School is back in session for a lot of kiddos which means we are back on the hook for packing daily lunches! A lot of people DREAD this task, so I’ve got a few tips to help make lunch packing the easiest part of your day!
First of all, if you are someone who hates putting together school lunch, have your kids help you make a grocery list with their favorites, and prep the grab and go stations together.
Anytime I am making school lunches, I always have a fridge and pantry grab and go prep station. My mornings run much smoother, and kids are more likely to make healthier choices with more options ready to go. I like to have fruit and veggies already cooked and cleaned in containers/baggies. I like to provide a variety of options, even if they don’t eat it all. I try to keep as much sugar out of the lunches as possible to help them stay focused at school by providing water in their cup, and unsweetened items. I usually put one small sweet treat in there, whether it be a cookie or fruit snacks. If my kids loved dinner the night before, I usually make enough for leftovers the next day.
I like to introduce a new vegetable or fruit every once in a while, and if they end up loving it, I use it until they get tired of it. My biggest thing is, don’t dread packing a school lunch for your kids. It takes all of five minutes more to make something that will put a smile on their face, and it’s better for them. I love to throw a note in their lunch boxes, even though they can’t read, sometimes I will draw a picture. They have already had so many changes this year, one more thing I can do to make them happy, makes me a happy mom.
Here are a few of my go-to lunches:
- Pizza Lunchable: (use round cookie cutter) whole wheat tortillas or whole wheat english muffin, marinara, pepperoni, cheese. I use disposable containers or muffin holders to hold each item.
- My own Lunchable: fresh deli meat, fresh deli cheese (sometimes I use cookie cutters) sliced, stacked, with crackers and a sweet treat
- “Sushi” rollup: My son loves sushi, so I will roll fresh deli meat and cheese, and mix plain greek yogurt with ranch seasoning and spread it on a whole wheat tortilla and roll it up
- Pizza cups: I will make these ahead of time, and warm them and place them in foil. I cut tortillas round with a cookie cutter, and place in muffin tins. Spread olive oil, garlic, marinara, a pepperoni and cheese, and bake 5-10 mins (My kids love to make these with me) Video instructions
- Of course my kids are obsessed with chicken fingers, so I buy the all natural white meat chicken fingers, throw them in the airfryer while I am doing other things, and place them in foil.
- Corn dog muffins
- Dorito or pretzel chicken fingers
