My family is officially less than one month away from going back to school. You would think after five months of being out of school our off time would have crept by but it’s just the opposite – I feel like our five months of “freedom” flew by faster than our normal summer vacation.
Of course there is nothing normal about our kids going back this year. Some schools will be back in session full time, some every other day and others completely online. Regardless of the when & where our kids will still need to eat lunch (sigh) and you will still be responsible for feeding them (louder sigh). Which is why I highly suggest you keep reading for my school lunch packing tips. Just like my weekly dinner plan, having a lunch packing plan in place will save you beau coups of time and a multitude of headaches, regardless of your kids schooling model.
1. Give Your Kids Some Say
My kids food likes and dislikes change more often than the tides – so much so I can’t keep up. Getting your kids involved in picking what foods they want in their lunch box gives them some control over what they get to eat. I’m not saying you need to bring them with you to the grocery store – just let them choose from what you already have on hand. Then they know what to expect the next day and you don’t have to try and keep up with everyone’s favorite flavor of the week. I also think it’s important to let your kids know what your lunch box expectations are. For example, my girls know they need a main protein, veg and/or fruit, snack and a sweet.
2. Invest in Divided Containers
A divided container will help you (or your kids) remember what foods they need to pack. I know there are a gazillion different options but I love these inexpensive containers from Amazon. My girls have been using them for years and they have held up really well. The perfect amount of space for a sandwich, veggies, fruit, snack and a sweet.
3. Pack Lunches the Night Before
Trust me, I totally understand the feeling of not wanting to do ONE MORE thing before bedtime. But spending five minutes, packing lunches the night before, will save you at least ten the next morning. Here’s an easy way to get the kids involved – while you are cooking dinner, get them to pull out their lunch containers and pack at the very least their non-perishable food choices for the next day. Every little bit helps.
4. Prep
I don’t go crazy when it comes to lunch prep but I do try to cut whatever fruits or veggies I plan to force my kids to eat that week, on Sunday, and place them in these gorgeous and functional Ello Glass Containers. This way when I ask them to pack their own lunch they can go straight to the fridge, grab the container of pre-cut food and place in the appropriate space in their lunch container.
5. Use Leftovers
While I can’t speak for your kids “hot lunch school situation” I feel pretty confident in saying it’s probably going to look a little different this year. AKA – we are more than likely going to be packing lunches, 5 days a week. Don’t make it harder than it has to be – if your kids happily ate whatever you cooked for dinner the night before, give it to them for lunch.
6. Lunchables
When I was a kid the idea of a Lunchable was cool but I wasn’t sold on the taste. Now a days there are a gazillion “lunchable” options from brands like Sargento. Organic Valley, Hillshire – heck even the old school Lunchable brand has stepped up their game. These all in one options are great to keep on hand for the mornings when your alarm doesn’t go off on time. My girls prefer to make their own so I always have salami, cracker cuts, Ritz and peanut butter cups on hand for when they want to switch it up.
7. Dips
You can find pretty much every kind of dip or sauce in an individually wrapped container these days – ranch, guacamole, hummus, peanut butter – the options are endless. Kids love a dip – even your pickiest of eaters. Individually packaged dips open up a whole new world for lunch options – pre-cooked chicken tenders, hotdogs, a hamburger patty – any food your kids will tolerate with a dip will work.
8. Breakfast for Lunch
Kids freak out when you deviate from the breakfast, lunch and dinner norm and serve them breakfast for lunch – heck, even I get excited about it. Toss a frozen waffle or two into their lunch box and let them go to town. They can spread it with peanut butter or eat it plain. Trust me, they will love it!
9. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Don’t overthink your kids lunch boxes. If they are OK with eating a peanut butter sandwich every, single, day for lunch, let them. Kids like consistency and if they aren’t complaining, don’t rock the boat!!
10. Give Yourself Credit
If you are successful at getting your kids lunch boxes packed, and in the correct back pack, five days a week then you are a rockstar. Pat yourself on the back and give yourself major credit. Don’t let the Pinterest photos of ladybug sammies and fruit cut to look like planets make you feel inferior – your kids don’t care as long as their bellies are full.
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