughter would take extra food from home to feed other kids after her free lunch stopped.
How sweet and compassionate. You reared her well.
Kudos to you for teaching her to share!!!!
🥲 I remember doing the same in high school
This warmed my heart.
My son did this too. One day a friend didn’t have lunch $$ or $$ on account so my son went through the line and got the school lunch on his account to give to his friend. When I picked him up, he told me about it and said he knew I would be happy with with his decision! Yes, I was! 😊
"I do make stuff!" Christine we know! we watch all your delicious recipes
I was the same! I wanted to be the mom who had fresh baked goodies every afternoon, perfect IG worthy bento lunches for my kids, a house that you could take white gloves to & all the pintrest worthy activities. Then I was graced with an incurable autoimmune disease, a first child with special needs & food aversions, a husband who travelled for work and 2 more kids who are each 3 handfuls. I'm glad when the laundry is clean, the kids are clean, and I buy my fresh baked goodies from the store.
Same here 😁
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Smart mom move, Christine, allowing kids to pack their own lunch.🤚 The best gift we can give our kids us to teach them independence. I'm so thankful mine know how to cook, keep house and provide for their family. It doesn't hurt them one bit to have good life skills. 5 stars video!!!
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Well said Christine. Too much pressure is put on Mums. One of my daughter's lunch box was filled with carrots stick, caspicum other veges and fruit and a meat and salad wrap while my son's lunch box was sandwich, banana and what I called snacks. They chose their lunches and ate them. Kids are all different and there is no right or wrong.
Where are you from? I have never heard of capsicum and had to look it up. Where I am from in the U.S. we call them peppers.
Maybe Australia...we call them capsicums 😀
I love that you let you kids take pretty much as much food as they want. I remember being in school and friends would come in with something like just a small lunchable and a drink and they were almost always still hungry. I also love that school lunches are free right now. Kids deserve to be able to eat. Everyone focuses better when they aren’t starving and thinking about food. 💜 It’s funny that I watched this because I’m 30, single and have no kids but I always love your videos. I watch them when I just need a little bit of time to myself to chill out.
I don't have kids either but I LOVE your videos :)
i’m 53 my son is 25 and i have no grandkids lol
This actually makes me feel better as a homeschool mom. We often have PB&J and my kids don't seem to mind it.
Same here. It's nice in the warm weather. We usually have leftovers for lunch in the winter when we really appreciate a warm lunch. But the rest of the year and especially summer want something cool/cold.
As long as they’re still eating it you can still serve it 🤣😭 no shame
PB&J is a classic lunch that has been well loved by many. 😋
I love that this video shows that most kids don't want or need the fancy, stressed we aren't doing enough lunches! My kiddo has taken pepperoni, strawberries, a container of milk and chips almost every day since kindergarten (he's in 4th now) and I have learned to accept it. It's what he likes, it's mostly balanced, and he eats it all, and in the end that's all that matters.
I took Mac and cheese in a thermos, lays and an apple every day through HS. I’m a creature of habit too 🤣
1- Green grapes are the best!
2- Store your Gogurts in the FREEZER! The keep better, stay colder longer, and it doesn't change the texture.
3- those salad kits are great. My 7th grader has been taking them since 2nd grade. Last year he had a classmate teasing him. He just looked at him and said "Real Food...."
I was going to say to freeze the gogurts too!
Yes, freeze the yogurt squeezers!
I had the same dreams! Lol. My son's doctor said that I'm the "I talk to my kids" mom and she said that we are rare! So I'm proud of that! I'm always talking to my kids and they are all 4 boys from 21 down to 6. Don't let anyone say boys don't talk!! Lol. They talk my ear off at times! Love the video and it was eye opening to see how different your children's eating habits are.
That closing was some unexpected kindness 😭💗 Thanks Christine
You are welcome!
