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Home » Kids » School Lunches

School Lunch Packing Tips + $250 in Lunch Gear from MightyNest!

This contest is now closed and the winner has been selected. Congrats to...

Stephanie O.!

It's soon going to be that time again...back-to-school. I know some of you can't wait, but for me, it's bittersweet. Especially after our fun travels so far this summer (in the RV!). I've really been enjoying the time with my girls and especially not being so scheduled, if you know what I mean. But alas, it's almost time to get back into the routine.

And with that routine of course comes the duty of packing real food lunches—something I talk about a lot around here! So I'm excited to partner with our sponsor MightyNest on today's post, which includes a campaign to equip our kids in helping to pack their own healthy lunches. Yes, you read that right! As parents, we often try to do everything for our kids, but one of the greatest gifts we can give them is empowering them to pack their own lunches. Plus, I can tell you firsthand that when my girls pack their lunches, it's almost a guarantee their lunchboxes will come home empty. (And as a bonus, this gets us off the hook AND is a good lesson in responsibility—a win-win in my book!)

So I am asking all of you to please take a pledge with me to involve your kids in packing their own real food lunches in real containers this year. What do you say? Some super cool prizes are involved. See below!

Real Food Lunches with MightNest on 100 Days of #RealFood

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School Lunch Packing Tips

    1. Take a step back.
      As I mentioned, resist the urge to just do it for them even if they are making a mess or taking too long! They will have a nice sense of accomplishment when it's all done, plus kids love to feel that they have a say in decisions. Offer them plenty of real food options to choose from, and let them go to town. And consider getting their input on what fruits, veggies, and other healthy options to buy before you even hit the store!
      Real Food Lunches with MightNest on 100 Days of #RealFood -
      -
    2. Plan ahead.
      This is my secret weapon when it comes to packing lunches. I like to have a minimum of at least 3 (or even 4) different homemade goodies in my freezer to help me along throughout the school week. This can be anything from whole-grain muffins to soups, meatballs, or whole-wheat waffles (to be used as sandwich bread). Real food lunches would not be happening in my house if it weren't for this stash!

      Real Food Lunches with MightNest on 100 Days of #RealFood
      Homemade meatballs and sauce ready for the freezer.

      -

    3. Use the right tools.
      I personally couldn't live without the right lunch packing gear. The right tools make it SO much easier and more fun for the kids to pack their lunches! Plus, you can feel good about being waste-free. Here are some fun ones from MightyNest to consider for the new school year.

Back to School Lunch Gear on 100 Days of #RealFood

-
Pack your real food lunch in real containers with these tools (pictured) from MightyNest:

    • Apple/Pear Corer - This one is perfect for kids to effectively cut apple slices to pack in their lunch (or even their snack). Readers ask me all the time what I do to prevent apples from turning brown, and long story short...nothing. :)
    • Waterproof Labels - If containers are properly labeled, there is less of a chance of losing all your precious lunch packing gear!
    • Divided Containers - Kids don't get overwhelmed when all they have to do is fill all the compartments and lunch is done. Plus this one has an adjustable divider.
    • Cookie Cutters - Who ever said cookie cutters are only for cookies? Try them on sandwiches, cheese slices, and even fruit.
    • Fruity Water Bottle - Add some flavor to water bottles with a slice of orange, grapefruit, or lime. Plus these are insulated - my favorite kind.
    • Ice Packs - Not all ice packs are created equal. Try these no sweat packs that are made from recycled plastic bottles!
    • Lunchskins - Reusable sandwich bags made from the same material as a pastry bag. They are super easy to clean.
    • Double Decker Lunchbox - Ideal for packing foods in different compartments (like keeping hot and cold separate or crunchy foods from getting squished)!

-
Real Food Lunches with MightNest on 100 Days of #RealFood-

School Lunch Program

One other thing I'd love to tell you about is the wonderful school program that MightyNest put together. With your purchase of better goods for lunch and home, MightyNest will donate 15% to your local school. A typical lunch gear order donates more than $10 to the school of choice. And MightyNest has a goal to raise $1,000,000 for schools this school year! In all honesty, my school was not a part of the program last year, but as some of you know, we've been redistricted. So I plan to get our new school set up with the program this year.

Meanwhile check out my two using this apple slicer together ...what a cute moment. :)

Real Food Lunches with MightNest on 100 Days of #RealFood
First little sister tries it, then big sister offers to help, then they realize that teamwork is the way to go ...and just check out those happy and proud girls for figuring it out!

Giveaway!

And last but definitely not least, it's giveaway time! MightyNest has some fantastic prizes including $250 worth of school lunch gear to make your packing - or your kids' packing - that much easier AND $1,000 for your school. Three winners will be chosen to win. Enter by using the form below!

