Mom Defends the Lunches She Packs for 9-Year-Old Daughter

One mom has taken the art of making school lunches to new levels—and her video has gone viral.

Alexia Gallegos, 25, documented the typical lunches she makes for her 9-year-old daughter, who is in third grade, and her efforts have captured the attention of thousands on Instagram.

Gallegos, based in Texas, told Newsweek that she struggles to come up with ideas of what to include in her daughter’s school lunches and posted the video to give other moms some inspiration.

Speaking to the reaction online, Gallegos said that she decided to film her daughter’s lunch one day and “it just took off.”

“I have gotten some negative responses, such as ‘that’s too much food for her,’ but overall, I’ve gotten a lot of support and created a community of followers that support me and like to use my lunch ideas,” she told Newsweek.

Instead of a typical sandwich and fruit combination, Gallegos (@lexymariee_ on Instagram) meticulously prepares her daughter’s school lunch that exceed the standards of a classic lunchbox.

In the video, which has garnered 106,000 likes, Gallegos begins cooking from scratch at 6 a.m.

This particular lunch includes a protein-packed meal of steak bites, shrimp, corn on the cob and potatoes which she assembles into a lunch box.

Next, Gallegos packs snacks such as chocolate chip mini muffins, a rice crispy bar, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and an apple, all to be washed down with a Dr. Pepper and mango juice box.

In another video, the mom of three packs birria tacos, a Kinder egg set of three for her daughter and her friends, a KitKat dessert, a pot of watermelon and cheddar cheese cubes.

Gallegos also prioritizes hydration as she fills her daughter’s pink Stanley cup with heart-shaped ice cubes and water.

The internet has reacted with a mixture of admiration and amazement, with one Instagram user commenting they’d “do anything” to have lunches such as these.

Others were stunned at the quantity of food in each pack-up. One mom wrote: “I’m just impressed a 9-year-old will actually eat this. My kids would never.”

Another parent shared that they also cooked fresh food for their children’s lunches in the morning: “Pasta, wings, steak or whatever I decide to give them that day. It makes me happy to know my kids are fed and happy.”

“Keep cooking like that you will have a 40th grader too,” another user commented.

Meanwhile, one Instagram user called the combination of foods “diabolical” and another commented on Gallegos’ choice to “ruin” her daughter’s lunch with junk food.

Some were also questioning how much Gallegos spends on groceries to pack such a varied lunch for her daughter, with one demanding to see receipts.

Gallegos’ video is just one of many that she posts on Instagram, often clocking up thousands of views to show other parents looking to add a bit of flair to their children’s lunches.

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