My strategy is the bin system. 4 bins. They must take 1 item from each bin. When I get home from the store I repack everything into lunchbox size and put in bin. 1bin is mains, 1 bin is crunchy (popcorn, pretzel, etc), 1 bin is veggies, 1 bin is fruit. My district has free lunch all year for every child. PS I pack my lunch this way too.
Christine, this video is an example why I watch you every day. You make it real. Most of us had illusions of being the perfect mom. You think you accepted who you are. I want every one to watch this. You are so honest and REAL. And you DO so much that you are a perfect mom. Who else tries to save money discount shopping, traveling, running, marathons, clean house and children who all seem happy and healthy. You're doing great!
My vegetarian daughter packs her lunch every day. My other daughter loves the convenience of a free lunch. Knowing that they can both pack it themselves is great.
The intro resonated with me. I often struggle with the idea of what motherhood should look or be like.
Been watching you channel for a while, but I just found this video. Thank you so much for the reminder that we don’t have to be supermoms who are perfect at everything! You’re such an encouragement. Thank you!
My two kids were putting together their packed lunches by the time they were 8. Like you, all was there to pick things from different catergories - sandwich, cheese/meat snack, crisps, fruit x 2, yogurt, cereal bar and a small treat. I just checked that their boxes were not just full of one thing they favoured 😁 I was a working mum, looked after pre school kids at my home from 8am before I did my kids school run, busy mornings sorted 😀
Thank you for that opening. I’m learning to let go of other people’s expectations and limitations. What you said was simple yet powerful and uplifting. ❤️
We have free meals here in Texas but on lunches can't bring anything peanut butter to school which is sad so many kids love it.if they freeze yogurt they will be almost slushie like my kids loved it.also the more lunch and breakfast plates kids get it helps with the figures so they can get free again next year. Thanks Have a blessed day.
That’s a great idea to have kids choose some lunch items and then pack their lunch themselves. I’m going to try that with my 9 year old. Thank you:)
My parents had to deal with 4 teens at the same time (3 girls and a boy), and then a few years later 3 more (all boys). Between the hormonal fluctuations and the growth spurts, our poor mother was run ragged trying to break up fights and keep us fed.
Pretty positive everyone agrees but Christine, you're the most relatable mom youtuber out there...you are cooking nonstop, love super healthy food but also don't demonize cookies and brownies and delightful things! LOVE THAT! I have zero problems with packaged snacks (especially now that I'm on my second kid 🤣) but would love to get a video on the frugal perspective of kids lunches/growth spurt eating/ and keeping on budget with a growing family. Basically, would love to know how you budget for the convenience of packaged items and growing kid appetites! Do you plan for this during the year or just cut back on other things? Not buy something else to allow for it? Trying to prepare for when my little boys are eating me out of house and home and if anyone has tips...its you! Thank you so much for all you do!
I’d been behind watching your videos because my little one went back to school and I’m so glad I watched this today. I was feeling horrible because haven’t been packing great lunches. So I needed to hear what you said about maybe not being that kind of mom but I’m another kind. The kind who builds legos after homework kind of mom and she loves that. So I feel so much better today. Sometimes we just need to hear someone else tell us we’re not failing our children. We’re doing the best we can.
I love how your channel shows real mom life and not try to make things complicated. Keep doing what you are doing and blessings to you and your beautiful family.
My kids are grown and gone, but I loved your message at the end, I'm sure someone needed to hear it today.
Loving Haley’s hair! It suits her. I hope I spelled her name correctly. This was a really cute video of what the kids chose for their lunches. 👍🏾
LOVE:”Embrace who you really are”.
That's really nice that you told all the moms out there that message.Im old and retired so my daughter is all grown up with a family of her own but has a daughter my grand daughter that is a sr.this year.you are a very good thoughtful mom.many blessings to you
Ohhh my I love the end pieces of the bread that made my day. Excellent variety
My kids are grown now and I miss those days. I loved making lunches and putting little notes and treats to brighten their day. One time my husband put real dog biscuits in my Son's lunch because they looked like Scooby Snacks. His friend's still talk about it. We always had fun with the silliest things. Hope all you Mom's know how much you mean to your kid's. Great job and appreciate this time.
