As a school-age kid, what was your favorite part of the day?

Aside from the thrills of Science, Math, Language, Reading and Araling Panlipunan, one of your most cherished school memories would probably include a funny or embarrassing moment during recess time.

For generations of kids, recess time was, and still is, more than just a time for eating. It is a time for bonding, developing social skills and forging friendships over the shared love for food.

Remember those carefree school days? Here are five ways snack time made a lasting impact on our childhood.

• It gave us motivation to go to school. Remember when you couldn’t get yourself out of the bed on a school day? Aside from fear of mom and ‘ma’am,’ the thought of eating, and sharing, your favorite snack was enough to make you want to go to school.

• It taught us about barter and sharing. Recess time is like a mini smorgasbord for snacks. Not particularly fond of your cheeseburger today? Why not trade it for a Hansel Mocha Sandwich? Of course, you always have the option of sharing your food as testament to life-long friendship.

• It encouraged us to experiment. Why enjoy just one Rebisco Sandwich flavor when you can combine two to create your very own chocolate-strawberry special? Recess time helped hone our culinary skills by encouraging us to create new variations of our regular snacks.

• It taught us to value rewards. Remember when you aced a test or won in that school contest and the next day your baon was packed with your favorite chocolate snacks? While our parents always encouraged us to eat healthy, allowing us the occasional sweets taught us the value of giving ourselves a well-deserved treat every now and then.

• It made our childhood memorable. Laughing, playing and sharing stories over baon are priceless memories that we carry through to the rest of our lives. These memories help form the foundation of our friendships and the values we hold dear.

As Rebisco celebrates its 55th anniversary, the homegrown snack giant continues to be a highlight of Filipino kids’ baon—carrying on a legacy of providing delightful treats and opportunities to create precious bonding moments.

To make it easier for moms and dads to pack their school-age kids’ favorite Rebisco snack, Rebisco recently launched Bag-O-Baon—a multi-pack that features an assortment of school-friendly Rebisco products including favorites such as Rebisco Sandwich Strawberry, Fudgee Barr Choco, Combi Triple Choco, Choco Mucho, Topps Sarap Cookie Monster and Vitacubes, among others. Go to your nearest supermarket to get one of the limited Bag-O-Baon bundles and reminisce on the incomparable joys of snack time with family and friends.

What’s your fondest recess memory? Share it with us at the official Rebisco Facebook page.

 

Any parent with young children would admit that nothing can be more mentally draining than going through the painstaking process of preparing healthy meals for their kids’ baon.

 

Unfortunately, a lot of little fussy eaters have a tendency to wrinkle their noses, make faces, ordeliberately gag on their food and bring home their baon. Thus, every meal has the potential of becominga battle between you and your children. This shouldn’t be the case! Meal time is NEVER meant to become a fight.

 

Revive the fun in your child’s lunchtime! Accept the stage where your kids are s-l-o-w-l-y learning toad just to a new school-year and to eating packed lunch with foods that are new to them, and save yourself from losing your sanity over unfinished food. Here are parenting hacks that may help:

 

Hack #1: Little eaters need rules

Granted, it’s a parent’s instinct to set rules and standards for the kids. But there will always be a part of you that’s afraid of being too stiff because you don’t want your children to rebel. You know what? The whole “rules = rebellion” belief is a myth. Studies say moms and dads who set ground rules for their children are also the warmest of parents.

 

Don’t hesitate to start a “No-Thank-You Bite Rule” for your little picky-eaters as early as now. If they say no from eating the meal, require them to at least take one big bite or two small bites of the food. That way, you will still get to make them have some food in their stomach for the remainder of their classes. Who knows, they might realize they are hungry and like their baon after all.

 

Here’s the catch: warm parents set rules. Controlling parents rub rules on the faces of their children. This calls for balance. Loosen up! Let go of the all-mighty “Clean-Your-Plate Rule” you grew up with. Stop forcing your kids to eat everything, even the small bits to pieces, just to win the power-struggle over food.

 

Children know when they are full so allow them to stop eating when they want to. To avoid food wastage, serve them small portions but give them an opportunity to ask for more. Make their mealtime at school a way to strengthen your bond and instill independence in them, not to create gaps.

 

Hack #2: Welcome kids in the kitchen

Invite your kids to help out in the kitchen. By doing this, you’ll give them an idea what it takes to prepare their food. Letting them help and allowing them to frequently assist you in the kitchen will make them want to try and sample the food they’ve helped prepare.

 

Hack #3: Be creative!

Presentation is key to making a meal more enjoyable. Children, being very observant, may be more persuaded to eat if what they see looks attractive. This is also one way of masking nourishing ingredients for your little ones.

 

The best hiding options? Grate, wrap, blend, or mix!

 

What comes in handy for all the aesthetically pleasing healthy meals is an equally attractive foodcontainer. Tupperware Brands introduces its Small Square Rounds to solve that for you. This is downright perfect for starting up a kitchen collection, too!

 

The Small Square Rounds have virtually airtight seals that keep food fresh and flavorful. With a tab on the seal for easy opening, this food container is also modular and stackable. You may use it in the fridge, bring to outdoor activities, or use for organizing. The Small Square Rounds comes in four great colors: lime aid, grape fizz, pink punch, and orange peel.

Mealtime is not just about healthy eating; it also entails taking in the water your body needs! Pair up your kids’ Tupperware Small Square Rounds with the Kids Eco Bottle. This comes with a sipper seal spout for convenient drinking and a tight-screw-on cap that prevents leaks. Made of safe, non-toxic materials, the Kids Eco Bottle has two fun character shapes: a frog in lime aid color and a purlicious (purple) penguin.

Make it a habit to prepare well-balanced and healthy meals and get your kids involved. Don’t forget to brighten up children’s lunches with Tupperware’s Small Square Rounds and the Kids Eco Bottle so you can make every mealtime at school fun and meaningful for your kids.

Since I am a full time mommy I need to take good care of my family.  There are lots of things to do inside the house but it is rewarding, especially if you will see your kids smiling back at you. 

School days have started already, my first kid is  a grown up already, I couldn't believe that my Maki is already in Grade 1 now.  So I need to monitor all his things, his assignments and most important his food. I need to prepare food religiously, from breakfast, baon, and his lunch.  Lunch time is the end of his school time everyday.

I just want to share the food that I usually prepare, the bread. I am not that artistic, my husband is the artistic one, but I try my best to show some good art in preparing the food.  I put 3 breads on my son's lunch box and put the "I Love You" message on it using the Magnolia Cheezee Squeezee, isn't amazing?  I am proud because Maki love it and he immediately whispered to me “thank you mommy”.  Well that's a very rewarding experience.

Hope next time I will do it again with some more artistic effort to make my kids really appreciate the food and for him to enjoy going to school.