Picnics and Packed Lunches

Well it’s been picnic week in the UK this week. Still no idea who sets the agenda on these but interestingly enough it has coincided with my daughters switching to packed lunches at school.

I’m sad about this.

Sad because the school meals were one if the key reasons we chose their school. Sad that food is no longer sourced and bought locally. Sad that fresh bread is not now made every day. Sad that the salad bar has now deteriorated. Sad fresh fruit has been replaced with tinned. Sad there is no variety of food to inspire young taste buds but rather menus on a three week rotation. Sad that there are no fun food events to inspire and excite little minds.

I guess it’s because my girls are fussy eaters.

Fussy in that they do not tolerate bad food. Fussy because they don’t want pasta bake every day or vegetables that taste of nothing. Mashed potato that’s runny or chips that are floppy with grease. That’s my fault completely and I make no apologies for it.   I have spent time – a lot of time – helping them to understand what they are eating and why and exposed them to the food I like and don’t like to develop their taste, knowledge and debate for food.

So this week after four years of school meals (two of them great), we agreed that the girls could have packed lunches or ‘school picnics’ as we prefer to call them. I guess picnic infers a temporary state because I am sincerely hoping the school will improve again.

Our school lunchtime picnic

We started with a simple Frittata….

…Orzo Pasta Salad with Spinach, Peas, Cucumber and Oregano in a simple lemon and olive oil dressing with a few cherry tomatoes on top.

And finally a Cherry and Almond Muffin.

I think that’s a pretty good picnic and at least today I won’t worry that they are tired or lacking energy in the afternoon.

What are your memories of school meals? Does the school your children go to have good school lunches?