Confessions of a Welfare Mom
Today I bought Lunchables for my daughter.
Not for a special occasion, or a field trip, or because I was out of both groceries and time to fill her lunchbox with a nutritious, well balanced meal. No. I bought more than a week’s worth of these nutritional abominations, and I did it with, if not a song in my heart, very little remorse because they were cheap.
I usually avoid the lure of the Lunchable. It’s not too hard, even given all the whining and begging in the grocery store. For one thing, with their admission of trans fat and 13 grams of sugar, they are a nutritional nightmare. For another, they don’t really taste that good. I mean, seriously, what arcane process is involved in doing that to cheese? Add to that the fact that they’re expensive, and it’s easy to avoid putting those little boxes in my cart. I’m not going to say I’ve never bought them, because I have (I’m a big fan of sending a Lunchable on fieldtrips and saving myself the headache of wondering if the lunchbox will make it home), but I don’t make a habit of it.
So why then did I chuck six Lunchables into my cart, wishing all the while that I could get more? Because they were a dollar a piece. I cannot buy meat, cheese, and crackers to put in my daughter’s lunch for a dollar. But….these are Lunchables, and regardless of their claim of containing 3 of the 4 major food groups in addition to the transfats and the sugar and the mini chocolate bar, they are anathema to the concept of a healthy, well balanced lunch. But they’re also on sale for a buck a piece. And the grocery budget, she has been stretched a wee bit thin by the not working and the back to school shopping.
I know this is where a lot of people shake their heads and tsk and say, “yes, but even for a dollar…it’s a Lunchable. I would never stoop to sending Lunchables in my child’s backpack. Perfectly healthy lunches aren’t that expensive, if you just try.” And I agree, mostly. It’s not that expensive to eat healthy, if you try. But if you’re trying on a monthly budget of roughly $1500, it does up the difficulty level a bit.
So, when the Lunchables were included in the Dollar Days sale at No Frills, I was torn. On the one hand, they are evil incarnate. But cheap, edible evil. And while perhaps not the very best choice that could ever be made, they’re not poison. Taking plasticy cheese rounds and sticky ham circles to school probably isn’t going to kill Diva Girl. If anything, it would up her lunchroom cool and make me the best mom in the class. And, let’s not forget the price; the simple fact is, no matter how creative a shopper I am, no matter how much I try, I cannot fill a lunchbox for a dollar.
Nor can I pass up the possibility of doing so when there is rent to pay, other groceries to buy, utility bills, new clothes, and the various and sundry expenses involved in raising children to consider. So, I bought the Lunchables. Not the first time money has made a decision like this for me, nor, I’m sure, the last. This is what it’s like as a welfare mom–constantly weighing your convictions against your bank account, and often finding that your convictions come up short. Convictions, after all, won’t fill a lunchbox and leave money left over for fresh veggies, real juice, and maybe a pair of gym shoes. And neither does Welfare.
Comment by Kate
I totally agree with the purchase, as an NZ welfare mum I am regularly in the same boat. Fresh veges give way to the cheapest frozens (which are apparently better anyway because they go straight from field to freezer!), apples or bananas not both, muesli bars (strangely the cheapest are not the junkiest!), cheapest multigrain bread and the list goes on! Money doesn’t stretch quite as nicely as it used to, ya have to do what works!
Posted on September 25, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Comment by Mary
I remember a dentist telling my mother that we three kids needed to eat more meat, because our teeth needed to be bearing down on something resistant. (For some reason. Don’t ask me — I was only seven or so.)
My mother was blown away by the complete ignorance of the man. He knew she was on welfare. He knew she had three children.
“Eat more meat.” It was patently ridiculous and even I, at age seven knew that. Meat was EXPENSIVE. Only rich people, like DENTISTS, could afford meat every day…
Besides, it was stupid advice. “The kids need something crunchy, and he suggests steak?” She gave us carrots.
Duh.
Posted on September 27, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Comment by Sarah
Dont sweat about it for a moment. They were a DOLLAR and they will so up her lunchroom cool. When was the last time you were able to buy your kid a pass on the reading railroad at school for a freakin’ buck a day? She’ll be thrilled, and in the end it’s not going to harm her.
Posted on September 28, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Comment by ann adams
Lunchables are right up there with Walmart.
I can agree on principle that I should never shop there but then I look at the huge jug of laundry soap for $6.00 as opposed to the smaller one elsewhere for $2.00 more (at least). My principles be damned.
Same thing with Lunchables. We do what we must to keep our families fed, clothed, and with a non-leaky roof over their heads.
When I had to decide between the free breakfasts and lunches at school and preparing a wholesome, satisfying, nutritious (blah, blah, blah) meal, there was no contest. I was saving the financial equivalent of 30 meals a week.
Posted on September 29, 2007 at 12:08 am
Comment by Lady M
I used to think Lunchables were so cute (all those fun shapes in tidy cubby spaces) until I actually tried to eat one. Ick. But eight year olds feel differently, I’m sure! I don’t think I could have passed up the sale either.
Posted on October 1, 2007 at 1:02 am
Comment by Kirsten
You moral reprobate. You should be forcibly sterilized ;-> You *could* probably create lunch for a dollar though…how does your daughter feel about lentil soup?
Hee.
Posted on October 1, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Comment by webmaster
Kirs, You’ve MET my daughter. She doesn’t do chicken noodle soup, let alone lentils. She’s all over those Lunchables, though.
Posted on October 2, 2007 at 6:52 am
Comment by davido
Hi, first time reader woohoo!
Don’t feel guilty for a minute! The thing is: if you go through pains to make her a nutritious lunch, she may not even eat it. Oh, except for the chips. My kids like lunchables now and then. My wife the nutrition freak even buys them.
Not to intrude, but can’t she get free or reduced lunch at school? Yeah, I know, still more poison, but tasty poison.
Good luck, david
Posted on October 2, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Comment by Wacky Mommy
“All of the credit, none of the guilt.” — Wacky Mommy’s mantra.
You’re doing fine.
Posted on October 2, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Comment by Steve
(What would Martha Do?)
Posted on October 3, 2007 at 8:45 am
Comment by Julie
I am right there with you. It is so hard to be a good mother, sole provider, handyman, therapist, and have the weight the world on our shoulders…and knowing we are doing the most important job in the whole world we are raising children.
Posted on October 6, 2007 at 8:41 am
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Posted on December 13, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Comment by Emma
Haha… I’m in high school and I still enjoy a Lunchable every now and then…
Only the pizza and cracker ones though. School lunch food isn’t that bad, at least when there’s choices. I usually steer away from the food the school makes (scary) and instead go for packaged things like cereal, yogurt, and those bagged apple things. If I was a mom, I would totally spring on that deal. Lunchables are usually so pricy! I don’t think I’ll have a particular excuse to be on welfare then, but I’d still allow my kid a (monthly?) Lunchable. She’s not gonna flop over and die or anything.
Posted on December 14, 2007 at 10:00 pm