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!
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School Lunch Packing Tips
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- 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!
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- - 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!
Homemade meatballs and sauce ready for the freezer. -
- 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.
- Take a step back.
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Pack your real food lunch in real containers with these tools (pictured) from MightyNest:
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- 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)!
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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. :)
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:
- The contest is open to U.S. residents only.
- 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!
- The contest will end at midnight EST on Thursday, July 31, 2014.
- 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.
Heather Bee says
I love that you are one step ahead of me!!! Thank you LIsa and gang!
Rachel says
Absolutely pledge to get my kiddos packing their own real food lunches!
Carol B says
My gluten free daughter is doing so well and staying healthy planning, shopping, and assisting with preparing her real food lunch for school.. I take the pledge to continue!
Jenn S. says
My boys already take lunches from home to school and we are already mostly a real food family. I pledge to get them more involved and allow them to help make their own lunches. I do hope all the designs aren't so girly. I have 4 boys. Lol. :)
Contessa says
I am soooooo in! I take the pledge, and plan to have a stash as well :)
Mary says
Packing Real Food has really helped my daughter who is gluten free. With many healthy choices and a new love of salads, using containers and making good choices is now a habit!
Casey says
absolutely taking the pledge!
cindy says
I love your ideas and inspiration!
laurie says
love looking at the wonderful ideas, recipes and tips
Judith Gorsky says
I do indeed take the pledge and encourage my kids to pack their own real food lunches (as well as, clean up their messes in my kitchen)!
Who wouldn't want to...such cute gear!!
celena says
This is my first time sending a kid off to school. I would love any help with my daughters lunches. I'm learning so much already from your website!
Heather Kelly says
That giveaway form is awesome! Where did you find it?
mysticbutterfly37 at yahoo.com
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Heather - Our sponsor provided the giveaway widget. - Jason
Amy says
I am packing for 4 this school year so this lunch gear would be wonderful to have!
Peggy says
This is great!
Shannon says
This will be our first year in school but I'm looking forward to letting my daughter pack her lunch, hopefully she will eat more that way.
Ashleigh says
I would also love to know if this fits Lisa's favorite Ziplock lunch containers. It's hard to tell just from dimensions so I'd love to get this answer from someone who has both the double decker lunchbag and the Ziplock container in hand. (Just ordered an LL Bean lunch bag based on measurements. While the Ziplock container should fit, it doesn't fit easily making it hard for my kindergartner).
Annie at MightyNest says
Hi Ashleigh,
The dimensions of the double decker are 8 x 7 x 9 inches
and the ziplock dimensions are 13.01 x 9.05 x 9.02.... We recommend the large Lunchbots Bento box with this lunchbox - it has divided sections (2, 3 or 5 sections) and made from stainless steel. Here is the link: http://mightynest.com/shop/lunch-gear/food-containers/stainless-steel-food-containers/cinco-bento-box-large
Hope that helps!
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Annie - Actually the Ziploc container in question measures 9 x 6.25 x 2 inches and will fit in the bottom of the double decker, however there is a little lift tab on the lid on one corner that may need to be trimmed with scissors to make it easy to zip for kids. And of course readers could use your recommendation as well (thanks for that!), it's just that many of our readers already own the Ziploc containers. - Jason
Annie at MightyNest says
Thanks Jason for double checking this! Happy to hear that this container could work in the double decker lunchbox (with a little modification :))
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Ashleigh - I both the double decker lunchbag and the Ziplock container in hand:) 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 with scissors, taking care to leave rounded edges. - Jason
Michele says
Check your Pinterest link widget. While I could see it, Pinterest gave the error message that it couldn't fetch the image.
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Michele - Thanks for letting us know...I tried all images and saw no problems. Maybe it was just a temporary glitch? - Jason
Amanda B. says
This is my first year having to pack lunches. This gear would be great to use!
Julianne says
this legitimately makes me want to be a kid again!! so cute!
Julianne
http://reallifesurreallife.blogspot.com
Mindy Duff says
I agree with the comment about the color choices for the double decker lunch bags. :-( I was ready to order one, but there isn't really a color option for boys...
Annie at MightyNest says
Hi Mindy!
There are color choices for the boys - here's the link: http://mightynest.com/shop/kid-essentials/lunch-gear/lunch-boxes/double-decker-lunch-bag-solid-colors
Mindy Duff says
I missed that when I looked! Thanks for the link!
Annie at MightyNest says
sure thing, Mindy!
Tammy says
I pledge to send real food for all four of my kids.
angela says
funny I was just on line looking for things for my 2 sons for school....love your blog
Theresa says
Lisa, you inspire me! More than you'll ever know. Thanks for the great ideas, keep them coming.
Lisa says
You are sweet - thank you Theresa :)
Lanae says
Joining ur pledge with my four boys!! Not always easy but definitely doable. Ps ur waffles and pancakes are a weekly breakfast staple in our home. All five of my kiddos love them!!! Thanks for all you do.
Stacey says
I am so on board with this. I told my 9 year old last week that I wanted her to start packing her own lunches this school year. I came to your site looking for ideas to help her with meal planning and this post was perfect!
Thank you!!
tina says
Do these lunch boxes fit the zip lock three area containers?
Annie at MightyNest says
Hi Tina,
Can you tell us what the dimensions are for the container you have? We'd be happy to check on this for you.
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Tina - 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 little with scissors, taking care to leave rounded edges. - Jason
emily says
I pledge to get my kindergarten involved in packing his lunch. :) We already got him a nice container for his lunch. And he has a Mario lunch box, so he is happy!
Angela says
I was researching lunch box options last night. These would be perfect!
Stacy S says
The double decker bag looks amazing! My daughter prefers to pack lunch instead of buying. So do I! Healthier and more variety.
Kristen Herndon says
Oh, I really want these! I've been searching Amazon for non toxic products for my kids!
Janine says
This is awesome. Especially the double decker lunch bags, but they are all in girl colors. :( (on their website) Tell them to add more boy-ish colors. :) :)
Annie at MightyNest says
Hi Janine! We do have a selection of boy colors (green, black, navy blue, orange and a great purple) for the double decker lunch box. Here's the link:
http://mightynest.com/shop/kid-essentials/lunch-gear/lunch-boxes/double-decker-lunch-bag-solid-colors
Sonya says
I'll take that pledge. Even 2 is not too early to start helping with
Katherine says
This will be our first year packing real food lunches for all the kids! Thanks for all the ideas!
Alisa says
I would love those reusable sandwich baggies. Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Lena Davis says
So badly need a lunch update in my closet.
Jeanie says
We have 6 weeks til school here and I have a very picky 13 yo now who doesn't like veggies and just got braces HELP,!
Ashley says
Anything that helps the local school lunch program is worth my time. :) Thanks for the opportunity to win this awesome stuff!
Jennifer B says
3 weeks until school starts for us and it's my first year packing lunches! Could use the fun gear!
Luanne Thayer says
Love all of this!
heather B says
Love those lunchboxes! Do your favorite ziploc containers fit in the bottom?
Jason Leake with 100 Days of Real Food says
Hi Heather - 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. - Jason