VeggieTalk

First let me credit this photo right away to Jennifer McCann, who writes the blog Vegan Lunch Box. The premise behind this clever blog is that Jennifer packs these wildly creative lunches for her son everyday, then talks about the sources of the recipes. Oh yes, and she packs them in these cool bento-style boxes that were developed by two moms who noticed what a lot of waste is created by conventionally packed lunches. You can check these out at Laptop Lunches.

This blog struck a chord withi me at once. I’ve been packing lunches for my sons for more than a decade, and though my older son is off to an early college program, I’m still up every day to pack lunch for my younger son, who is in high school. I’ve long been an advocate of sending lunch from home rather than fighting with the school lunch system. And though I’ve written and ranted about it, I’ve settled into lunch bag burnout myself. I basically do the same repertoire each week (cashew butter and fruit preserves, soy deli slices on English muffin, blah, blah …), and though my son does not complain, I’m getting bored with it!

So Vegan Lunch Box has inspired me to make a list of ideas to end the school year in style. Its not a matter of more time, it’s more about attitude. It will take the same 10 to 15 minutes to make an interesting lunch than a boring one. Tomorrow, I’m going to send a simple potato salad, some apple slices with a great caramel sauce that my son made himself, and whatever else. Tuesday I plan on a stew in a thermos with some olive bread. Now let’s see if I can keep this up for the rest of the week (and maybe even the rest of the school year!). I actually have tons of good ideas in my own Vegetarian Family Cookbook, if I remind myself to look at it and shop for what I need.

Even if you don’t have a child in school, you will still enjoy Vegan Lunch Box.