Also, thank you for the Mother pep-talk. It was needed. Especially when you get online and see all of the beautiful organic creative lunches and outfits some kids go to school with. At the end of the day, do our kids get proper nutrition and are they loved. 👍 You're totally awesome
Let’s be real here. Those moms are unicorns and likely don’t exist! We all pack lunches like yours and I love your ideas :)
The "goat" years...aaah i remember them well. Constant grazing on EVERYTHING, food budget doubles, neighbours sending the kids home because they ran out of food too 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for the video.
The night before school started I told her her budget and said pick whatever. She eats healthier than me BTW.
She was able to get stuff for close to 3 weeks.
Proud of my big girl!
The ice packs are meant to go into the bottom compartment of the lunch bags. Might help organize things a lil better for them! Things that you want to keep cold go in the bottom and then stack the rest on top.
You made me a little emotional at the end thank you for your sweet and encouraging words. We all need to hear that some times..It’s okay your doing a great job..❤️ Thank you!
I heard PB&H and my immediate thought was “peanut butter and ham” and I didn’t even think anything was wrong with that. I love ham, I love peanut butter. Who am I to judge an innovator putting the two together?
😂😂😂
Lol
I thought the same thing! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️😂😂
My kids are all grown but loved taking their lunches, and they looked like your kiddos. I love how encouraging you are and your upbeat attitude is always a hit with me. Thank you for sharing your life with us and your recipes.
You might get small waters, freeze one each day to use for an ice pack - water to drink and cold pack taken care of.
Great lunches! We like to freeze the gogurts. They stay cold and thaw by lunch.
Gogurts are really good to eat frozen too. My kids love eating them that way when it’s hot.
I enjoy seeing your kids pack their own lunch. They know what they will eat, so it don't get wasted. I bought my lunch in middle school and took lunch in high school.
I am down to my last of four kids in his last weeks of school ever. I have done this lunch packing for years and looking forward to the finish 😀 keep up the great work young mums!!
I love this video ❤️❤️❤️ it’s just what I needed to hear, some reassurance that if my kids lunch box is not full of homemade stuff it doesn’t mean I’m not a good mom. I work full time and go to nursing school full time and have one of my kids with special needs. So needless to say time is precious around the house and I usually have my kids pick up things they like from the store instead of homemade everything
Yes, yes yes. My 15 year old boy wakes up at 4:45am for seminary, then school, then football...doesn't get home till 5:30! So we pack a HUGE lunch and he gets the free lunch also!!
Love that your kids pack their lunches. My Senior daughter will eat her lunch and if still hungry, goes through the lunch line. Free breakfast and lunches in our area (central Texas).
She plays VB and softball. On game days the Booster clubs buys dinner.
Don't feel bad about the homemade snacks. I make granola bars And the kids will skip it and take the store-bought. 😀
I love how well fueled Hailey is as an athlete, and especially a girl athlete. Good job, mom!
I do minimal prep work and organize it in bins in the fridge or designated drawers and them label it for how many of each section my kids can take. And then they just make their own lunch. It has worked amazing for the last 5 years. I also pre make sandwiches and freeze them for the kids to use as make shift ice packs to keep the lunch cold.
Christine, a few things. 1- no state wide free lunches here, WI.. 2- Black or RED grapes are THE best!!! 3- Your kids lunches look similar to mine. Every morning the kids pack their own lunches utilizing some packaged snacks and some put it together on your own stuff. The 7 yr old is really good at packing it herself. The older kids can even pack microwavable meals, and are enjoying that option. Some days I set out some "use me up, would you please," "ideas". Other days they just hit the kitchen like pirates raiding for treasure. Fantastic video as usual!
As my kids age I put the lunch responsibility on them. Yes I will make some of their lunches. Or put stuff in the fridge and they warm it up for their thermos the next morning. They have unrestricted access to everything in the house as I'm already gone for work and most of the time they make decent choices.
