How to Pack Good Lunches for Your Kids
Advanced planning can make all the difference.
My kids have been on Fall Break for a week. I love having them home and spending time with them. I admit, I’ve enjoyed not packing lunches this week.I pack lunches for my husband and my daughter daily on weekdays. Getting into the habit was more difficult than I expected. I mean, it’s just a lunch. I’d have to make it for them if they were home, right? What’s the big deal? I can’t figure out why I mind packing lunches but I do know that sharing these great ideas will make the daily lunch-packing routine, easier, cheaper, and more enjoyable for everyone!
How to Choose Your Child’s Lunchbox
I remember taking lunches to school when I was a kid. I had one of those metal lunchboxes. It had the BeeGees on it. So, now that I’m done showing my age, I’d like to express my thanks to the creator of all those new insulated lunch boxes available now. If you are going to be packing lunches for your loved ones, I highly recommend investing in an insulated lunchbox. You’ll save money in the long run over buying paper bags for sack lunches, and since these lunchboxes are reusable, they are much better for the environment. Many lunchboxes are decorated with cool licensed characters that your kids love, which will encourage your child to take better care of them. In my family we have princesses for my daughter, Lightning McQueen for my son, and Tinkerbell for me. My husband uses an icebox. His lunch has to last him all day, so he needs a little more space. You’ll also need ice packs for you boxes. You can get these for as little as a dollar in many grocery stores. Or, if you are like me and still have that little icebox you used to store your breast milk, the icepacks in there are the perfect size for a lunchbox. Keep a few of these icepacks in the freezer at all times, just in case you forget to replace the one you used the night before. You’ll be thankful that you have an extra.
How to Choose Your Child’s Containers
Before you start packing your children’s favorite lunch goodies into those plastic resealable baggies, consider plastic reusable containers.
Check out your local dollar store. You might be able to find a stack of four, six, or more containers for a buck. These little containers are great for holding crackers, chips, cut up fruit, or pretzels. If you’ll be packing sandwiches, you can also find square or sandwich-shaped containers that will fit nicely in your lunchbox. Another handy item to consider is a pack of plastic or disposable spoons. These are great for yogurt or fruit cups. Let your children know that they can hold on to them and not to throw them away. Even though they are disposable, you don’t have to dispose them, but if they do get lost, it’s not a big deal. Sports bottles are great for holding drinks. Because we live in Arizona, our schools recommend children carry water with them at all times. Water is a great choice, but if your child wants something else, you would save money by investing in a thermos. Single serve drinks are very handy, but you could be paying more in the long run.
How to Choose What to Pack Your Kids for Lunch
So, now you’ve got all these great containers and it’s time to decide what to put in them. You probably know what kinds of food your children like and what type of sandwiches to pack. If you are like me though, sometimes you stand in the kitchen just looking aimlessly around wondering what to pack anyway. Well, maybe that’s just me. I’ve found that preparing items in advance can help a great deal. I don’t like to prepare sandwiches too far in advance, but sometimes I will make them the night before. One tip for those of you whose kids are like mine and don’t eat the bread crust is to use a large cookie cutter to make the sandwiches into fun shapes like stars or hearts. If you cut the bread crusts off or use the cookie cutter before you make the sandwich, you could save the crusts to make bread crumbs or feed to the ducks on your next walk down to the park. As for those side items you’ll be adding to the lunches, preparing them in advance can be a great time saver! Yogurt cups or frozen yogurt sticks make great add-ons for lunches and you can just grab one and toss it in the box. Fresh fruit or veggies can be cut up and placed into small containers in advance. Pack up a week’s worth of containers and you have another healthy grab-and-toss item. You can also pre-pack cottage cheese, cheese cubes, crackers, or even dry cereal. Certain fruits like apples or pears will brown if you cut them up in advance, so you might want to consider leaving those whole; or if you do cut them up, rub them with a cut lemon or some lemon juice to help prevent browning. It’s still best to do this when you know the fruit will be eaten within just a few hours.
Should You Pack Your Kids Dessert for Lunch?
Finally, I personally think it’s just fine to toss a cookie or two in the box. Everyone likes to find a treat in their lunchbox! If you’re packing a good, plentiful, healthy lunch, your child will have more energy to get through the day. My daughter often has a few items leftover when she gets home and she’ll finish her lunch up as her afternoon snack. I like knowing that she’s had enough food to fill her up. Check with your child and make sure they aren’t hungry during the later hours of school. It’s harder to focus when you are hungry and school is definitely not the place to lose focus. Now, if I could just find someone to pack my lunch for me, we’ll be all set!
If you have your own great lunch-packing tips, feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments section for the transcript of this show at the Quick and Dirty Tips website.
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