Do you have a struggle in the morning getting the kids out the door let alone worrying about what you are going to throw in their lunchbox? Sure, you want it to be healthy and nourishing, but you need to get it done fast and with a minimal mess for you to clean, no? Well here are some tips to get the job done quicker, spend less money and put a big smile on your kiddos’ faces!
1. Start a new policy! Tell your kids that EVERYTHING comes home after lunch. Even that half eaten sandwich. A lot of our moms were finding that kids were throwing out a good piece of fruit if they didn’t eat it. Also, just like in a restaurant, if the chef doesn’t see what’s coming back to the kitchen, how can he change the recipe? If you know what foods are making the cut and actually getting eaten, then you can figure out how to pack a better lunch for your kid. This will save you LOTS of money. If they are only eating half a sandwich daily, you can start making a half each day and save yourself some dough!
2. Are you overpacking? How long does your child get to eat? Is lunch 30 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes? Schools are cutting lunch hours around the country to keep up with the heavy workloads of their curriculums. Find out how long your kids have and you can judge how much to pack. ALSO, find out the conditions they are eating in. Do they have a big table? Small table? Do they eat with their coat on (don’t laugh, my own kids do it in their school)? Knowing the conditions and length of their lunch hour can help you tailor a meal that will fit the time/space allowance. If they have 10 minutes to chow down, perhaps you should skip the complicated snacks and items that require more then just, “open and eat”. If you are sending a bento box with a bunch of items, they won’t even have time to eat it and they will go for their favorite snacks instead of what’s best for them!
3. Keep em guessing! Kids get into food slumps like adults do. Many of us stick with (fill in your favorite “go to” lunch here) with a side (favorite snack) everyday because it’s easy. When the mood strikes us we might have (fill in favorite treat here). For kids, they can’t decide last minute to be a bit wild or spontaneous. That’s our job. So daily, pack their favorite go to lunch and add in a bit of flare into it. Perhaps throw in a random marshmallow or sticker. It doesn’t even have to be food related. I throw in small toys, notes, silly bands, pencils, or another random thing that you might come across. I’ve even been none to destroy our Sunday Funnies and hide them and give one to the kids each day! Good Bag prizes are great for this. Also, throw in one for a friend! My kids love to be generous, and I love to help em out!
4. You eat with your eyes first! Instead of throwing the sandwich in a ziplock, “fancy it up” as my kids say. Cut it into small circles with a cookie cutter or even buy one of the cutters made just for this purpose. If you are giving them carrots or another veggie, cut it into triangles or some other fun shape. Who says that “sticks” are the only veggie kids like. Think outside the usual, and throw them for a loop one day. Make an inside out sandwich, put the meat and cheese on the outside and the bread in the middle. Why not! Have fun with it.
5. Don’t forget the accessories! Do they need a spoon or fork? Do they need a napkin (consider a cloth napkin)? Do they need a straw? Don’t skimp on the hand wipes/sanitizer either! Make sure EVERYTHING they need is in there. And go back to rule #1. Make sure it all comes home. Think of all the money you’ll save on plastic forks and spoons if you just gave them a real one. Even if they lost it once a month, pick up a few spares at the dollar store! Let them have a “fancy” lunch.
Extra tip! STICK WITH WATER!!! If you get your kids used to drinking water at an early age you won’t get stuck in a juicebox rut! Get a great water bottle that they will be proud to have on the table (and that’s easy to wash!). Need to use filtered water, stick with one that will do the work for you. You’ll save a TON of money on bottles!
Need more lunch ideas? Check out our past articles on:
Alternative School Lunch Ideas
The great school lunch debate! Do you let the kids eat what the school serves, the nutritional value of which has been questioned lately? Or do you send a lunch along with them to make sure they are eating healthy? Do you need some fresh ideas for their lunch box? 
Twiniversity 