4 Simple Tips for Packing Lunch Boxes for School
Every parent knows the struggle is real when it comes to packing lunch boxes for school. Are your kids tired of the same old lunch routine? Do you want to find a way to make packing lunch boxes easier and less stressful for you and your kids? I’m here to help.
In this blog post, we’ll cover some simple tips that will make packing lunches easier, faster, and more enjoyable. Let’s get started!
Packing lunches for kids is a daily struggle for a lot of moms. But, if you’re like me, packing a lunch for your kids is something you do because you really care what your kids eat. In our case, we rarely ever eat out and there’s just something about packing that homemade lunch that makes my kids feel loved and cared for. They know I care enough to pack them a lunch every single day.
Having said that, packing lunch boxes every single day can be a real chore. And I know you want to pack healthy, fresh food that will keep your child full until dinner time, but you also need to make it easy on yourself! You’ve got other things on your mind like making sure the dog gets walked and all your day’s long to-do list gets done.
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Simple Tips for Packing School Lunch Boxes
I typically wake up at 6 am to get the kids ready for school. Our morning routine is pretty seamless… most days.
But there’s nothing worse than being rushed in the morning and then scrambling to think of something to put in your children’s lunch boxes! (Been there!!)
Take a look at the suggestions below if you find yourself stressed or you wind up buying school lunches for your kids because packing them seems like too much work. When you use these tips, organizing your kids’ lunches will be fast and simple.
1. Step #1: Make a list and head to the grocery store.
Begin by sitting down with your children and compiling a list of lunches they enjoy. Sandwiches and wraps are a popular choice obviously, but it’s possible to make your own homemade lunch-ables, for example, as well as other foods like soup or pasta.
You may also pack reheated leftovers, homemade soup, and other hot foods in a thermos. The goal is to discover lunch foods and snacks that your children will eat but are also simple to pack.
Make sure you have the right containers on hand, and then go to the grocery store to buy everything for the week. Don’t forget to buy snacks and even juice packs or other drinks as needed. This should be much simpler with your grocery list in hand.
After you’ve discovered several lunch selections that your kids will actually eat, simply rotate through them and incorporate the ingredients into your weekly shop. This will make packing lunch boxes for school a breeze in the weeks to come!
2. Step Two: Go Ahead and Prep The Ingredients
When you get home from the store, make it a habit to keep the lunch items out on the counter and in order to do your lunch prep ahead of time. Instead of storing that whole bag of grapes, go ahead and wash them. Then, divide them into small bags that you can easily grab to include in the lunch box.
The same goes for things like carrots (slice into carrot sticks) and even salads. Consider slicing or cubing cheese, pre-cooking meats too. Basically, just think about whatever you can do ahead of time to make packing lunch boxes for school easier and faster.
3. Step Three: Pack Those Lunch Boxes Before Bedtime
Mornings are often hectic, so packing lunches at this time isn’t always ideal. Making them the night before is a great, time-saving idea. Have the kids assist with lunch preparation and clean-up if they’re old enough.
You can keep cold things in the fridge and have everything else on the counter, ready to pack in the lunch box. You’ll quickly get into a routine of preparing lunches while cleaning up after supper. When you get up in the morning, you’ll appreciate this new habit since all you have to do is grab a couple of things from the refrigerator and toss them in the kids’ lunchboxes.
4. Step Four: Empty and Clean Lunches Boxes Right After School
Make it easier to prepare a lunch for your children by getting them used to cleaning their lunch boxes as soon as they return home from school. Even the youngest child may assist with this. Have them discard any food that has been leftover and return the containers to the sink for cleaning.
Older children should be able to clean their own lunch boxes with little difficulty, but you may need to wash your youngest child’s lunch box. If you have everything clean and ready to go, it will be simpler to pack the new lunches later in the day.
My Favorite Lunch Box Supplies
EasyLunchboxes - Bento Lunch Boxes
EasyLunchboxes are often imitated, never duplicated. The original stackable, portable, reusable, and affordable way to prep healthy lunches and snacks for school, work, or on the go.
Sandwich Cutter and Sealer - Decruster Sandwich Maker
Tired of buying pre-made sandwiches from your grocery store? Use our patent-pending cutter and sealer combo to create your own! This set includes a heart, mouse, and a star.
Amazon Basics Reusable Silicone Baking Cups
- 12-pack of reusable baking cups; made of food-grade silicone; ideal for baking, lunch/snack cups, and more
66 Pcs Animal Food Picks for Kids, Fun Bento Picks
Our bento box food picks are small and lightweight, so they are good for little children and also for adults.
It won’t take long to get into an efficient lunch packing routine if you stick to these tips. Don’t forget to include the kids in the preparations and give them responsibilities for packing their own lunch boxes for school as they become more responsible. This can not only make your life easier in the long run, but it will also give them a feeling of control over their lunch.
I hope you found these lunch box packing tips helpful! If you have any other questions about how to get organized, be sure to leave a comment below. Be sure to share this article with your friends and family so they can also enjoy the benefits of being more productive in their daily lives as well as take care of themselves. Thanks for reading!