In August 2016, a friend of mine posed on her Facebook page that she had pre-packed some lunch items for her daughter in preparation for school starting. She had a picture and I thought, I could totally do that. My sister had been in a bit of a financial strain recently and with the kids no longer receiving reduced lunches she was struggling to make sure they had sufficient food for their lunches.
Later that week, I was blessed with some extra financial support and as I prayed about it, I felt like I should buy the kiddos some food for their lunches but I also wanted to try this pre-packed lunch items idea. I know that the prepared items will make mornings a lot easier on everyone cause they can just grab what they want (within reason) and my sister knows that they are getting nutritious food.
When I gave her all the food & showed her what all I had done, she posted a pic on Facebook and immediately got a huge response with several people asking if I would come live with them or do the same for them. I had already planned to write a blog about it so I thought I'd go ahead & do it now.
So here's what I did:
Later that week, I was blessed with some extra financial support and as I prayed about it, I felt like I should buy the kiddos some food for their lunches but I also wanted to try this pre-packed lunch items idea. I know that the prepared items will make mornings a lot easier on everyone cause they can just grab what they want (within reason) and my sister knows that they are getting nutritious food.
When I gave her all the food & showed her what all I had done, she posted a pic on Facebook and immediately got a huge response with several people asking if I would come live with them or do the same for them. I had already planned to write a blog about it so I thought I'd go ahead & do it now.
So here's what I did:
I went to the local store & bought things that I knew my niece and nephew would eat which I knew since I'd been watching them a couple days a week the last few weeks before school started. I bought turkey, ham, cheese cubes (easier to package), pepperoni, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, round crackers, etc. I, of course, included some extras like cookies and candy.
I also purchased some of those individual plastic cups with lids in the 5.5 oz & 2 oz sizes that were found in the paper products aisle. These were PERFECT for prepackaging this yummy lunch. Now, if the thought of throwing away all those cups, just use the small plastic reusable containers but I figured my niece & nephew would probably end up throwing them away on accident anyways! I also bought a box of those small snack-sized zip-top baggies as well.
I laid everything out on the counter and with my mom's help, we cut everything up, prepped a few things and started packing. I found a small round cutter and cut a few slices of each of the meats and was able use the smaller cups to fill with individual portions of turkey, ham, or pepperoni. They fit perfectly.
I also purchased some of those individual plastic cups with lids in the 5.5 oz & 2 oz sizes that were found in the paper products aisle. These were PERFECT for prepackaging this yummy lunch. Now, if the thought of throwing away all those cups, just use the small plastic reusable containers but I figured my niece & nephew would probably end up throwing them away on accident anyways! I also bought a box of those small snack-sized zip-top baggies as well.
I laid everything out on the counter and with my mom's help, we cut everything up, prepped a few things and started packing. I found a small round cutter and cut a few slices of each of the meats and was able use the smaller cups to fill with individual portions of turkey, ham, or pepperoni. They fit perfectly.
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I filled more small cups with the cheese cubes, making sure I made up enough for several meat/cheese combos. The larger cups were perfect for a few carrot sticks and a handful of grape tomatoes and some fruit cups. I made up two different kinds of fruit cups, one a strawberry/blueberry combo for my niece and the other a cantaloupe/strawberry combo for my nephew. They were also perfect for the round crackers to go with the meat.
I then cut up some cucumber slices and put them in some baggies, divided up the cookies (3 to a bag), and even portioned out the candies. We then put like things together in gallon-sized zip-top baggies to help contain them.
I then cut up some cucumber slices and put them in some baggies, divided up the cookies (3 to a bag), and even portioned out the candies. We then put like things together in gallon-sized zip-top baggies to help contain them.
So I know your probably thinking that this seems like a lot of work and will cost a fortune but it really only took about an hour total to package everything up and as I did a cost analysis of what I spent and used, it ends up being less than $3 per meal.
Here is the breakdown:
Here is the breakdown:
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If it were my kids, I would put each category item into plastic shoe boxes in the fridge marked with MEAT, CHEESE, FRUIT, VEGGIE and a number of how many of each item they can have for lunch. I would do the same with the pantry items (SNACKS, COOKIES, CHIPS) that way the kids know exactly how to pack their own lunches and they are more likely to eat what they have if they've chosen it themselves. Better yet, have the kids help you make them. Teach them about food, nutrition, portion sizes and for younger ones its a counting lesson.
Another idea is a whole loaf or two worth of pb&j sandwiches that are cut in cute shapes and frozen, they'll thaw in the lunch box by the time they are ready to eat. You can also premake some ham & cheese sandwiches for the fridge box as well.
I have some incredible ideas for fast, easy breakfast on the go as well and will share those in a future post.
What are some of your go-to ideas for helping the kids eat nutritious while saving time? Comment below and share those ideas with the rest of us.
If you like it, make sure you pin it so others can find it!
Another idea is a whole loaf or two worth of pb&j sandwiches that are cut in cute shapes and frozen, they'll thaw in the lunch box by the time they are ready to eat. You can also premake some ham & cheese sandwiches for the fridge box as well.
I have some incredible ideas for fast, easy breakfast on the go as well and will share those in a future post.
What are some of your go-to ideas for helping the kids eat nutritious while saving time? Comment below and share those ideas with the rest of us.
If you like it, make sure you pin it so others can find it!
* This post originally appeared on the Things I'm Learning blog in August 2016.
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