Back to School: Crafting School Lunches Kids Will Actually Eat

We all know the scenario: you wake up early, work hard slicing, spreading, and creating an impressive, healthy, vitamin-packed sandwich—only to find it neglected, wilted, and mostly wasted the next day in your child's lunch bag. Is this a fate parents have suffered since ancient times, or is there hope for sending a sandwich to school and receiving an empty lunchbox and a happy child in return?

Let's start with reality—kids eat what they like, period. This simple rule can help you win over even the pickiest sandwich refusers: Don't send a sandwich with a spread your child doesn't enjoy. My dream, for example, was to send my kids with sandwiches packed with sprouts, lettuce, and tomatoes. But would my chocolate spread-loving children welcome such a sandwich? Probably not.

And so, the dream plan A was shelved until my children's taste buds matured, and plan B, or as I like to call it: "Waking up from the dream," came into action. It seems simple, right? Well, it depends on the child and who you ask. If you are like me and have a child who loves sweets, you might encounter frequent requests for a chocolate spread sandwich. From experience—don't ban this spread completely; instead, make it a Friday treat. On other days, try these ideas:

1. Tuna Sandwich: If your kids enjoy tuna at Shabbat lunch, why not on bread?! Try tuna with mayonnaise, but a crucial warning don't add tomato without asking. Otherwise, expect the sandwich back with the (justified) complaint "You sent me a soggy sandwich."

2. Avocado Sandwich: Assuming it's the season and you get your hands on ripe, creamy avocado—not a few kids will say yes to the green sandwich. Just a note—not every child likes lemon in their avocado. Again, just ask.
3. Peanut Butter Sandwich–If no allergies are present in your child or their school environment, consider offering a sandwich with peanut butter. I have a friend who got her kids to love peanut butter just by calling it *bamba* spread. And we all know bamba is in a league of its own. Try natural peanut butter first, or combine it with these options: jelly, like the Americans who somehow think it's a health sandwich, date syrup if your kids are still in the phase where they don’t realize it’s made from dates, or as a last resort - sugar.
4. Cheese Sandwich– Cheese and olive sandwiches may become a hit once they get used to the idea, and for some reason, many kids favor toast sandwiches, even if they are cold and rubbery by classroom breakfast time. Go figure.
5. Omelet Sandwich – Long before it became trendy, omelet sandwiches were a favorite for many Israeli kids. From experience, don't rush to add spreads and cheeses to an omelet sandwich. Many kids simply prefer plain bread with an omelet, and that’s it. Why? Just because.

Some Tips for Enhancement:

• To make the sandwiches more intriguing and enjoyable to bite into, try rolling them or cutting them into shapes with a cutter.
• Mix it up with the bread: try baguettes, rolls, pitas, or even wraps or tortillas.
• Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the new month, is a great time for the traditional chocolate sandwich, or just a roll with chocolate milk like in camp. Healthy? No. But it will never come back in the lunch bag.
• For a child resistant to traditional blessings, consider buying a special bread roll, and now there's no excuse.

And finally: what did you love in your sandwich? Were you truly perfect children who ate everything? Think about it and write to us in the comments.