Not your mama’s 10-am snack

August 28, 2006 - 10:03 PM by Sarah

Our friend in Raanana cannot wait for her kids to go back to school, in less than one week . . . some things are the same the world over.

But she has a few words of criticism for this article, which suggests a variety of healthy sandwiches one could make for their kids to take to school:

Anyway, on the back-to-school topic, I had to laugh at this article with sandwich suggestions for the little ones’ schoolbags. (I should mention that it’s not exactly lunch- here in Israel kids get a 10:00 a.m. break, when they eat a sandwich + fruit/veg brought from home. They’re supposed to eat their actual lunch when they get home from school.)

The article doesn’t have an English translation, but head on over and look at the pictures. The first one is a tortilla, stuffed with one of the following suggestions (remember, these are suggestions on sandwiches for your KIDS to take to school):

*pesto, goat cheese, tomatoes, and peppers
*olive spread, omelette, radishes and sprouts
*avocado spread, strips of chicken breast, and corn

The article goes on to suggest other healthy sandwiches (on any healthy bread), such as

*tehina, maple syrup (!) and walnuts
*avocado, sprouts, and hard boiled egg
*goat cheese, PICKLED BEETS, and beet leaves
*humous spread (homemade, of course), roasted eggplant, pickles, and thinly sliced kohlrabi sprinkled with lemon and salt (but of course!)

Scroll down and you’ll see a picture of the next suggested sandwich-filler: a luscious roast beef, complete with recipe.

The last picture is a gravlax (like lox) sandwich, made with brandy.

There are more sandwich suggestions, including what to do with those strips of chicken breasts, but I think I’ve listed enough options already.

I think the author of this article made a mistake- she was supposed to send these suggestions to a news outlet for Beverly Hills or The Hamptons, right?

Is this woman serious?

A few problems with these sandwiches:

1. My kids won’t eat them
2. Too time-consuming
3. My kids won’t eat them
4. Too expensive
5. MY KIDS WON’T EAT THEM!
6. Even if my kids would eat them, they’re not allowed to bring meat/chicken sandwiches to school.
7. But that’s irrelevant, because they STILL wouldn’t eat them!

Judging from the comments to that article, most people agree with me!

I do try to give my kids a healthy sandwich (hey, at least I don’t use the dreaded chocolate spread), but it’s not easy, especially with my sometimes-finicky eaters. I usually send peanut butter, toasted cheese, white cheese, tuna, or, once in a while, hummous.

I can’t get over the suggestions in the article- they’re utterly unrealistic and often ridiculous. How many kids do you know who like BEETS? I wouldn’t touch that sandwich with a ten-foot pole!

tortilla

She doesn’t translate the comments, so I will (some of them). Some of them are too good to miss.

1. I’m not sure this is a good idea
3. What is this? A salmon sandwich or a feast for 10?
7. Now convince the kid to eat it . . . and it’s healthy . . . that doesn’t help matters.
8. Okay . . .
9. If you want the kid to kill you . . . give him food from this article.
10. Tell me, have you lost your minds? Steak for the morning break? What’s next? Beef bourginon?
12. Nu, are you serious?
13. Sandwiches for rich people.
14. Is that a school or a restaurant?
16. Peanut butter!
17. Sandwiches for the rich.
18. What kids are you talking about? About the most wealthy!
20. This is to punish the parents, who will eat what they prepared for the kids!
22. I have to get up at 4 am now to prepare the 10-am snack.
25. Are you crazy? How many kids like rosemary? thyme? beet leaves?
26. Thanks, but I’ll manage with a roll with cheese.