(Un) packing lunch boxes

Lunchboxes were one of the most common items photographed by our participants. Whilst many might find themselves drawn to 'judge' what is in the different lunchboxes we want to consider lunchboxes as the material connection between children's lives at home and at school. Whilst it easy to sit and look at the lunchboxes in isolation it is important to consider that lunchboxes are more than just containers for macro/micro nutrients or responsive to public health rules or school conditions on how children eat. Children and parents put time and effort when they can into the preparation of lunchboxes that are a concrete part of their lives and loves. Parents show love through lunchboxes providing surprises and treats. They take into account what they know their children will eat and try to follow the various rules - but it is challenging. Preparing 3 lunchboxes for kids with different needs/tastes/wants/allergies/classroom rules is a specialist task only an expert family team can undertake.

便当盒是本次研究参与者最常拍摄的物品之一。尽管不少人或许会忍不住对不同便当盒内的食物品项品头论足，但我们应将便当盒视作联结孩童家庭与校园生活的物质载体。若仅孤立地审视便当盒，便容易忽略其多重内涵：便当盒绝非仅仅是承载宏量营养素与微量营养素的容器，也不只是契合公共健康规范与校园饮食规则的载体。孩童与家长会在力所能及的范围内投入时间与精力准备便当盒，这已然成为他们生活与爱意的具象组成部分。父母借由便当盒传递爱意，为孩子准备惊喜与小食；他们会结合自身对孩子饮食偏好的了解，同时尽力遵守各项相关规范，但这一过程绝非易事。为有着不同饮食需求、口味偏好、个人喜好、过敏禁忌且需遵守校园饮食规则的孩子准备三份便当盒，是一项极具专业性的工作，唯有经验丰富的家庭组合方能胜任。