The Contest is Now Closed

Contest Details:

  • 1 winner will receive $250 reusable lunch gear
  • 2 winners will receive $100 reusable lunch gear

Contest Rules:

  1. The contest is open to U.S. residents only.
  2. To enter, take the pledge (using the form just above) with me to involve your kids in packing their own real food lunches this year!
  3. The contest will end at midnight EST on Thursday, July 31, 2014.
  4. The 3 winners will be selected at random and emailed directly. The winners will have 3 days to respond before they are disqualified and a new winner is chosen.
Real Food Lunches with MightNest on 100 Days of #RealFood
Happy Packing! :)

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About Lisa Leake

Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and #1 New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.

Comments

  1. Becca says

    April 12, 2015 at 11:21 am

    Lunch ideas for teenagers? they are not big fans of bringing thermos', or leftovers. I pack their lunches in paper lunch bags, so having them bring any type of container is a pain because they throw away their lunch bags when they are done. I mostly make them sandwiches and I would love other ideas. I make their sandwiches with the Great Harvest Honey Wheat Bread and use applegate lunch meat. I want to cut down on the lunch meat because I feel they eat it too much.
    Any suggestions would be appreciated.
    Love all that you have done for making us aware. We want the best for our families and you have helped my family change the way we eat. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Amy Taylor (comment moderator) says

      April 21, 2015 at 8:31 am

      Hi there. Be sure to make your way through the school lunch round up posts where you will get lots of ideas: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/category/children-adapting/school-lunches/.

      Reply
  2. Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

    August 20, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    Hi Erin. Hmmm, maybe on Facebook? Her last video on Charlotte Today did have a lunch box that is labeled with what to include. Could it have been that? I'll keep searching. : ) ~Amy

    Reply
  3. Erin says

    August 19, 2014 at 5:12 pm

    I thought I saw you post a checklist your kids use when packing their own lunch, but now I cannot find it anywhere. Can you help? My daughter loves checklists and is excited to pack her own lunches for
    school.

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      September 02, 2014 at 8:17 am

      Hi Erin. Are you talking about the freezer post: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/08/14/real-food-tips-10-recipes-to-freeze-for-school-lunches-which-makes-packing-a-breeze/? ~Amy

      Reply
  4. Heather Bailey says

    August 17, 2014 at 3:43 pm

    I don't mean to be rude, and I do admire Mighty Nest contributing to schools....but $33 for an apple corer?!!! Are you kidding me?! I am sorry, but I will take the $2.99 version at my local grocery store :/

    Reply
  5. Cherie mohr says

    August 10, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    When putting fruit in lunches how do you keep them from turning brown?

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      August 13, 2014 at 9:45 am

      Hi Cherie. Lemon juice will slow down the oxidation process. Lisa doesn't typically do anything, however, because her girls don't mind the discoloration. ~Amy

      Reply
  6. Angie says

    August 10, 2014 at 9:42 am

    I haven't had a chance to read all of the comments so I apologize if this question has already been answered. Do you know if the ziplock divided container fits in the double decker lunch bag featured in this blog post?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      August 13, 2014 at 10:45 am

      Hello Angie. Here is an earlier response from Jason: "The container itself fits just fine, but the little lift tab that sticks out on the one corner makes zipping it a little tight. If you found that to be a problem you could easily trim the tab a bit with scissors, taking care to leave rounded edges." :)

      Reply
  7. Kathryn says

    August 08, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    Do you have any advice on packing a grilled cheese sandwich? My super picky eater loves them. I've tried on occasion to pack in his lunch but he says it isn't good. I've let it cool before packing, put it in a sandwich box, etc.
    Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says

      August 09, 2014 at 10:28 am

      Hi Kathryn. Kiran mentioned that she has a friend who puts her kids warm sandwiches in a thermos by cutting it into halves or fourths. :)

      Reply
  8. Katie says

    August 08, 2014 at 1:21 am

    Your entry is still open by the way

    Reply
  9. Shannon says

    August 07, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    I'd love to know what you've found fits in that double decker lunch bag!

    Reply
  10. Mandi says

    August 07, 2014 at 3:16 pm

    Did you already choose winners? Because the entry form is still open and I just entered before seeing the July 31st deadline.

    Reply
  11. Jema says

    August 06, 2014 at 10:52 am

    FYI, your entry form is still open.

    Reply
  12. Cassie says

    July 31, 2014 at 12:06 am

    Looks like great stuff, I would love to add to my Lunchbots collection!!

    Reply
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Meet Lisa! Lisa is a best-selling cookbook author, wife, mother, and passionate home cook. Lisa began blogging in 2010 and has created a community of millions of people who share her love of healthy living, real food ingredients, and family recipes.

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