OT again.... Packing School Lunches

[MyEbella]

So does anyone pack their kids lunches this way?





I love the shapes and the way they set up the lunches and soo many less sandwhich bags.

A great blog:
http://lunchinabox.net/

easy storage containers....
http://www.easylunchboxes.com/

This ebay store has some stuff:
http://stores.ebay.com/Bento-Mama?refid=store

a fun blog about bento lunches
http://bentolunch.blogspot.com/

Lunch punches....
http://www.lunchpunch.com.au/

little tiny souffle cups to put ranch or bbq sauce or anything else in... (they have lids too)
http://www.acemart.com/catering/disp.../prod5835.html


Both of the kids will be in all day school this year (E in 2nd grade and Bella in all day kindergarten) so I am really trying to think simple and easy for both of them. We aren't fancy lunch people either...
aka sandwiches (or just plain lunch meat and cheese--- why I love the idea of the mini shapes), chips, fruit, gummies (also looking for more simple ideas.....)
I have already bought a heart shape and dinosaur shaped cutters to cut the sandwiches!

It is fast approaching so I am trying to get things figured out!
Just thought you guys would have some great input too...

[Milmomma]

LOL, we have bento boxes for the kids and since X is going to all day Kindy he will be using his. Ours are the traditional Japanese style since that's what they have over here.

[MamaBee]

I pack my hubby's lunch like the top one.. I'm so use to using a divided plate for my 3 year old, that I guess it carries over to hubby. LOL!

Thanks so much for the links!! I'm going to bookmark this for future reference!

[MichaelsMomJo]

I try to use reusable containers as often as possible because 1) it saves money and 2) it's better for the environment. That being said, I don't send anything to school that absolutely has to come home because sometimes it doesn't make it home. So I use the Glad, Ziploc, store brand containers (whatever's on sale when it's time to replenish).

[meems]

thanks for the links. I need lunch ideas. my son is especially picky.

I just got some Planetboxes for my kids. Susan (Chef) had posted about them awhile ago. I will not be happy if someone (most likely DD) loses their Planetbox.

I try to avoid food in plastic as much I can. I have no real reasoning for this. Probably my way to rationalize buying Planetboxes, which were not cheap.

[KateD]

We use something similar to a bento box and it works great! The containers are small enough to fit into their lunch boxes but large enough to hold a sandwich, fruit, veggie, trail mix in a smaller inner container, a cheese stick, and some sort of small treat like a bite-sized candy bar. The kids have a lot of fun with them and I like that there's not a lot of wasted baggies.

My friend Jenn has a blog, Frugal Upstate, where she talks about everything from homemade laundry detergent to making party decorations to packing school lunches. She has several posts with lots of ideas and a regular feature where she writes about what she sends to school each day in their lunchboxes, and there are usually pictures, too.

[nonnie]

I would love to do this...but I have a feeling it would just not go over well in this house - I would have to listen to "Really mom - the weird food is not enough (by weird they mean healthy) ... enough with the organic crap - I'll just buy my lunch"

[meems]

oh i'm pretty sure you could do this type of lunch with crap food.

[BrattyMeg]

I pack ours somewhat like that..my kids are definitely grazers (as am I) and would rather eat smaller things (not leftovers though blech) such as grapes, cheese cubes, fruit, etc than a sandwich and chips.

[sari55]

I think it's cute! My boys think it's too girly! LOL! I use divided containers though but can't "cutesy" it up.... Boys! Thanks for all the links! Need to get some of those containers to hold ketchup and stuff!

[MyEbella]

I know I couldn't believe how cheap it was for some of those containers... might have to see if they have bigger ones too...

well I did buy some cookie cutters last night to use w/ sandwiches and cheeses ... hands, feet, car, plane, flower, boy stuff too.... =)

I like the idea of having stuff kind of thrown in so they don't have to open a ton of different things to eat all of their food...

[MyEbella]

OMG I just looked at the planet boxes... do they close good? I love them...
now I think w/ all of this my only concern is that they will have snack especially at morning recess for something simple to have them eat at snack so they don't have to get into their planet box?? hmmm not sure how that will all work... (they eat snack at recess)

[kristijoy]

I just bought my kid a 'laptop lunch box' from the local natural foods store. Love the way it is organized and BPA free too!

http://www.laptoplunches.com/

And for you veg/vegan folks out there, check out this resource! I just got her book at the library--awesome!

http://www.veganlunchbox.com/

[fruitysuet]

I have stocked up on lots of little plastic lidded containers ... my girls don't like sandwiches so their lunchbox is made up of different salad items, cheese, sausage rolls, biscuits and so on. Everything goes in a little plastic container then those go in a larger plastic lunch box with their drink - also in reusable bottles. I hated all the waste before using plastic sandwich bags.

[sari55]

So bummed! Went to order those little 1oz cups and they wanted to charge me 14.75 SHIPPING. My total order was only 6.50! UGH! No way Jose!!

Ended up finding a few cutsey resuable ones in boy colors on ebay though! So at least I found something! And with 2.00 shipping! MUCH better!

[schock77]

Originally Posted by meems

oh i'm pretty sure you could do this type of lunch with crap food.

LOL! That's how mine got started! Great thread... always looking for ideas so my kids don't turn into Lunchables!

[DawnMarch]

I also liked these that they have at that Raspberry Kids site that Jennifer shared yesterday:

http://www.raspberrykids.com/kids-fe...box-slate.html

[sari55]

Now those are super cool!!! SO many options out there!