Mum raises eyebrows over unusual lunchbox for her kids: ‘I’d never send it to school’

An Australian mum has divided parents after sharing a picture of what she packed in her two young sons’ lunchboxes.

The mum prepared boiled eggs, sliced tomatoes, raspberry yoghurt, macadamias, gherkin pickles and sardines for her two boys, aged four and five, to enjoy after swimming lessons.

However, she quickly pointed out that while she wouldn’t typically send sardines to school because of the smell, her sons loved eating them at home.

‘Absolutely stinks out the ladies’ change room,’ the mum said in a Facebook group. 

‘I would never send sardines to school… But while they are home they can eat what they love.’

Her post drew hundreds of comments – with some praising her for raising adventurous eaters and others saying the lunchbox was ‘too much’ for young kids.

‘So healthy and lucky your boys eat that! But all I can think is how bad that would stink,’ one person joked.

A mum has divided parents online after sharing a photo of her sons’ ‘after swimming’ lunchboxes – packed with boiled eggs, cut-up pickles, sardines, sliced tomatoes, raspberry yoghurt and macadamias

‘Very healthy, you’re lucky to have kids who aren’t picky eaters,’ another said.

‘So healthy! Awesome,’ one shared.

‘If only I could get my children to eat sardines straight like that. I usually have to hide it in something,’ another added. 

While one mum revealed she wouldn’t risk sending her kids to school with sardines after they experienced leakage issues.  

Others shared that not every child can bring unusual food to school without criticism.

‘My daughter loved raw broccoli but got bullied for it,’ one mum pointed out.

‘I had to stop sending her favourite foods because of how cruel the kids were being.’

‘At a push, the only thing my son would eat from this lunchbox is the yoghurt – and even then he’d have to be desperate,’ a second shared.

Experts say food shaming is surprisingly common in primary schools, with children often teased for eating food that ‘smells weird’ or looks different.

Scientists from the Netherlands also found that children who refused to eat many foods when aged four to five years old ate less fruit, vegetables, dairy and fish when they turned 18 compared to their non-picky counterparts.

Psychologists believe young kids pick up social cues quickly, and lunchboxes can become another way to fit in – or stand out.

According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, preschool-aged children need a mix of foods that provide energy for growth, learning and play

What 4- and 5-year-olds should be eating

According to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, preschool-aged children need a mix of foods that provide energy for growth, learning and play.

A balanced lunchbox should include:

• Protein such as eggs, fish, lean meat, tofu or beans
• Whole grains like bread, rice or pasta for long-lasting energy
• Fruit and vegetables for fibre and vitamins
• Dairy or alternatives like yoghurt or cheese for calcium and healthy fats
• A small snack such as nuts or wholegrain crackers

Nutritionists say strong flavours like sardines, pickles or boiled eggs are perfectly healthy, but parents should consider school rules around smells, allergens, and food sharing.

While some adults said they’d never dare send sardines to school, others applauded the mum’s approach.

‘Hats off to this mum – she’s exposed her kids to the right stuff from day one,’ one wrote.