#BackToSchool: What do Children Have in their Lunch Boxes?
As the new academic year unfolds, it is time to focus on what kids take to school in their lunch boxes. What do parents and guardians actually prefer?
Pastries and Home-made Meals
Linda Tajocha, a Baker in Buea says she puts cakes, biscuits, chinchin, cookies and pancakes in her children’s snack boxes.
The mother of two also vouches for cooked meals like fried potatoes / fried ripe plantains with egg, spaghetti and plantains chips.
Dr Solange Tumassang in Yaounde is also for cooked meals. “Sometimes I cook food like rice, spaghetti, fried ripe plantains, fried potatoes, cakes and pancakes.”
Other times she gives her children bread with varied fill-ins (chocolate, eggs, minced meat, salad, beans, etc).
On days when she has less time, the mother of three opts for biscuits, yoghurt, fruit juices and pastries bought from the store or bakery.
As for Emmanuella, a mother of two, fried ripe plantains and fried fish with some stew, noodles, fried potatoes, potato hotpot and jollof rice are her best bet.
“I fry doughnuts and bake cake and give them with juice and sometimes biscuits. I used to fry eggs and ripe plantains or even spaghetti but they always brought it back because it was usually cold before break,” another Mother, Mary Nformeluh explains.
Water, Yoghurt and Fruit Juice, Necessary in Lunch Boxes
To ease digestion, avoid constipation and even balance the nutritive content of lunch boxes, all parents add some water, fizzy drink, yoghurt or fruit juices to their children’s lunch boxes.
Fruits, A Must for Some Lunch Boxes
In addition to cooked meals, water, juices, yoghurts and pastries, some parents insist on fruits.
This is the case of Vanessa Tohnji who indicates that her children always take fruits to school.
Dr Sharon Mbacham-Ngwafor, is also for fruits in lunch boxes almost everyday.
She explains that in her children’s school, they are not allowed to bring oily meals. Therefore, she focuses on doughnuts, biscuits and “Always accompanying are fruits. Mostly apples and oranges. Sometimes grapes and tangerines too, depending on the season,” she indicates.
In all, most parents vary the meals in their children’s lunch boxes so as to avoid monotony.
They also ensure the meals are as balanced as possible to ensure the steady growth of their children.
Eleanor Ayuketah Ngochi