Photo by Miss Natalie
I like to pack lunch for the kiddos because #1 I think it is healthier* and #2 I save some money. I do let them buy a few times a month. We have a weekly pizza day, which they get, and then Princess ADORES mexican food, so the 1 or 2 times a month they have tacos or burritos I let her buy. I’ll do the same for Buddy this year (he starts KINDERGARTEN!) either he can get the mexican, or if there is something else I really wishes he could eat I’ll let him buy those days.**
A few days ago I sat down with both Princess and Buddy to discuss lunches. We talked about what items they would be willing to eat for lunch, both as an “entree”, a fruit/veggie and a snack. Here is what we came up with:
PB&J (Buddy only)
Want more info on how I do lunches? You can check out “The Making of a Lunch for Princess” which has a lot of info on my lunchbox philosophy plus a photo tutorial of how I pack her lunch, and “A Note on Portion Sizes” gives you some idea of the amounts I’m sending in.
You can also look forward to the revival of the “Lunchbox Report” in my right sidebar once school starts-a quick daily look at what Buddy & Princess are packing in their lunchbox that day!
So now you all can weigh in, what are your favorite lunchbox tips, tricks or foods that I didn’t mention?
*Note: Deep fried mozzarella cheese sticks actually count as an entree-what’s that all about???
**Note: The logisticas are this-when I get the monthly meal calendar I look for the mexican stuff, then on my big family calendar I’ll write “TACO” etc and highlight it so hopefully I’ll remember not to send lunch that day.
What a great idea. I am going to sit down with my daughter and talk this weekend about what entree’s and snack she would like us to pack. In fact I have thought about and am going to set up snack areas for her to pick out herself each day. We have finally learned though not to put jelly on the PBJ sandwiches….she’s a pb only kind of girl.
I cannot believe Buddy starts Kindergarten this year! Time flies.
What’s the best way to send drinks from home?
Whenever we take picnic lunches, my thermoses/lidded cups/reused bottles leak when not exactly upright.
i like photos 3 & 4, you look super casual and friendly. hmmmm. i buy a big container of yogurt at the store for $2 and then put it into smaller containers to take to work for lunch. i pack a baggie of kashi cereal seperately so that i can mix it in for a healthy, delicious and frugal snack!
Great ideas! Mine is going to 1st and taking a lunch for the first time this year and I’m a little overwhelmed thinking of ideas.
I also had never seen the small round gladware’s you use for jello and dips — I’m going to have to hunt those down… they’d be perfect for a 6 yr old
Thanks for this! I am sending lunches for one of my kids this year too–or, not exactly lunches; where we live, they’ve ditched the lunch hour for two forty-minute “nutrition” breaks (eat half your lunch and then play for twenty minutes). Makes it even more complicated, trying to do it frugally.
Sorry, pushed wrong button! I wanted to thank you for this list as my daughter’s school isn’t offering lunch and I was drawing a blank on what to send her everyday.
Thanks again!
Great list! We just started school yesterday here in NH (Sydney is in 3rd, Connor started K) and hadn’t thought of sitting down with them to create a list like this. Thanks!
We like to get squeeze yogurt (YoKids is a fave), freeze it, and make it a double-duty item — an edible ice pack, I guess you could say. Sydney really likes salads, and she always raved about the days when I had cut up some thin slices of leftover grilled steak or chicken to add in. Oftentimes, the leftover bit is almost too small for a grown ups lunch, but perfect for a child’s. Much better than the hot lunch served.
Connor does want to try hot lunch for our weekly pizza days (Fridays here too). We’ll start that next week.
Do your kids eat the Ramen Noodles, Mac N Cheese, etc cold? I’m wondering how we can successfully add that to the rotation, LOL!
Sharon-Glad you like the list idea, it does cut down on arguments!
Meredith-I just use plastic drink bottles and haven't had major problems. I save those little milk bottles from McD's happy meals, or occasionally buy 6pks of minute maid apple juice in the bottles when I see them at the dollar store. I've been lucky I guess.
NM-thanks for the photo input. And I love cereal & yogurt. The kiddos however can be more picky.
Rete-good luck with your lunch packing! Hope you can find the containers, they are perfect "snack pack" size for jello, pudding, fruit etc.
Mama Squ-For a while I was sending in B-fast & lunch, but princess asked me just to send in one bag with extra crackers for a b-fast snack!
Kat-glad this helped! If you talk w/your daughter she might have some other good ideas.
NH Mom-Sending in something already frozen does help a lot! As for the hot foods, I'll post about that today!
My daughter started kindergarten on Tuesday, and I too am packing lunches. I do plan to keep some money in her account for days when she likes what’s on the menu at school, and for days when I am unable to make lunch.
I had posted the difficulty I was having with no-leak drink containers, and my mom recommended the McDonalds milk container too. Guess I will have to go to McDonalds.
Thank you,thank you, thank you for this post! As a homeschooling mom, I have never had to pack lunches. But this year, I have a foster son who goes to public school. After buying lunch the first week ($9 !!!) I decided to make lunch.
I loved the idea of lunch, but couldn’t think of what to send, so thanks a lot!
Have a blessed weekend!