3 Tips For Packing School Lunches
Its ok to sneak a bite while you pack your lunch😉
3 Tips For Packing School Lunches
When I thought about preparing my kids for school, I forgot about packing lunches since the school provides breakfast and lunch. Honestly with 3 tiny humans to take care of it is hard to find motivation to have one more item to keep track of unnecessarily.Thinking of lunchbox ideas, nut free options, and actually pack school lunches can be overwhelming However this year, Beanie has requested a pack lunch because she sometimes does not like what is being served. I need quick, easy and picky eater approved lunches that are not time intensive. This counts as time in the kitchen and trust me the clock is ticking for the deadline to get out of there. Here are some packing tips for making packing a lunch less dreadful.
Tip 1: Buy a sturdy Lunch box
Gone are the days of packing school lunches in a brown paper bag. The kids have to carry papers and laptops and chances are the lunch can get smashed and lunch can get smeared everywhere. A good lunchbox will keep your child's food fresh and prevent it from getting crushed. I suggest a zipper close box that can be soft or hard but needs to be able to hold structure when nothing is in it. I do not recommend the hard plastic or tin lunch boxes. Those types of lunch boxes are too easy to bend, break, and crack. I used a hard plastic one and the handles came off and the box would not stay hinged. Make sure you also buy a really cute one that your kid loves. If they are into unicorns, find the sturdiest and best looking lunch box with unicorns, they will be more excited to keep up with the lunch box. Translate: Less times you will need to buy a replacement. Also write their name on the lunchbox, chances are that another little kid could have the same lunch box. It helps cut down on confusion and is easily identifiable if lost. Here’s some options below that are on sale:
Tip 2: Keep it simple
Don't get overwhelmed with how to pack and having endless lunch ideas and have too many options. Kids really don't need that much food. Start simple with a carb, protein and a fruit. I started with lunchable, mandarin orange, granola bar, Kool Aid Pouch- and the kids loved it. Remember kids eat simple-no need to watch lunchbox tok for the latest bento box trends. This will help ensure that your child has a balanced meal that will keep them energized throughout the day. Some good options for carbs include bread, crackers, or pasta. For protein, try cheese, yogurt, or chicken. The fruit is an easy way to keep the variety of the lunch going based on produce sales. Kids aren't expecting a “meal’ like adults do. They do more grazing than expecting a feast. I’m reminding myself as I type this. Most children are not hangry at lunchtime and only a lunch of epic proportion will slay the inner belly monster.
Once you get the hang of it, it will be easier to change items and add variety with grocery store sales. Buy on sale. Stock up on healthy lunch items when they're on sale. This will save you money and make it easier to pack lunches on a budget. This is also where it would be handy to have a wholesale warehouse membership like Costco, BJs, Sams so that you can buy for the week in bulk and not pay an arm and leg. But the most important tip is it is ok to repeat favorite lunch combos. Also constant variety isn't a battle you want to fight with picky eaters!
It is important to note that these are just general tips, and you may need to adjust them based on your child's specific needs. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to talk to your child's doctor or a registered dietitian.
Tip 3: Pack the night before
This tip is true for everything related to back to School. Do as much as possible the night before so you have less to gather and/or search for in the morning when everyone is in a rush.
Wash and cut up fruits and vegetables ahead of time. This will save you time in the morning. Pack the refrigerated stuff in the lunch box and place all the non refrigerated items together and in separate piles by child. In the morning you will just grab the box, open and then place the non refrigerated items inside and close.
Packing lunches is a small part of all the things kiddos need for school throughout the year. Let's make this task as simple as possible in order to focus on the last minute cupcakes needed tomorrow at school or the school project your kid doesn't mention until the night before its due.
What is your tip for packing lunches easier? Comment below⬇️⬇️⬇️