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I am not a morning person. At all. Our family needs to exit the house around 7am during the school year to make sure my 4 kids arrive at 3 different schools on time. There is hair to be done, breakfast to be made, morning chores, and school lunch to prepare times four. Teaching my kids to make their own school lunches became essential for my sanity and it helped them to learn important life skills as well as a sense of responsibility.
Remember how I’m not a morning gal? Well, it takes effort to be patient, loving, & plugged in before I send my 4 kiddos out in the world. A few years ago, I separated out what I needed to do versus what they were able to do to keep things sane for all of us. We use a system that is so simple and it allows my kids to pack their own lunches, even in the preschool years! Here’s what we do:
Step 1: choose a “main meal”- either a sandwich, pizza, or quesadilla along with an ice pack from the freezer. Our Post on Easy Lunchbox Hacks will tell you all about how we pre-make these and freeze them.
Step 2: grab a drink(we generally use the pint size water bottles or a refillable water bottle, juice boxes are a once in awhile thing) and a fruit serving. Our fruit servings are applesauce cups, fruit bowls, or fresh fruits. The drinks and fruits are kept in a large drawer in our refrigerator.
Step 3: {Optional, not always available} pick a cheese stick, yogurt, or hard boiled egg. I generally have at least one of these available when I know we’re not coming straight home afterschool. That way, the extra protein serving(s) winds up tiding them over and we avoid the Chick-Fil-A drive thru. Well, sometimes we end up there anyway, who am I kidding?
Step 4: choose items from among our 3 snack jars. There is a jar of salty, one of sweet, and one of miscellaneous items like granola bars, raisins, or fruit snacks. They’re permitted one item from each jar and the younger ones rarely eat everything at school; however, my kids tend to jump in the van afterschool and are famished so there is a snack awaiting them, right in their lunchbox!
The key to all of this is prep work. Approximately every other week the kids & I refill the jars and I keep the fruit/water drawer continuously stocked.
As an added way to stretch our budget, I buy bulk quantities of snacks and we create our own snack size servings and place them in the jar.
Studies abound that demonstrate children who have regular chores are more confident, independent, and secure. By allowing your children to acquire life skills, you’re helping in their overall development and eliminating one more thing from your busy mornings!
Want even more School Lunch help, be sure to check our our post on Healthy, Quick and Easy School Lunch Ideas
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Caryn says
I LOVE your snack jars. And, easy lunch box hacks are up my alley, too. I’m into freezing yogurt, smoothies and even cheese to eat later in the day.
Jessica says
Pinned and saving. I definitely need this for my little man!
Sarah says
Great tips and ideas! Can’t wait until my kids are old enough to help pack their lunch. It’s always a race against the clock in the mornings.
Laura Martin says
Love love love this! My son will love this when he is a little older.
aimee fauci says
I should and could make my girls pack their own lunches but it is so much easier to do it myself and knowing them they’d forget to pack something healthy.
Tiffani says
Girl, I wanted to stand up shout “Amen!” & do a happy dance when I came across your post. Our school year started 2 weeks ago & my 11, 9, & 7 year old are making their lunches for the first time. My arm is in a sling so they have been forced to fend for themselves. However, this has made them more patient with each other & more willing to work together. A blessing in our house!
Paris at My Big Fat Happy Life says
What a great idea! I love getting my daughter involved.
Joanna Sormunen says
I’m so going to implement this with my son! It’s such a great way to help him become more independant and understand about healthy choices!
Michelle Myers says
So glad you liked the ideas, I love when things help our kids and us!
Kristia {Family Balance Sheet} says
A friend of mine still packs her high schooler’s lunch every day. My 3rd grader has been packing her lunch since 1st grade and I’m now helping my 1st grader become just as independent.
Michelle Myers says
It’s so important to help kids achieve independence, great work, Kristia!
Belinda says
Great idea. I particularly like how you pack enough for the whole day the kids will be out and about. It is helpful to have a different idea than doing it the night before which is what most people do to answer the stress of the morning rush. Though we homeschool so we don’t pack lunch – the kids do make their own lunches and there are foods that have been bought for lunches – I do talk to a lot of mums about this issue – I’m sure I’ll be passing on this idea.
Michelle Myers says
So glad you liked the post, Belinda! My sister was a homeschooling mom for several years and still found there were days she needed to have her kids pack a lunch so it’s a great skill to have! I love that your kids make their own lunches at home, way to teach life skills!!!!!
