5 Tips for Packing School Lunches
Packing school lunches can be stressful and time-consuming – but, this year it doesn’t have to be! Here’s a few lunch-packing tips from your neighborhood Sparkle.
Keep Things Organized
Organization is KEY to a stress-free school year, especially when it comes to packing school lunches. At the beginning of the week (or month), create a food chart like this one to keep track of what you have on hand. Categorizing food into things like proteins, snacks, dairy and sweets will keep your chart extra organized. Not only does this keep your kitchen evenly stocked, but it also guarantees that you’re packing a balanced lunch for your kid(s)!
Prep Ahead of Time
Food prep for school lunches can be as elaborate as crafting sammies and cooking noodles the night before school, or it can be as simple as setting up food stations. Here’s how they work:
- Get two bins, one for the fridge and one for the counter
- Fill the fridge bin with assorted fruits, veggies and other snacks – already portioned out for lunches
- Fill the counter bin with crackers, trail mix and other shelf-stable snacks
- In the morning, have your kids pick out a few of their favorites from both bins, then send them on their way!
Prepare Bento Box-Style Lunches
Bento boxes, aka divided containers, work perfectly for school lunches. If your kids don’t like their food touching, use a bento box. Want to make sure they have options for lunch? Bento box. Not only do these containers ensure a balanced meal (one section for main course, veggies, fruit, dessert, etc.), but they also eliminate a ton of plastic waste. Think about it: Rather than throwing individually packaged snacks into a lunchbox, you’re portioning out food into the container, free of packaging. Here’s a few bento box options.
Keep Things Safe
Schools alone harbor enough germs, make sure your child’s packed lunch doesn’t add to the risk of sickness throughout the school year. Make sure foods that need to stay cold, stay cold until lunchtime by packing an icepack or frozen drink. To keep hot foods warm, fill a thermos with boiling water, dump out the water, then place the food inside the thermos – it should stay warm until lunchtime. Throughout the year, make sure to check expiration dates to avoid eating spoiled food. It’s also a good idea to pack a hand sanitizer in case your kids can’t make it to the bathroom to wash their hands before lunchtime.
Add Personal Touches
We know not everyone has all the time in the world to pack lunches, but we’re sure you know that a little love goes a long way with young ones! Throw in small handwritten notes every once in awhile, or even print out and pack one of these cute templates. Cutting sandwiches, fruits and veggies into fun shapes is another creative way to add a personal touch to your child’s lunch.
Keep this school year stress-free with a lunch-packing strategy that works best for your family! Once you have your plan in place, head to your local Sparkle Market for all the quality ingredients you need for your child’s lunch.
