With long school days coming up (or for some of you, already starting!), kids need a good lunch to get them through the day. But between rushed mornings, picky eaters and repetitive food options, packing a lunch can be a hassle! We have a few tips and some products to help get you through a lunchtime rut.
Nesting Stainless Steel Food Containers, Sweat Free Ice Pack, Insulated Sky Blue Food Jar, Collapsible Lunch Box
Theses stainless steel containers are an earth-friendly way to pack a lunch. Having multiple sets and washing them right when the kids come home from school will help you to avoid going through dozens of plastic bags each week!
The Sweat Free Ice Pack has a recycled pouch- making it earth friendly while also keeping moisture off of food!
This insulated jar stays cool to the touch even with hot food inside. And if you want to make sure your food stays extra hot, here’s a tip: boil water, pour it into the thermos and let it sit before draining it and putting in your food. The hot water heats it up, so it’ll stay warm for longer (think of it like serving hot food on a warm plate!).
The collapsible lunch box is another great earth-friendly option for lunch. No plastic bags or silverware required. Have a picky eater who can’t stand when their foods are touching? If the two dividers aren’t enough, use cupcake papers for small snacks and veggies instead of plastic!
Ziggy Packit Freezable Lunch Bag, Big Black & White Dots Lunch Bag, Neon Stripe Coral Lunch Bag, Hedgehog Lunch Box
Let your child express their style with a fun lunch box!
The Packit Lunch Bag is freezable. Pop it in the freezer overnight and it’ll stay cold as ice for 10 hours- no ice pack required!
The black and white dots and coral stripe lunch bags are a cute way to tote around a lunch. They’re neoprene and will stay insulated for up to 4 hours.
What kid wouldn’t be excited for their lunch with this super cute hedgehog lunch box!
Stick this dry erase board in the most convenient spot in your kitchen and create a lunch chart. Create four columns; one each for protein, grain, fruit/veggie, and a fun snack. Pick from the columns randomly on days that you’re stumped to make packing go a little quicker! When you start getting tired of the options, simply erase and come up with something new!
Anther helpful hint to make lunch packing a breeze is to set up a lunch packing station! Have a cabinet or drawer with only lunch foods. Sort snacks into bins and keep them at kid level so the little ones can help put together lunches themselves! Do the same in the fridge- have a section for just lunch items. When everything is in one place it’s easy to just grab and go!
Another idea? Freeze sandwiches and smoothies at the beginning of the week- they double as ice packs and will thaw by lunch! (But when you freeze a sandwich make sure condiments go in between the meat and cheese (not on the bread) to avoid a soggy mess!)
What are some of your lunchtime shortcuts? Tell us in the comments!