5 Back-to-School Lunchbox Hacks

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I’m back today with another back-to-school post! And this one is all about lunchbox hacks – what to pack and how to get it done quickly! If you’re like me, you know the lunchbox struggle all too well. Your kids never want to eat what you pack (unless of course, it’s total junk) and every night after the kids go to bed you stare into your pantry wondering why it’s taken you nearly 20 minutes to pack lunches. Sound familiar? This school year I’ve made it a point to solve the lunchbox dilemma in our house with these 5 easy back-to-school lunchbox hacks!

1. Find an easy “lunchbox ready” drink solution

Real talk – leaky water bottles inside lunchboxes drive me crazy. If given the choice, I usually choose to pack a sealed drink. My son has never been a fan of juice, so instead I pack him his favorite Hershey’s® 2% Chocolate Shelf Stable Milk. Made with Hershey’s® cocoa, they are convenient, ready to drink & the best part – no straw needed! I love that they are made with Grade A 2% Reduced Fat rBST Free Milk, too. And did I mention there are no straws to fuss with (or worse, lose)?! With an easy screw top, you won’t have to worry about straws falling on the ground or getting stuck down inside the carton. Mamas, I know you’ve heard the cries from your kids and know what I’m talking about!

2. Skip the individual snack size bags & make your own

I realize this “hack” isn’t really a time-saving one, but instead a money-saving solution to those individual snack size bags. When it comes to the kids’ favorite snacks, I buy the family size bags and then portion out individual sized servings myself. I find that it not only saves money, but also saves on waste, too. My kids are notorious for opening a bag of chips and then only eating a few of them. With a resealable sandwich (or snack size) bag, they can easily save their snack for later.

3. Set up a lunchbox packing station

This lunchbox hack not only helps with pantry organization but also gets the kids involved in the lunch making process! Win, win! After you’ve portioned out your snacks into resealable bags, toss them into storage containers and store them in your pantry. When it’s time to pack your lunch, simply take them out and let your kids start packing. You can set up your own guidelines here (for example: pick 1 snack from container #1, pick another snack from container # 2, etc…). You can even do this for fruit + veggies and store these in your fridge as well. It’s all about getting them involved while giving them choices.

4. Make your own “lunchables”

Use silicone cupcake liners and make your own “lunchables”. I don’t know about your kids, but mine always do better when they get a variety of options in snack size portions. And who doesn’t like to eat out of cute cupcake liners?! These are also a great way to turn any regular lunch container into a fun Bento-style lunchbox!

5. Get creative – use cookie cutters to make lunchtime fun!

Use cookie cutters to cut sandwiches, cheese & even lunch meat into fun cut-outs & shapes. In our home, I’ve found that the key to getting my kids to not only try new foods, but to also eat the food I pack them is to make it fun and offer choices. Serving my 6 year old’s favorite Hershey’s® Chocolate Milk is just another bonus!

This back-to-school season head to Publix and stock up on this easy “lunchbox ready” drink solution. With a 13 month shelf life, stocking up is a no-brainer! And even more of a reason to stock up – from now through September 7th there is an awesome load-to-card offer available at Publix on Hershey’s® 2% Chocolate Shelf Stable Milk (Note: You must be logged in with your Publix ID to view this Hershey’s® load to card special offer).

With a cute lunchbox & Hershey’s® Chocolate Milk in hand, my 1st grader is officially ready for his 1st day of school!

What are your favorite lunchbox hacks?

xo,

Sumer

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