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!
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.
Thanks for your tips! I love your recommendations. :)
I have used your website for so many ideas to get my kids to eat clean and I have to tell you the recipes are great. They love the food. Thank you for the wonderful information, resources and recipes!
I have always wanted to be that mom that packs these beautiful colorful healthy lunches. In fact, I tried it for a season and actually did a pretty good job. Like many of us, working full-time, havinkg kids on different schedules, and maintaining a crazy busy household schedule can just seem to take over without me even realizing it. Before I know it, I am back to a few days every week of quick grab processed food just to get soemthing in their bellies. I am tired of it and I know, if I plan correctly, I can do it. I AM COMMITTED this school year to healthy meal plans, pre-made foods, and healthy lunches!!!! Having motivating supplies would definitely help!!! If I don’t win, this has still inspired me to purchase a starting set of supplies, even if its pieced together and using similar materials. I am grateful to have you to follow. Your website and emails have provided an anchor for me to return to, to never get too far away from feeding my family in a way that I feel gret about. It gives me encouragement as well as practical, real life ways, to give my family the gift of health through real food. Thank you! I will be checking my email daily in hopes of a win! :)
My son really needs these. He is so hard on his lunchbox…smh
I’ve shopped here for years and I’ve always been happy with my purchases, life factory is by far one of my favorite brands! Love love mighty nest!
Aww, thanks for the love Amanda!
You could set the thawed jars in double boiler, open so you can stir, then dump in thermos.
Where can I find tips on defrosting the jars in the freezer and best way to heat int he morning? I prefer not to use the microwave. Didn’t know if there was anything easier than dumping into a pan and reheating.
Thanks,
Amy
Hi Amy. Typically, defrosting overnight and reheating the contents in a pan is my first choice but I have also heated the defrosted jars (minus lids) directly in a pan of water very successfully. :)
Can anyone recommend literature on real food and avoiding processed foods that is targeted at kids? I would like for my 11 year-old daughter to read up on this, rather than us just lecturing.
Hello Vaughn. I find Jamie Oliver’s Ted Talk to be very effective: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver. ~Amy
Crossing my fingers. Though I will probably still order from Mighty Nest if I don’t win. I love their products and mindset! SO awesome!
Where did you get the miniature colanders?
I believe it was from World Market a while back! :)
Thanks for a great website, helps me as I am raising my step-son’s 10 & 12 year old girls. We have had them 4 years, when I took the oldest to the doctor she told him “My Meme only lets us have healthy food”!
So fantastic! I really would love this!
I’m not sure if I entered. There was no confirmation or a finish button or anything like that. I hope I am entered!
I’m having a hard time getting this to work on my phone. This is a great idea, and I know a lot of people who would like to participate!
Awesome give away!!! Signed up for this for my family and promoted it to my school community.
If you want to help my classroom get ready for Back to School and not just my lunchbox check out my Donor’s Choose project that’s almost fully funded.
http://www.donorschoose.org/project/read-research-create-an-art-infused-wor/1235985?challengeid=295441&utm_source=dc&utm_medium=project&utm_campaign=copyURL&rf=copyURL-siteshare-2014-07-project-teacher_1795633
Happy packing!
Keeping my fingers crossed. Would love to have such cool thing to pack healthier more eco friendly lunches for my 3 kiddos.
I am always looking for ways to help my family be healthy~
Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway – its so much of what we wanted and needed to help Ellie start school this year.
This is such a wonderful giveaway and a great idea for a new start this school year
US only :( I’m so sad :(
I pledge to help my children understand the importance of healthy eating and to understand the importance of saving our planet by using reusable lunch gear.
I love this idea and I plan to tell my daughter who has two boys, 8 and 12. Could the money raised be split between two schools and could one of the schools be a special needs school? (One of my grandsons has Aspbergers.)
Also I plan to enter because my 17 year old granddaughter will be living with me for her last year in high school and I would love to teach her how to make healthy lunches for herself and healthy snacks for her special needs pre-schoolers that she works with at her high school. She plans to major in Special Ed therapy while in college.
Just a reminder that you must use the form in the blog post to pledge and enter the contest. Leaving a comment on the blog post is not a method of entry, although you can of course do both! :)
I’m glad to see so much interest in getting kids to pack their own lunches. It’s a win/win! – Jason
I like packing my kids lunches. None of my children ever buy school lunch — they know the good stuff comes from home. They are 11, 13, and 16 so definitely old enough and skilled enough to do their own. BUT, we have a very small kitchen so there is no room for my three kids to pack their lunches during our morning launch time and our fridge is too small to store three full lunch boxes in if we made them in advance. Besides, they LOVE the lunches I pack. For them, it’s like opening a present at lunch time, seeing what mom has made them. So, I will continue to do it. My kids DO know to make food for themselves if needed but, for now, I’ll keep my lunch packing post. It’s one of my mom jobs that I like and am happy to do.
I pledge to get my daugher involved in packing her own healthy lunch in nondisposable containers. Thanks.
Taking the pledge to encourage my kids to encourage their kids.
I pledge to help and have my son help pack clean lunches this school year.
Ready for back to school real food lunches and snacks!!
I pledge to have my kids involved in lunch packing and to continue to use smart, sustainable containers!
Taking the pledge!
I pledge for my kids to help pack real food lunches.
I have always packed healthy lunches, but I pledge to have everything prepped so they can pack it themselves each morning!
I pledge to let my daughter help pack her own real food lunch!
I have pledged to pack my daughters with all fresh real foods. These lunch supplies would be a great help for me to continue this upcoming school year! Thank you for offering this giveaway!
I pledge to continue to let my girls pack their own lunches and get involved with helping make dinner! :)
I pledge to let my kids get involved in making real lunches this year!
I pledge to involve my daughter in making lunches. She is just starting school so would love these lunch supplies.
I pledge to have my 8 year old help pack her real lunch!
I pledge on packing healthy, real food, lunch options together with my four year old, preschool daughter, Charlotte! :)
I take the pledge to have both of my children pack their own lunches with healthy wholesome food!