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How to turn a snack box into a still life
by Patrick Vogt
Znünibox reloaded: Let dad do it for you
13.12.2024
Translation: machine translated
Our daughter is now in her second year of kindergarten. My wife still prepares every single one of her snack boxes skilfully and lovingly. The only thing that has changed is that I am increasingly emulating her.
In many a garden, masculinity seems to be a delicate little plant. Sometimes I can't explain certain social media posts any other way. For example, a supposed man recently commented on X that there was absolutely nothing manly about taking a lunchbox to work
The creeping Znüniboxisation
Since day one, our daughter Zoe hasn't just been taking a snack to nursery, but rather culinary works of art. I've already written elsewhere about how my wife elevates filling the snack box to an art form:
In the beginning, all I really had was my sincere but passive admiration, but now I'm quite active in the field of carrot and apple carving myself. Today I am responsible for at least two of the maximum five snack boxes per week. And you know what? I love it!
Whenever I stand in the kitchen, think about what I'm going to put in Zoe's snack box and then get started, I take a 10 to 15-minute break from my restless everyday life. Yes, peeling and chopping fruit and vegetables is my meditation, cutting out a cheese roll is my pause (or my anger management, depending).
May contain traces of love
Zoe waits excitedly to take a look at the freshly prepared snack box. The look on her face and her smile melt my dad's heart every time. She doesn't care that I'm unlikely to become a Znünibox Picasso in this lifetime. She's just happy to have a nice, tasty snack that's packed with love. And she can get that from me at any time and with pleasure.
As far as the artistic and creative side of things is concerned, I do my best to prepare and carve everything I can. And because it's for Zoe, I love doing it too. I even carve out the odd heart for her.
A man is himself
"This child has more than enough to eat in the snack box," I hear you say in front of the screen. That's true, but we hardly ever have to throw anything away (which I would also loathe). On the one hand, the children swap and share their food during the snack break, and if Zoe does come home with leftovers in the snack box, she simply has them for her afternoon snack. Two birds with one stone, I'd say.
Next, you will probably notice that the contents of the snack boxes are always similar. This is also correct. As much as we strive for variety, we also have to stick to Zoe's culinary preferences. It's no good if no two snack boxes look the same but she doesn't like most of the food in them. Zack, the topic of food waste would take centre stage again.
Maybe you're already a Znünibox artist yourself anyway. And maybe these lines have inspired you to pick up this booklet. Then get started, don't let anything or anyone stop you. Just one thing: for heaven's sake, don't forget love!
What do the snack boxes for your child look like? Why don't you send me a photo to patrick.vogt@digitecgalaxus.ch.
Header image: Patrick Vogt
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
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