MetroFamily Magazine / October 2012 / Pack It Up! 10 School Lunch Ideas

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Pack It Up! 10 School Lunch Ideas

Are your kids already complaining of boredom when it comes to the lunches you’re packing? Try something new!

1. Buy it: Invest in small reusable containers for pudding, gelatin or fruit cups. Try the Planet Box Lunch System ($40+, www.planetbox.com) for a durable, reusable option for packing up lunch.
2. Cut it: For the diehard sandwich eater, use large cookie cutters to cut their favorite sandwich into interesting shapes. Try the Mom-Invented Puzzle Bites Sandwich Cutter ($4, www.ginsey.com) for a fun alternative.
3. Dip it: Try carrot sticks in ranch dressing or apple slices in peanut butter.
4. Freeze it: Freeze a juice box or water bottle and pack with perishables.
5. Heat it: In a thermos, heat up anything from canned soup to last night’s chili. Try the Thermos Foogo Baby Bento, with 2 insulated containers in an insulated bag. ($20, www.thermos.com)
6. Rethink it: Try new things! Consider freeze-dried organic fruit by Little Duck Organics in Strawberry Mango. ($4, www.littleduckorganics.com)
7. Roll it: Make roll-ups by rolling several slices of lunch meat together, then cut in half and secure with toothpicks. Or, roll lunchmeat around cheese sticks.
8. Stack it: Cut lunch meat and cheese into small squares and pack with crackers.
9. Wrap it: Turn their favorite sandwich into a wrap. Use large tortillas to wrap anything from PB&J to turkey and avocado.
10. Write it: A handwritten note from mom or dad in their lunch box makes a kid feel special; from “I love you” to jokes or words of encouragement on test day.