Nostalgic Lunchbox Treats

Do you remember the days when the lunch bell rang, signaling the excitement of discovering the treasures hidden in your lunch box? Join me as I take a trip down memory lane, revisiting some items—some I’d rather forget. Along the way, we’ll also explore the iconic snacks and treats that fueled my childhood adventures and satisfied my youthful cravings.

As a kid, I preferred packed lunches because my mom knew exactly what I liked and sometimes added a special note just for me. My favorite thing to find in my lunch was dessert—homemade cookies, Oreos, and puppy chow were always a treat. The strangest thing I ever found was a sandwich with some sort of mushy meat and yellow mustard. When I asked my mom what she was trying to feed me, she told me it was pig liver. Funny enough, I later grew to like Braunschweiger and even got my five-year-old son to enjoy it!

Reimagining School Lunches: From Gourmet Creations to Practical Packed Meals

If I could create one school lunch item from scratch, it would be pizza. I hated the rectangle, crustless piece of cardboard they served, topped with ketchup and cheese. I’d make it with fresh dough, mozzarella, prosciutto, and portabella mushrooms. The ultimate school lunch menu would feature carved beef tenderloin with béarnaise sauce on dollar rolls. It would also include salty, crispy fried spinach, chunky lobster bisque, and a delightful pineapple upside-down cake topped with coconut sorbet.

I think the biggest challenges for any packed lunch are time and temperature. The food needs to hold its structure, taste, and mouthfeel for hours at room temperature. You really must consider how it will taste later. I avoid prepackaged items and anything loaded with preservatives to ensure a well-balanced and nutritious meal. Instead, I opt for plenty of variety and fresh, appetizing food. Proper packaging is essential to protect the food during its journey.

For a breakfast box, I’d like to see a yogurt parfait, a breakfast burrito, and an egg sandwich between two halves of a Krispy Kreme donut. A dinner box might include sliced steak between garlic cheese bread, a loaded baked potato wrapped in foil, and a deconstructed Caesar salad.

Even though we’ve traded our lunch boxes for grown-up alternatives and our tastes have evolved over time, the nostalgia of those beloved treats still reminds us of the innocence and delight of youth. I hope you can find some classic favorites and discover new tempting treats every time you visit our Arrow Senior Living communities. May you never stop making culinary memories.