One of my kids’ first requests for the new school year was that I avoided packing them sandwiches. My kids have been in camp much of the summer, and sandwiches are often my go-to for mornings when we struggle to get out of the house. But I can empathize with them, because I can also tire of eating the same thing each day. My kids love bento boxes, so in honor of the new school year, I put together some easy school lunch ideas kids will love!
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School Lunch Tips
Mornings can be chaotic, so plan ahead and your kids will have the fuel they need to learn and grow this school year.
- Do all of your shopping before the new school week. There was a time when I found myself going to the grocery store every other day. Poor planning (or complete lack thereof) meant deciding after I picked up my kids that I needed any number of items for the next day. I have gotten better about shopping for everything on Sundays in order to take one extra errand off of our already busy school week.
- Include school lunches in your meal planning. I have never been great at meal planning, but as a working mom, it has become an essential time and sanity saver. Meal planning should include all 3 meals, including kids’ school lunches. I really like this simple, printable school lunch planner.
- Invest in bento boxes. Everything tastes better in a bento box! My kids LOVE this easy school lunch hack, and it has helped introduce them to new foods. Amazon has an expansive selection of bento boxes, but remember, simple works best!
- Pack school lunches the night before. Our unwritten rule during the school year is that everything my kids need for the school day needs to be packed and prepped by the door the night before. Last year, we started packing lunches at night and it has made mornings calmer and more enjoyable. The morning can set the tone for a child’s school day, so alleviating some of that stress and rushing around by packing lunches the night before was essential in our family.
- Have your kids pack their own lunches. I cannot count the number of times my kids brought their lunches home, mostly untouched. When my kids pack their own lunches, they tend to eat most of what they packed. Make this part of your family’s evening routine and your kids will enjoy a few more minutes of sleep in the morning. I also found that this helped my kids focus on getting dressed and enjoying a more leisurely breakfast.
Easy Bento Box Lunch Ideas
What I love about Bento Box lunches is that nothing actually has to be cooked. Hummus, nut butters, fruits, vegetables, and preservative-free meats work really well and kids absolutely love these lunch essentials.
My kids enjoy hot lunches, so very often, I will plan ahead while I am making dinner to ensure leftovers. For this easy Chicken and Rice Bento Box, I prepared organic chicken breasts with a touch of olive oil and some seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dried onion). Once it had finished baking, I topped it with low sodium Teriyaki Sauce. I served the chicken on top of fresh lettuce and included rice, vegetables, and a moon cake.
My son needed new lunch gear, and now that he’s entering the tween years, we decided to shop at BoxLunch located at MainPlace Mall. BoxLunch is our go-to for licensed and pop culture-inspired items including apparel, accessories, and more. And we love that the company gives back by partnering with Feeding America to provide meals on behalf of local food banks.
My son opted for a reusable Maruchan lunch sack. We also picked out Maruchan sticky notes so I can encourage him while he is at school and Calbee potato chips.
My kids could eat pizza every day! Packing pizza is difficult, because my kids do not have a way to warm up their lunches and pizza does not do well in a thermos. I decided to make a vegetarian version of these pizza bites and they were an instant hit with both of my kids. For my daughter’s lunch, I served the pizza bites with low-sodium pizza sauce (for dipping!), an assortment of vegetables, applesauce, and a fruit & grain cereal bar.
Since my daughter adores all-things Disney Princesses, we headed to The Disney Store at MainPlace Mall to pick up her new lunch essentials. She picked out a soft Disney Princess Lunch Box and paired it with a matching reusable water bottle with a straw and a thermos. The Disney Store has some awesome deals on back-to-school gear .
Be sure to visit check out all of our Back to School tips and tricks this season!
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