I don’t know about you, but I dread packing school lunches. It’s another thing to do during an already harried school morning, or at night when I’m dead tired! That being said, I like to make sure that I’m packing healthy school lunches for the kids. While some public schools have made strides in providing healthier lunches for kids, I still think they have a ways to go!
How I Pack School Lunches
So most days I pack my first grader’s lunch. He gets pizza on Fridays–the one day he likes to buy lunch. He actually prefers to take his lunch instead of buying on the other days of the week. Since the first grader is a little light on the fruits and vegetables part of his diet, I give him a fruit and vegetable in his lunch box.
I try to make them enticing. For example, he likes ants on a log (celery filled with peanut butter and raisins), so I will do that and then pack some strawberries (one of his favorites!). I found some great lunch boxes with little containers that help keep things from mixing, because God knows what happens if they might combine! 😉 It also makes his lunch look nice and pretty. We have been enjoying the Rubbermaid LunchBlox for flat lunch bags, since we have this lunch box from Pottery Barn Kids–it’s snug, but fits.
Prep the Night Before
Another key to success for me is to make lunch the night before. I try to do it while cleaning up for dinner, before I get too tired. It actually works out, since I’m in and out of the fridge putting away leftovers (if I don’t choose to pack them for lunch!). It also allows me to get all of those dishes into the dishwasher before I start it for the night.
Lunch Box Inspiration
If you are looking for some healthy lunch box inspiration, here are some great ideas to get your started!
- DIY (Healthy!) Lunchables
- Pizza Muffins (I would sub whole wheat pizza dough for the Pillsbury refrigerated pizza dough)
- Sandwich Kabobs – What a great way to change up the traditional sandwich! Kids love finger foods and this has great visual appeal!
- Nut-free lunch ideas
- Dinosaur Bento Box (this one is SO cute!).
- More Healthy Bento Box Ideas
- Allergy Friendly Lunches
For more ideas, check out my Pinterest Board for School Lunches!
Follow 30 Something Mother Runner’s board School Lunches on Pinterest.
30 Something Mother Runner received a LunchBlox sample from Rubbermaid. All opinions and writing are 100% my own.Â
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