DON'T FORGET YOUR LUNCH

This phrase is probably the most important statement school children hear every day.

A recent newspaper article went to great lengths to encourage today's "foodie moms" to make supreme efforts to "pack a lunch with punch," an effort that includes not only lunch box contents, but also the preparation and appearance of the same for their darlings. The article includes SIXTEEN tips on achieving these goals. One example is to USE COOKIE CUTTERS TO CUT SANDWICHES INTO FUN SHAPES!! Wow!! Do you suppose my Irish mother would have thought of that? Not exactly.

In my high school years, Mother paid attention to my desire for quantity, quantity, quantity. I usually had several sandwich choices, like bologna (called Great Depression baloney, which it was), American cheese, or hot dogs. Or, if I was really fortunate, leftovers from the previous night's dinner that could be sandwiched -- perhaps green peppers and onions in oil, or my very favorite, spaghetti (with or without meatballs). Three of the latter made for a very filling lunch. Balanced? No. Yummy? Yes.

I remember my grandchildren talking about kids swapping lunches for something more appealing, which I never would have done. There is this story about a first-grader and his very first lunch, lovingly prepared by his "foodie mom." When asked how he liked his lunch, he said, "Oh, I swapped it for two bags of chips."

Enjoy your lunch.

More, later.