I am just going to get this all out at the start. Lay it all out on the (lunch) table so to speak. I am ready to stop hiding behind the shame of those packets and out myself once and for all.
So here’s my big confession:
My kids eat packet food in their lunchboxes.
Yes, they eat snacks from tubs and containers bought from the supermarket and suck yoghurts from those little squeezy tubes adorned with cartoon characters.
Sure, they eat fruit, vegetables, meats and salads but no one seems to be interested in that. What seems to inflame the snack shamers of the world is those of us mums and dads who dare to cut corners and feed our children pre-packaged foods.
We say we are busy. They say we are lazy. And the snack shaming continues.
I’m going to further flame the fans of outrage by letting you in on a secret – here's what was in my son’s lunch box today.
You ready? I hope you aren't too outraged.
There was a Vegemite sandwich (as usual), some grapes and two arrowroot biscuits with butter slathered between them. There was also a packet of sultanas and a yoghurt.
Oh the shame.
Not a homemade carrot and chai muffin to be seen. Not a lovingly crafted bliss ball or an organic home baked scroll. In fact the most I did was put the Vegemite on the bread and cut it in half before throwing it into it’s plastic resting place and shoving it into his school bag behind his homework.
It was probably a good day if I’m being really honest. Some days there are Tiny Teddies; some days there are Pizza Shapes. On occasion the sandwich is cheese and avocado. At other times it's jam or honey.