Ali says
All are well and done ideas, however, this is mostly junk (processed foods) that you are suggesting, according to the pictures! Too much sodium and sugars…bad!
There needs to be more vegetables and fruits, less fruit juices (too much fructose) plain water is best, greek yogurts (can be very tasty with fresh fruits added), left overs from night before, salads, home made muffins, home made granola bars, etc. (At least you know what you have put into them). Less wheat products as more and more kids allergic to gluten. We need to teach our children the benefits of healthy foods and it begins with education. Let’s instill good habits in our kids and they will carry it on for a life time. Just saying 🙂
Michelle Myers says
Hi Ali! Thanks so much for reading the post and yes, there is always a way to improve! This wasn’t labeled as “healthy” or “best” but as a METHOD for kids to use to achieve independence. There is no reason why the suggestions you made cannot be implemented and the METHOD used. Also, I did note my kids do take fresh fruits, water, etc. I’m guessing your main issues were with the snack jars, which could easily be modified to what works best for you and your family. I appreciate your feedback! 🙂
Ali says
Hi,
Yes, I agree with you! I really don’t mean to be critical, but I did cringe at the processed foods in your pictures 😉 Love the jar idea tho!… But we try our best to provide good lunches for our kids. I have been guilty with providing sandwiches which contain processed lunch meats, and there are always alternatives. Love your site!
Ali says
Hi,
Please don’t get me wrong. It just strikes a chord with me about processed everything, with all the additives added these days, and kids are just so used to getting it (ie. Mc-D’s, etc). I have learned a lot along the way. My kids are in their twenties and we did lots of lunches together. Love that we can teach them independence 🙂
Carrie says
In a year or two, I’ll let my daughter take over lunch making and packing. Right now I am enjoying it too much. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Laura at Mommy Maleta says
This is exactly what we are doing at our house! Those snack bins seem to empty too quickly…thx for linking this post up over at the thoughtful spot. Hope to see more from you soon!
Gina says
I love that you encourage your kids to do so much for themselves. I am really working on that. It’s just easier to do it myself–and faster–so I’m making everyone get started on the morning routine with plenty of time so they can be more independent.
Sharon@DiscoverExploreLearn says
Great tips! Now, I just need to apply them. 🙂 Is is bad that I still pack all of my kids’ lunches? Yep, even my highschooler. Ridiculous, I know. 🙂
Randi says
I really liked these ideas! We homeschool, but there are a couple days during the week that require a packed lunch- I love the idea of having jars with snack options. I’m totally trying this out!
Antionette Blake says
Great job mom and it won’t be long before they are older and eating you out of house and home! Great share, thank you for visiting us at the #WWDParty.
Sandi says
Fully agree – teach kids independence skills. We had a very similar system. Each child had to choose a sandwich or equivalent, a piece of fruit, a healthy snack and a treat and fill their juice bottle. They chose what they wanted for lunch, so I heard way fewer complaints. The kids also had to start cooking a dinner a week when they were 11. Both kids left home competent in the kitchen and capable of cooking healthy meals when they went to university.
Caroline says
Great idea. I really have to start a similar system and get my kids to pack their own lunch!!! That would save me some time. Thanks for sharing!
Lynn says
Great tips!! I generally try to get as much as I can packed the night before, and the fridge stuff in the morning. Packing lunches is my least fav thing to do when school starts back.
Rachel @ R & R Workshop says
I love all of these ideas!! We try and buy in bulk but then we get sick of the same crackers over and over. but maybe putting them into small bags and putting the rest away may help. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
Alana @ ihaveafutureandahope.com says
I really need to start buying in bulk Rachel @ R & R Workshop. Guess I will be heading to a COSCO somewhere soon!
Alana @ ihaveafutureandahope.com says
This is a great way to eliminate the stress. I love all the pre-packing of items. Great ideas.
Kira K. says
What a great idea! I have been prepping my kids lunches on school nights, but I think I am going to have them start doing it themselves based on your tips!
Allison @ Lighten Up! says
I LOVE your lunch-packing system! Great idea to get the kids involved!
Marie says
What a great post! I wish my son were able to pack his own lunch. He’s not quite there yet, but maybe throughout this year we can transition him to being the main “packer”. lol
Katie @ Little House of Four says
I am so not a morning person either! I feel you on getting the kids and myself presentable and out the door on time for school and work. I love the idea of having the kids help in the morning (or evening) with packing their lunch. And those jars you used are perfect and great for the kids to easily access and know what to grab. Great job!