Great Big Lunch Exchange

The Great Big Lunch Exchange; Get-together puts a whole new spin on neighbourhood swap party

The second of a three-part series on feeding kids

Calgary Herald Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Page: D9 / FRONT Section: Real Life

Byline: Lisa Murphy-Lamb Source: For The Calgary Herald

I wake up with a coy smile on my face and think back to the activities of the night before. Who would have thought my neighbours would have come through as they did? Such hidden talents that had never before been appreciated.

Sure, there might have been some guilt felt by a few of the participants. Some people are more competitive than others. But were my buns really the best?

Perhaps my buns aren't the best, but they are healthy and readily thrown into a lunch bag. And creating healthy, kid-pleasing lunches every day can be a challenge, even when the fridge is fully stocked. Time constraints, fussy eating habits and lack of inspiration can get in the way of packing delicious, nutritious lunches for school kids. What many parents want is the ease of pre-packaged Lunchables, without the preservatives and fat.

"And sometimes," says Monica Hess, a Calgary mother of two, "you just need to get inspired by seeing what other mothers are packing in their kids' lunch boxes."

Hosting a lunch box swap party is one answer to the daily question of "What's for lunch?"

Recently, nine neighbours and friends arrived at my house, each carrying a big box of freshly prepared lunch items. Some of these women are full-time moms, some work full time, others juggle a routine of part-time work and staying at home. All have one challenge in common: children who require a daily lunch that is healthy, portable and fun in a world where simple peanut butter sandwiches have been forbidden and few kids come home from school over the lunch break.

Based on the idea of a cookie exchange, participants cook up a batch of wholesome, kid-friendly lunch items, package them into servings of six (this is what we decided) and bring them in exchange for items cooked by their friends. After a few drinks, some snacks and good conversation, each party-goer heads home with a variety of lunch box items ready to be frozen, pulled out and embellished with fresh fruit, veggies and other items.

Pam Best, mother of two girls, recently went from full-time mom to full-time teacher and appreciated the opportunity to fill her freezer.

"The selections everyone brought are not only nutritious, but easily added to any lunch bag," Best says. And what neither daughter wanted, she was able to throw into her own lunch box, ensuring she had a healthy nosh to see her through an afternoon of teaching.

For Cyne Johnston, a working mother of two, having lunches ready in the freezer freed up time in the evening to read, something she often runs out of time or energy to do.

But it's not just the parents who benefit from this kind of arrangement. The recipients of the lunches -- those hungry, growing children -- also appreciate the effort.

Kathryn Anderson, a Grade 4 student, reports that so far everything has been "delicious."
For the party, I made cheese and pizza buns and gingersnaps. What I got in return were several batches of pasta with vegetables and meat, chicken noodle soup, chili, an assortment of scones, cornbread and muffins, wiener wraps made with homemade bread, trail mix, chocolate oatmeal cookies and brownies.

It's made lunch fun for my boys, adding variety to their midday meals.

Jennifer Osmar, a certified nutritionist and personal trainer in Calgary with The Nourish Group Inc., says this variety will help prepare children for a full day of learning.

"Load the lunch box with energy," she suggests. "When the lunch bell rings, this is your child's one shot at refuelling. So serve a high-test rather than mid-grade lunch.

"Think long-lasting energy from wholegrain sources such as breads, bagels and crackers," she says. "Add a source of lean protein such as hard-boiled eggs, tuna, turkey or chicken breast.
"And last but not least, add a healthy fat to ensure hunger doesn't strike in the middle of math class. Think cheese, flaxseeds, avocado or coconut oil," says Osmar.

She adds the coconut oil is tasty, healthy and spreads just like peanut butter, a good alternative to the legume to which so many kids have become allergic.

Elementary teacher Jane Mowbray sees how important good food is to her students' learning.
"Good nutrition is the difference between children who can think and attend for a full day and those who cannot," she says.

The favourite part of the party, it was agreed, was that we thought beyond our own needs. Each of us prepared one extra package of food to share with an elderly neighbour who has not felt well lately, a family in crisis due to an unexpected life turn or a teacher we know who is buying groceries with her own money to feed those students arriving at school hungry. It was an opportunity to help ourselves, have an evening out and, more importantly, help those in our neighbourhood who could use a hand.

If a swap party somehow feels like cheating to you, nobody but those involved need know. Let others speculate on how you find the time to cook such fabulous lunches. It's time to come together with fellow neighbours, strive for the best buns and relax.

Tips for Organizing a Lunch Box Swap Party
- Determine how many are participating at least a week before the actual exchange, giving participants enough time to choose a recipe that will work.
- Determine allergies. Peanuts, of course, simply cannot be included.
- Determine what constitutes a serving size. For example, two cookies equal one serving.
- If you're invited and your child has a long list of dislikes, do not present the list to the hostess. Instead, think of a neighbour or a friend who would appreciate some of the pre-made lunch items and share.
- Label all packages. If you're ambitious, include your recipe as well.
- If you don't already have a Thermos for your child, buy one. You'll need it after a swap.

Illustration:• Illustration: Illustration by Pierre A. Lamielle, Calgary Herald / (See hard copy for illustration).
Idnumber: 200704180051 Edition: Final Story Type: News Note: This story features a factbox "Tips for Organizing a Lunch Box Swap Party". Length: 1475 words Illustration Type: ILLUSTRATION