#1 Best Idea for Homeschool Lunches
Sometimes it’s the little things. And we forget that one woman’s small tip is another woman’s life-changing idea. Recently a mom thanked me for something I said a year ago in a session at the Homeschool Moms Winter Summit. It was a sanity-saving secret for an everyday occurrence, my #1 best idea for homeschool lunches.
No, it wasn’t a recipe. Our normal homeschool lunches don’t usually involve recipes. They consist of leftovers, sandwiches, soup, eggs, nachos, and other quick and easy foods.
The secret wasn’t a new organization plan involving complicated forms or menus.
So what is my #1 best idea for homeschool lunches? Here it is:
Have your kids make their own lunch.
Before you gasp and choke on your coffee, here’s why:
Everybody can eat on their own schedule. Younger children are usually ready for an early lunch. As soon as they finish phonics and math and handwriting practice, turn them loose in the kitchen. High schoolers won’t have to interrupt their studies to join the family at the table. They can eat lunch when they reach a good stopping place, which may not match the timing of others.
It’s one less meal for Mom to cook. I rest my case.
It teaches independence and cooking skills. The average five-year-old at our house learned to pull up a chair to the countertop and cook a quesadilla on the griddle. There’s a certain amount of pride and self-reliance involved in being trusted to perform an adult task. Bonus: they just might cook a mean cheese and chicken quesadilla for you, too. Butter two tortillas, slap some cheese and leftover chicken between them and grill till golden brown. Easy peasy.
It encourages responsibility. They learn to close the bread bag and put away the cheese. Each person is responsible for basic cleanup of his or her own lunch mess.
It’s one less decision for your overloaded brain. You don’t have to plan lunches and feel responsible for feeding the multitudes. Keep the kitchen stocked with popular ingredients and you’re good to go.
Kids get to eat what they want to eat. Within reason. We do have a few rules. The meal has to contain protein, and it can’t consist of mainly sugar. But it’s okay if they decide to eat a peanut butter sandwich every day. Most of us appreciate the autonomy of choosing what we want to eat when we’re hungry. Kids are persons, too.
It sounds so simple. But amidst the curriculum decisions and social pressures and school supply shopping, this little idea may not have occurred to you. Often our children are able to take far more responsibility than we give them credit for.
There may be a season of training and messes at first. You may cringe at the thought of turning the kitchen over to the troops. If you feel that you can’t trust them or that they’ll whine and balk, that’s not a lunch problem. Your homeschool will go much smoother if you deal with those heart issues, lunch or no lunch.
Less time in the kitchen, less planning, and less cleanup for you: it’s a win-win situation. Try letting your kids take charge of their own meal at lunchtime. It might be your #1 best idea for homeschool lunches, ever.
How do YOU save time and sanity in the kitchen when it comes to homeschool lunches?
Praise the Lord! I’ve been searching and praying for answers to our busy day of learning. I just might try this. Lunch is usually a very stressful time of day for me. The littlest is getting sleepy and ready for nap, and the older kids (ages 9, 8, 5) are at different places in their studies and can’t always stop in the middle for lunch time. This just might be a breakthrough for me! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
We’re so glad this article helped you! Thank you for letting us know. 🙂 It’s encouraging to us to know that we’ve encouraged you!
Praise the Lord! I’ve been searching and praying for answers to our busy day of learning. I just might try this. Lunch is usually a very stressful time of day for me. The littlest is getting sleepy and ready for nap, and the older kids (ages 9, 8, 5) are at different places in their studies and can’t always stop in the middle for lunch time. This just might be a breakthrough for me! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
We’re so glad this article helped you! Thank you for letting us know. 🙂 It’s encouraging to us to know that we’ve encouraged you!
I totally do this! My 12 year old tends to make lunch for her siblings most of the time. It’s amazing how freeing this can be. I use lunch time to clean up or shower. Then we can get back to work when I’m done and everyone is happy and full! Great advice, Charolette.
I totally do this! My 12 year old tends to make lunch for her siblings most of the time. It’s amazing how freeing this can be. I use lunch time to clean up or shower. Then we can get back to work when I’m done and everyone is happy and full! Great advice, Charolette.
What a great post! Why do we moms so often feel guilty handing responsibility over to our kids when it is in their best interest to learn how to do these chores and how to be responsible? I love your comment that it is one last decision for my overloaded brain. How did you know my brain was overloaded? Thank you for your thoughts! May God bless you!
What a great post! Why do we moms so often feel guilty handing responsibility over to our kids when it is in their best interest to learn how to do these chores and how to be responsible? I love your comment that it is one last decision for my overloaded brain. How did you know my brain was overloaded? Thank you for your thoughts! May God bless you!
Me likes. But how can I get the hubby on board?
Allow the kids to make their lunches and clean up. If your hubby still wants you to make his lunch, that’s ok out of respect for him. You just make enough for the two of you and he eats what you eat. Perhaps he doesn’t want the kids doing the cooking? Ask him to observe their proficiency as a test.
Me likes. But how can I get the hubby on board?
Allow the kids to make their lunches and clean up. If your hubby still wants you to make his lunch, that’s ok out of respect for him. You just make enough for the two of you and he eats what you eat. Perhaps he doesn’t want the kids doing the cooking? Ask him to observe their proficiency as a test.
Oh Charlotte! You just made my day! We’ve been doing this frequently the last while simply out of nessesity and survival, but I sometimes feel a twinge of guilt about it. Ok, no more! You just pointed out the great skills they can learn through this! Thanks! 🙂
Oh Charlotte! You just made my day! We’ve been doing this frequently the last while simply out of nessesity and survival, but I sometimes feel a twinge of guilt about it. Ok, no more! You just pointed out the great skills they can learn through this! Thanks! 🙂
At one point I gave each of my kids a weekly lunch budget (I think it was $3 each…which covered a day’s lunch). It was a great experience and took the planning pressure off of me. They quickly learned that some food is expensive! :-). They started putting their money together and buying a bag of flour, cheese, etc….and then they could afford a little splurging on some special candy, fruit, or Popsicles! :-).
At one point I gave each of my kids a weekly lunch budget (I think it was $3 each…which covered a day’s lunch). It was a great experience and took the planning pressure off of me. They quickly learned that some food is expensive! :-). They started putting their money together and buying a bag of flour, cheese, etc….and then they could afford a little splurging on some special candy, fruit, or Popsicles! :-).
Huh! Now that’s an idea. I just might give this a try!
We started this out of sheer survival, Amanda–and it’s worked great for years! 🙂
Huh! Now that’s an idea. I just might give this a try!
We started this out of sheer survival, Amanda–and it’s worked great for years! 🙂