Lunch box meals with a difference
MANY moms flew into a panic when news that Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken favourites, such as frankfurters, Russians, viennas and other read-to-eat cold meat products, were listed as foods to avoid.
After all, these have been lunch box favourites for their taste and convenience.
But with moms being moms, thinking on their feet is not new, and within no time began conjuring ideas – substituting cold meats for grilled chicken and nuggets.
Self-employed mother of one, Dineshree Moodley, 42, said when she heard about the outbreak, she panicked.
“I was concerned about my daughter’s health because a few days earlier, I had given her cold meat for lunch. Fortunately she is fine,” said Moodley, who added she spent around R350 a week on the affected products. Moodley, of Chatsworth, said her daughter was a fussy eater but loved cold meats.
“I had to explain to her why she could not eat it anymore. Her lunch box now contains chicken nuggets, grilled chicken and fish cakes or bites.”
While she missed the convenience of preparing cold meat sandwiches, she does not intend buying the products until she is certain it is 100% safe.
Overport mom of two, Kelly Jade, said the outbreak threw her lunch menu off track.
The 31-year-old full-time law student shopped on Fridays for the week ahead, spending R650 a month on lunch items.
She used to make a variety of cold meat sandwiches but has now opted for toasted sandwiches with either a cheese, chicken or mince filling for her Grade R son, Ziad.
Her other child, Shah, is two-years-old.
“Ziad loves hot dogs, so we had to explain to him that he could not have them anymore because the meat is poisonous. He seems to be warming up to the new menu. I prepare lunch for Ziad, myself and my husband, Omar. I tried to do it in the morning but it took up too much time, so now I make the lunch at night.”
Jade said this was much easier because everyone liked their sandwiches made differently. “I prefer brown bread, Omar likes white and Ziad does not like lettuce, so when I make our lunch at night I have more time to accommodate everyone’s needs. I miss the convenience of having cold meat but I will not go back to it.”
Sherry Reddy, a mother of two, said the outbreak had not only affected her lunch menu but her business.
Reddy, 44, of Chatsworth, runs a home based business selling Russians and vienna rolls but is now sitting with stock in her fridge totalling about R300.
“I removed the packaging to store them in containers and now may not be able to return them.”
She has opted to sell chicken rolls and burgers.
“It’s more expensive but I don’t have a choice. I need to keep my business afloat.”