Vermont News Guide

­— by Susan J. Coons

1.25.12

I’ve been thinking of enjoyable lunches from my past upon hearing about the bankruptcy of the Hostess Company. In the 1950s Wonder Bread, with the brightly colored balloons on the white wrapper, was the sponsor of Howdy Doody and Weber Bread, in the blue and white-checkered wrapper, sponsored The Cisco Kid on television. I was about 10 years old.

I came home for lunch until I was in Junior High School. That is, except when it was raining. Oh, did I loved rainy days! First of all I could wear my favorite red and blue plaid slacks with flowered suspenders and a white blouse. Sixty years ago young ladies were not allowed to wear slacks to school unless there was inclement weather. And... I was able to eat at school with my friends! Another big Yay!

My lunch box was a smaller version of my grandpa’s. His was big and black, mine was small and green. A thermos fit into the lid with a clip, and the bottom held a sandwich, fruit and cookies. I loved to open and close my lunchbox. It smelled so good! Ah...the aroma of bologna sammiches made with Wonder Bread...good, soft Wonder Bread!

In the 1970s and early 80s, when we were living in Pasadena, California, my husband frequently shopped at a large indoor farmers’ market in downtown Los Angeles at the foot of Angel’s Flight. He always came home with at least two large packages of Twinkies and several Hostess Cupcakes. He had a very seriously sweet tooth. Twinkies were never on my shopping list because I knew he would take care of that! I’ve probably only had about six Twinkies in my whole life.

The Twinkies never lasted long enough in the cupboard for lunches the next day. I never put junk food in the kids’ lunch because basically, we just couldn’t afford it. So they had boring lunches with sandwiches, fruit, cookies or cake and they had to buy their milk at school. Both of the kids had lunch boxes when they were young. John had a Hot Wheels lunch box.

They came home for lunch when they attended Field Elementary School. I looked forward to having lunch with them every day.

I’m pretty sure that I’ve written about school lunches before, weather it was about the lunch box, lunch bag, designer lunch bag versus the brown, ugly bag, kids trading their lunches and what Moms hope their kids are doing with their lunch.

I was proctoring tests given by the State of New York in the 1990s at Shenendehowa High School. The campus is beautiful. One can get lost there. But I do remember a hallway with several vending machines. At that time they contained soft drinks, and snack packages.

I had the opportunity to have lunch in the Burr and Burton Academy Cafeteria when I was a member of the Manchester Rotary Club. WOW! It reminded me of Clifton’s Cafeteria on Pershing Square in Los Angeles. (I don’t know if they’re there any longer, but it was a great place to eat years ago, and offered a diverse assortment of main dishes, salads, desserts, and more.)

I was listening to Superin-tendent of Schools Katherine McClure on WBTN last Tuesday afternoon when she and her guests were talking about nutrition and school menus. kids now have such a wonderful opportunity to eat healthy. They have a choice in their lunch of a main dish, second dish, dessert, beverage, etc. I think it’s great.

About my lunch? Frankly, when I bring my lunch to work, I can’t help but to eat it around 10:30 or 11. I know how good it will be! No Twinkies, no soft bread and no bologna!