Thank you so much for this encouragement!! I really needed to hear this today! Been feeling like a failure lately 🙈
And I totally relate to teenagers eating all the things!
Thank you for your videos! Always enjoy them! They're fun, easy to watch and informative!!
All of the kids are growing beautifully
I make PB&J on hotdog buns!
When my daughter balked about it, I cut it into thirds and called it “PB&J sliders”
You're flipping adorable!!! I love the PSA at the end. I'm not even a mom yet but it made my heart happy to hear it. It's a good reminder that we all have different talents and we all succeed in different ways. Thanks for your fun videos.
@frugalfitmom
A 2 bread-end sandwich !! He's my guy..
I love that so much, i once went to the bakery just to inquire if i could buy a couple loafs of just the ends of the loafs.
They said they could do that, then the girls says....
Why don't you just buy buns OMG... life changing moment for me.
From that day forward, i buy the bulk 24 pack of in-house buns, and keep them in the freezer, cause they thaw really fast, and stay fresh longer too.
Where I live, we don't do schoollunch.
I love the pack your own stuff too.
My teens get more (whole-wheat) bread than in this video. At least 4 slices for lunch. (Some of them hate breakfast, or wake up too late for a proper meal.)
Boys go even up to 6 to 10 slices at a certain point.
At least 1 sandwich with savory (meat, cheese, sandwich spread, egg salade), so 1 sandwich with butter and sweet stuff (jam, chocolate spread).
Fills them up better, and saves a lot on treats, like crackers, that taste nice, but does not give them a full tummy, and has too much salt or sugar usually.
Their treats are 1 piece of milk based something (custard, cheese, yoghurt drink, etc) a handy fruit (appel, banana) and a veg (cucumber, carrot, etc, or lettuce and tomato on the sandwich).
And their water bottle, sometimes with some flavor. (But I need tips of how to not loose the bottles and jars!)
The athletes get a packet of dried soup, to mix up with hot water at the event. Sweaty kids need a little salt. Some juice for immediate energy.
And a cold pasta or potato salade (which is wonderful to put all kinds of extra cooked or leftover stuff in).
Not in any way it looks like bento. It more looks like a survival kit, they drag with them. (If they don't forget to take it...)
1) this is wayyyyy more variety than we had growing up, ha and 2) some good ideas for my lunches now while I am having morning sickness and have to nibble over the hours
I miss having it easy with PB&&J, my oldest son developed nut allergies at 12 and our school doesn't allow peanut butter anything for lunches because of several kids with allergies. That's okay, there's plenty of yummy and easy lunches. Good job Christine! By the way you are the cool, outdoors, adventurous, bike riding mom. We all have our own gifts in different ways!
Your kids are so awesome!! Growing so fast! Can't believe how tall Hailey has gotten. She's gorgeous! Your whole family is fabulous!
You are amazing! As long as the kids are happy and healthy that all that matters.
I love that you let your kid made a nutella sandwich. I feel like I would freak out but I realized that your kid made their own lunch and took care of his own meal and that is awesome. Maybe not an everyday occurrence but once and a while no big deal. I hope I can remember this when my son is your sons age!!
Me and my 5 older siblings went to Catholic elementary and high school. Blessed to have have had the free lunch program. We ate at school everyday and if there was enough bread, made a pb&j while doing homework in the afternoon. Not much funds for any snacks besides that. But I was full all day and never once envied other kids who decided to bring lunch.... honestly looked like a hassle!
I love that they are very good at putting their lunches together and still having the diet balance you have taught them well!
You can use a frozen juice box or juice pouch as a freezer pack in a lunch. If they want a little extra drink in the afternoon they can drink it in slushy form.
I always feel bad since my kids packed lunch is almost the same thing everyday. But then I remember that I asked her what she wants and she likes eating the same thing every. Single. Day. I don’t know how she does it 🤷🏻♀️
No lie. I took a cheese and mayo sandwich for lunch 4 days a week (Friday was pizza day) from kindergarten to about sophomore year. I could still eat a cheese sandwich everyday but as an adult, I remind myself that I require variety 😆
I love your videos! Thank you for sharing your and your family's life with us.
