Back-to-school season is a busy time for families and it can be easy as a parent to get overwhelmed. There are clothes to be laid out, backpacks to pack, homework to check, and lunches to be made. All of that is on top of all the normal household duties you have to take care of to keep your home running smoothly.
Why not take one of those items off of your list entirely? As your children get older, you can have them take the responsibility for packing their lunches each day. With a little help from your handy school lunch packing station, of course!
A school lunch packing station is a selection of filled bins that you can place in the refrigerator and pantry. From there, your kids can make their selections each day and pack their own lunch. Not only will this take a task off of your plate, but it also teaches your children responsibility and independence—plus, they get to put together a lunch that they know they will enjoy.
To help your kids put together a balanced lunch, stick signs to each bin letting them know how many items to grab from each bin.
Having your children pack their lunches themselves is an opportunity for them to learn more about making balanced meals and healthy food choices.
Pantry Packing Station
• Packets of tuna, salmon, or chicken
• Peanut or other nut butter dips
• Whole grain bread, bagels, tortillas, or crackers
• Fresh fruit like apples, bananas, oranges, or stone fruits
• Cherry tomatoes
• Dried fruit and fruit leather
• Cups of applesauce or fruit cups
• Individual cups of soup
• Jerky
• Nuts or trail mix
• Granola bars
• Whole grain chips or popcorn
Refrigerator Packing Station
• Deli meat and cheese
• Milk, chocolate milk, water, or juice
• Individual containers of dips, hummus, or guacamole
• Washed and cut fruits like berries, kiwi, melons, grapes, or snap peas
• Washed and cut vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, or carrots
• Leftovers from dinner
• Pre-washed salad greens
• String cheese or individually-wrapped cheese
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Yogurt cups or pouches
Get started with these ideas. Then, ask your kids for their input. What would they like to see in the bins next week? Rotate items out so they don’t get bored with the same things every week. Consider if they have a place to heat up their lunch at school.
Make sure to leave them a note to grab a freezer pack to keep refrigerator food cold until lunch rolls around.
Make sure that you refill your lunch box packing stations before the week begins, and again through the week if items begin to run low.
You might also consider having a separate snacking station in the pantry and refrigerator. This way you won’t have to worry about hungry kids coming home after school and eating all of your lunch box food.
Having the kids pack their lunches before school will take some preparation on your end, but it will save you at least a little time on those busy weekday mornings. It can also reduce the number of complaints that you might hear about what they found in their lunch box or reduce the number of things that come back home with them!