5 Tips You Need for Packing Kids Lunches
I’m only 5 weeks into packing kids lunches and I can see where the overwhelm comes in.
I don’t know about you but feeding them lunch at home felt so much easier than packing options into these little lunch boxes every day and hoping for the best when I open it up at the end of the day.
With the rise of social media, the rise of societal pressure and Mom-pressure is real. Seeing pictures of perfectly curated lunches, cute shapes, creative ideas, fancy designs. It’s a lot.
It’s hard enough to pack lunches every day let alone seeing other pictures and comparing to what other parents are including in their lunch boxes.
So, let’s take a step back and let me reassure you that whatever you are sending, whatever you are cooking, is enough. You’re doing great. A lot of days we’re all just trying to keep our heads above water.
I can say that sometimes cute shapes or cookie-cutter sandwiches can be the difference between Cutcheon eating a sandwich or not eating it, so these tools have their place. But this does not to be every day. Or any day, if that doesn’t work for you.
Honestly, let’s just stop comparing and give yourself some grace because feeding kids isn’t easy.
Okay…now that that’s out of the way!
Today I’m sharing my top 5 tips for how I’m managing lunches, reducing the overwhelm and ensuring nutrient-dense options.
Keep It Simple
Think about what’s sustainable for you long term? Do you make lunches in the morning or the night before? I am typically making Cutcheon’s lunch in the morning so that it stays fresh and he’ll be more likely to eat it. This means I have about 5 minutes in the morning to get his lunch together. I am sticking with simple options that I know he’ll eat so that I’m less stressed to start the day and he stays fueled throughout the day.
Add in variety
All of our kids have their favourites. If it were up to Cutcheon, he’d have yogurt and granola bars every day for lunch and snack and dinner and more snacks. I offer these foods frequently, but I do make sure to serve some variety throughout the week and I try not to send the same food two days in a row. If that feels unrealistic for you, you can add variety by changing up the fruit that is offered, changing the shape of the sandwich or swapping in different crackers. Even one small change encourages them to expand their selections.
Create a system
You probably know by now that I love a system. Systems streamline daily tasks so you can go on autopilot and it doesn’t have to take up as much brain space as it would otherwise. For me, this looks like 3 weeks of lunches written out that I can rotate between. I’ll change up the fruit or the veggie depending on what we have in the fridge and what’s in season. But I am rotating through 15 different simple lunches for Cutcheon.
Convenience is Okay!
I’ve never had so many packages of crackers open in our pantry, but this is life with school lunches. I am all about striking a balance between fresh and packaged options. Using packaged foods like crackers, granola bars, string cheese and fruit pouches are easy, convenient foods that can still be nutritious for our littles. I like to opt for whole grain whenever possible and try to find granola bars with at least 2-3 grams of fiber and protein.
Don’t get discouraged
This is the hardest one of all, but also so important. There have already been many days when Cutcheon comes home and hasn’t eaten his lunch when I thought it was a sure thing that he would eat it. Remember that your kids are busy, distracted and around friends when eating. I’m also sending a veggie most days that I know he likely won’t eat, but I keep sending different options as exposure for him and to continue to broaden his interest in foods. When they do get home and you look at their lunch box from the day, remember that how you talk about food matters. Instead of saying things like, “why didn’t you eat your lunch?” that might make them feel bad or like they’ve disappointed you, you can say something more productive like “looks like you weren’t very hungry today” or “did you have enough time to eat at lunch?” This encourages a positive discussion about mealtimes and opens up a more helpful conversation.
What are some go-to lunches that your littles will always eat? I love to hear new ideas that are working for other families!