Green grapes only!!!:) A huge shout out to all of you who still make a lunch without sending peanuts/nuts to school . As peanuts/nuts can kill my son, I appreciate all the extra work others do to help keep him and those with allergies safe at school. Thank you all so much!
My granddaughter hates the school lunches, she's 7. Her mom packs her lunch every day, bento style so she posts them online. My granddaughter is kind of picky, not liking veggies and healthier foods but she loves fruit, which she gets 2 or 3 different kinds at lunch time, she loves peanut butter, which is a decent protein and yogurt which is a good dairy. I worry it's too much sugar but she is getting her belly full and it gets her thru the day. Her mommy can make sure she tries at least a bite of veggies at dinner time. Thanks for sharing Christine!
I’ve made my kids make their own lunches for school since 1st grade! I’m not doing them any favors by doing simple tasks for them. I just give them a few guidelines-a fruit or veggie along with their choice of sandwich, yogurt, chips or crackers and only a treat once a week and a drink. Sometimes they’ll pack a snack too. I also have made them fold and put away their own clothes since then! By about 11/12 years old, they wash, dry and put away their own clothes.
My, now 15 year old, daughter started cooking with me very young. Her Omelets are now better than mine. This came in handy when I broke some ribs and could barely move. She just took over cooking. And she did great! I was so proud of her, she was 12 years old and helping her mom. I think that we are pretty good team.
Christine, next time get the Kirkland Organic Strawberry Jam from Costco - it's sooo much better than Smuckers!
Thanks, it was just what I needed, to not feel guilty about school lunches and taking some of the pressure off!
Love from Canada! 🇨🇦
Christine, love your videos! I am pregnant with baby #4 and you inspire me so much. I have definitely cut my grocery budget from following your tips. Anyway, this is so random, but I remember in one banana bread video you said you can’t eat bananas raw…you probably have what’s called “Oral Allergy Syndrome.” There are certain foods associated with different pollen allergies and if you eat those fruits/veggies raw it upsets your stomach vs eating them cooked. Bananas are associated with a Birch pollen allergy. Just FYI!
I did the whole "fancy lunch" thing for one year (kiddo was in second grade in public school and homeschooled the rest of the time). It was fun and I enjoyed it most of the time, but I'm kinda glad that part of childhood is behind us. And it was just for 1 kid. If I was packing 4 lunches, there's no way I'd have done all that. Lol
My kids eat at school once a week but told me that
school lunches used to be better, I thought it was the new district, as we moved.
But, come to find out, that they were better, before they were free. I wish that they still had better options that they could buy!
Thank you for the validation, that was nice to hear. Mom's (me) can be hard on ourselves. Have a great weekend 😊.
We freeze our gogurts but also use a smaller ice pack depending on what else they pack. We also found some cheap sandwich boxes at Dollar Tree because they don't like their sandwiches to be squashed 😅
My boys get free lunches too but, luckily for us, they love it!! Our school district is awesome and makes everything semi-from scratch. It has been sooo nice on my wallet.
Hi Christine! Happy New Year! The Snyder butter seasoned pretzel twists have a little "bite" to them. They were just "okay" until I dipped them in Ranch dressing. The other new flavors are about the same. Good on their own but better with a favorite dip. Enjoy!!!!
Yes free lunches in our school. First day of school my son tried it and said it was horrible. Stale and not healthy. Today he went with homemade lunch. I need lots of lunch ideas on the budget! :)
My son's said the same thing! Middle and high school. We moved and I thought that it was the new schools, but my son was told that the lunch used to be better at the high school.
I wonder if it's because of free lunches and the schools have low supply?
@@KatEL777 I think it's both... supply chain is broken, so schools get what they can, plus quality of products went down.
