This article is sponsored by Fruit Shoot
Packing lunches is something that started earlier in motherhood than I expected it to. I figured I wouldn’t have to worry about it until my kiddos were in school, but alas, day trips to the zoo or even visits to friends houses cause me to need to think about packing good and nutritious lunches for my kiddos, while still making it something that they will actually eat.
Here are a few of my best tips for packing lunches for kids, whether they are going to school, on a fun trip or even to a friend’s house!
- Make what they like – Lunch time is the middle-meal, where I let my kids have lots of control. They have options and can (within reason) choose their own food. They love getting to select what they eat, and always eat better because it’s something they’ve come up with! Even when packing lunches, you can ask your kids ahead of time what they’d like, or see if they want to choose between several options you have on hand. Frequently, my kiddos choose things that I wouldn’t necessarily put together (like edemame and pizza rolls or salad with ketchup) but as long as they are eating some good food, I let it slide and allow them to explore their own tastes.
- Squishies – If you are packing anything that can be squished, be sure to protect it! Don’t put big cans in with a sandwich or a zip lock of crackers. It seems silly to say, but I’ve learned this lesson the hard way several times now!
- Spill proof – Make sure that everything you put in the lunch box/bag is spill proof! That’s one of the awesome things about fruit shoot! They have spill-proof lids that ensure no spilling in the bag or in the car or wherever your kiddo might be drinking them. I also appreciate that they come in lightweight packaging so that I don’t have to worry about them crushing chips or sandwiches!
- Make it ahead of time – Becky, has a great tip on how to make school lunches for the week just once! It’s genius!
- Lots of finger foods – Maybe it’s because my kids are still pretty young, but I’ve found that finger foods make the best on-the-go lunches. We don’t have to worry about forks or spoons being lost and the kids usually end up snacking all during our outings, and only eating a bit when we sit down for lunch. Having easily snack-able lunch foods helps them eat in the way they want to it, which is easiest for me as well!
Some of our favorite lunch options in case you are in a rut:
- PBJ
- Peanut butter on a rice cake (with sprinkles!)
- Corndogs
- Chicken Nuggets
- Leftovers
- Edamame (they love getting to squeeze the bean out!)
- Salad
- Plate of veggies with dip (anything with dip!)
- Pizza rolls
- Cheese and ham cut in fun shapes with cookie cutters (my genius friend Sarah showed me how to do this)
- Smoothies
- French bread – there’s something about having chunks of bread, instead of slices that makes it so much more appealing!
How old were your kids when you started packing lunches? What is your best tip for making it easy on yourself but still enjoyable for them? If you are looking for more ideas be sure to check out the Fruit Shoot Facebook page, they always have great lunchtime ideas there!!!
Elle says
I like that you give a handy list incase. I am always stuck on what to bring as a snack. Seriously, thank you for ideas to have on hand. My eldest is about to start school and I need to be prepared for packing lunches. PBJ is always a favorite for our afternoon snacks at home, so of course for lunch it seems worthy enough to pack :)
Kim says
We started in kindergarten. He is in fifth now. I still have a hard time finding things he likes. Thanks for some fresh ideas. That fruit shoot sounds awesome.