Back to School Bootcamp: Retool the Lunch Box

[HeatherNYC]

More back-to-school Family Piggy Bank fun, peeps. Let's all take a moment and think about the end of the school year, when the kids come home and you open up their Batman lunch box or the Dora lunch sak...and find almost everything still in there. Maybe a nibble was munched off the side of the sandwich, but the rest is still there. Wasted food means wasted money. So, how can we retool that lunch box this year to be sure that the lunch you pack makes it to the belly (at least most of the time)? Here are some ideas. Nothing guaranteed, mind you, but worth a shot.

-- Get tools. I've mentioned before here and on other hubs that cool cookie cutters makes it fun for those sandwiches lovers. An easy way to change it up without taking a huge risk. They make tons of them, make words, animals, keep it seasonal. Its is a fun surprise as they open up the lunch box to see if they have a jelly brontosaurus or a jelly star.

-- Get more tools. I'm thinking a thermos (or two). Not only can you use it for her drink (much more economical than juice boxes or milk boxes), but you can use them to send some variety for lunch, like pasta or soup or mac and cheese (much of which could be leftovers from the dinner the night before - again, saving you money).

-- Leftovers. Since we are on the subject, check out this fantastic idea from Eating Well to use some chicken you have left over from the basic baked chicken you made yesterday. What you need: 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken, 1/4 cup shredded carrots, 2 tablespoons barbecue sauce, 2 teaspoons light ranch dressing, 1 small whole-wheat sandwich bun, 1 leaf romaine lettuce. Combine chicken, carrots and barbecue sauce in a bowl. Spread ranch dressing on the bun. Top with the chicken mixture and lettuce.

-- Make a Breakfast Sandwich. Forget the eggs, I'm talking those frozen waffles. Spread with low-sugar jam or cream cheese. Add in a baggie of fruit and it is super-yummy

What kind of lunch bx does your kid have? What won't she eat? 

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[mallowcup17]

good tips. as of right now she doesnt have one. she is not a picky eater at all and will eat pretty much everything..

[lalasmama2007]

She only has 1/2 day kindergarten, so no lunchbox yet.

[catngabsmom]

My girls each have the 31 lunch totes that look more like purses. They are not sandwich eaters at all. They prefer snack-y, finger type foods or salads. Typical lunch box here is water in a re-usable container for oldest dd and youngest dd like the sparkling v-8 fusions, cut up fresh veggies and fruit, crackers, pita chips or pretzels, cheese and deli meat, basically anything that allows a tween girl to chit chat at lunch while re-fueling.

[goddess99]

I will be packing different crackers, beef sticks, garlic salami, black olives, pickles, apples, cheese sticks, water, juice, hard boiled eggs, pb sandwiches, ham and hard salami sandwiches on a bun,...

My dd won't eat jelly, and some of the hot lunches school serves.

[ceciliam]

I purchased a Pack-It for my son and now I need to find a good set of reusable containers. This will be his first year of full day school so I'm still putting together lunch ideas.

[daerca574]

 My kiddos don't take lunches, but so far everyday this week they have come home complaining about the school lunches. 

[i.heart.myboys]

Thanks for the tips!

[.Angelica.]

no school or lunchbox yet.

[Madelaine]

They buy lunch but there are some cute lunch boxes out there.

[Bmat]

MIne wouldn't eat the fruit I put in there, and from what I saw when I would eat lunch in the cafeteria with them, a lot of children tossed the sandwiches also.