How you can pack a lunch that a child will actually eat

"LOS ANGELES - For Rebecca Zeitlin, packing her 5-year-old son's school lunch is always full of surprises. Offer him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at home and he won't touch it. But pack it in his lunch with fruits, vegetables and a small treat and he'll dive in. He will "chow down" on applesauce at preschool parties. But if she served him applesauce at home, "he'd look at me like I was crazy," Zeitlin said."

""I think it's going to be real interesting to see what next month is going to be like," Zeitlin said. "I've got my plans for now, but when reality hits, his lunches might look different." For parents of children 5 and under, navigating school lunch can be challenging. Colorful videos fill TikTok and Instagram showing off creatively shaped sandwiches and neatly cut vegetables laid in bento box-like containers. Lunch box styles can make a difference, influencers advise, as they share school-friendly recipes."

Many young children accept foods at school that they refuse at home when items are paired with fruits, vegetables or a small treat. Early school routines can be overwhelming, changing appetite and eating behaviors compared with smaller preschool settings where staff monitor intake. Parents often prepare familiar go-tos like chicken nuggets or pasta alongside fruit and use creative presentation or lunchbox styles to encourage eating. Social media and influencers promote bentō-style ideas and recipes, increasing options and pressure. Simple, flexible strategies and adjustments based on a child's responses can improve lunchtime success.

Read at Boston Herald