those pictures of fish, borscht and lentils are also a stealthy way to show kids the huge variety of foods kids eat (roasted guinea pigs in Peru notwithstanding). You can't help but understand something about the world when you see that kids in a refugee camp are getting a mug of porridge and in France they're getting a four-course meal. It's very much a cultural construct that children need kids' menus or that you have to serve them a special meal because they won't eat what we eat. I've done it too. Which lunch do you want to eat? I'd have Brazil. I like rice and beans. And there's mango on a stick in Mexico cut to look like a flower. That's a little too close to the perfect bento box lunches out there that make moms feel bad. I can see the attraction of colourful boxes that make it more fun. But I'm not going to be making a bento box with the face of Gene Simmons for my family. That's a little over the top for me. So what did your kids take to school today? Today was sandwiches. Yesterday was more interesting: pasta with tomato sauce. One had carrots, one had red peppers. One had grapes and one had oranges because that's what was in the fridge. Chocolate chip cookie. Water. My kids are thrilled if there's something homemade like a cookie or a muffin in there. Photos Enjoy the convenience of having The Globe and Mail