There was an Aldi ad during this video with a “shout out and picture of Jenn Chapin! So cool!
my kids have a packed lunches Monday-Thursday and then buy a lunch on Friday. I don't think its ever been anything super fancy so i appreciate this video .
My kids feel the same way about the free lunch.
My middle schooler has last lunch and fewer options are left when he goes through the line and he often times has only a few minutes to eat. I’m so glad there is a microwave available so he can have more options, especially since he has braces and needs softer foods some days. Microwave mac n cheese is saving the day!
My 4th grader will rarely eat a sandwich, so he packs a lot of home-made lunchables and snacks.
The drinks are a bit challenging, a juice box is too little, a bottle of water leaves too little room for enough food and no matter how many times they ask, they’re NOT taking a soda to school, lol.
Watching your video makes me realize I may not be giving my son enough food. He’s 12 and can pack it in as well. He’s super sweet and won’t complain/ask for more so I need to make sure I’m giving him enough. My daughter played volleyball and she packed lunch/snack just like hailey. :)
Growing up as poor kids we got free school lunches and we were happy to have it. We never had brand name, undividually packaged snacks either. You say you don't make gourmet lunches, but to some kids those are gourmet. P.S. love your channel! Im always amazed at how responsible and well behaved your kids are!
I live in the Prague, Central Europe, and we mostly give kids seasonal fruit or vegetable, jogurt, home made cake or whole-corn bread with ham or cheese for snacks. Your snacks would be considered as a lot of exceptional treats here :). But most kids have a paid "proper warm lunch" in the school canteen which is financially supported by the government in all schools (soup, main dish like meat and potatoes, dezert - cake or apple). But we usually do not have too much for dinner, lunch is the main meal of a day. It is interesting how things differ across the world, your lunch would make kids here hungry :)
I’m a home school mom, but still enjoyed the video! My kids have pbj or pb honey often! Nothing wrong with that. You round out what you eat through the week.
Growth spurts are so fascinating!
my 11 year old is doing the same boy growth spurt. i can't keep enough food around! Thank you for the end of this video, you are doing great too, we see you being the best mom you can be. Moms United!
Yes free breakfast and lunches this year in central Florida, my daughter eats breakfast at home and she wants to pack her own lunch, love your videos Christine!!
Yes free lunches in Nebraska, as long as they choose an entree, fruit/veggie and milk. But my teenage son typically adds on 2 slices of pizza, a muffin, and two more cartons of milk (not free) in addition to the free lunch. Boys! 😆 Love your videos, thanks for all the great ideas!
Love purple grapes...Green are ok
I dont have kids and I still love watching these vids. Keep up the great work 😁
Awesome! Thank you!
My kids take super simple lunches.
Sandwich or leftovers
Piece of fruit
Cheese or yogurt
Homemade cookies
Sometimes we have fruit leather or granola bars from the store, and that’s about it!
Wow literally perfect timing I was just thinking oh man I have to grocery shop and I don't even know what to get for school lunches or dinners I'm so just like done with everything and also spending way too much money on groceries so I've been watching your videos this morning and I was like oh man I should totally just like see if there's videos specifically about that because I know there is but my brain couldn't think of ideas so whenever I clicked on your videos tab this video popped up like four minutes ago so thank you so much Christine going to watch it now hopefully get some ideas. Love you so much! A frugal queen for sure.
Thanks for your comments at the end! I needed that encouragement. I'm already tired of lunches and we are only 4 weeks in to kindergarten! :D
Honestly, this has given me some good ideas for work lunches
Great lunches!! Tip for the cold yogurt. Freeze it and it will be thawed for lunch. Also I used to freeze the juice boxes and they acted ad an ice pack and also were nice and cold by lunchtime! Love your channel!
Bring back memories of school lunches. Thanks
Where I live in Canada we are not allowed to send anything with peanut butter or nuts to school due to allergies. I WISH we could send PB&J. It would make lunches so much easier. 😭
Hey!!! This notification always makes my day!!