Our first “School Lunch Roundup” post quickly became one of the most popular pages on the blog so I thought I’d put together another one for you (2018 update: there are so many of these now that I’ve put together a School Lunch Roundup Series page where you can see them all)! For those who are newer to our site be sure to check out “My Favorite School Lunch Supplies” to see the details on all our containers, lunch boxes, thermos cups, etc. Also, if you see a recipe below that you may be interested in (like quesadillas, apple sandwich, refried beans, chicken noodle soup, etc.) just search for it using the search box at the top, right of the page. Most are on the blog, but unfortunately I’m not able to put a live link in photo captions.
Also, I’d like to make sure everyone knows about our meal planning sponsor, Plan to Eat. The start of school means getting back on a schedule and they can definitely help when it comes to the kitchen and grocery shopping. Plan to Eat is a web application that creates a categorized grocery list from recipes that you drag into an interactive meal planning calendar. You can easily import recipes from any website using their handy bookmark (similar to “pinning” in Pinterest), which helps to keep all of your favorite recipes in one place. They are currently offering a completely free 30-day trial, so you should definitely give it a try!
So without further ado, here is a summary of the school lunches that I’ve been sharing on my Facebook page:
Leftover whole-wheat vegetable quesadillas (with sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo on the side), an apple/peanut butter sandwich, and a homemade cashew/pistachio/raisin trail mixLeftover spaghetti, banana and peanut butter packet
Leftover frozen smoothies in freezie pop molds (plain yogurt/berry/milk/banana and local Swiss chard smoothies), baked whole-wheat pita chips, hummus, apples/cantaloupe and popcornWarm refried beans with metled cheese, cold sour cream and green tomato relish (to go on beans), oranges, AND a treat…homemade (baked) whole-wheat donutsCream cheese and homemade jam on whole-grain Ak-Mak crackers (one cracker had been made with sunflower butter and jam when she requested cream cheese on the rest), a hard boiled egg, and cantaloupe/kiwi mixOatmeal made with milk/cinnamon/vanilla/raisins/honey, whole-wheat zucchini muffin, apples & kiwiPB&J whole-wheat pitas, mozzarella cheese stick, frozen peas, and a diced apple/cantaloupe mixPotato/vegetable soup (premade and frozen in individual portions) topped with cheese, sour cream, bacon and a homemade whole-wheat strawberry jam pop tart on the sideWhole-wheat waffle sandwich with cream cheese and cinnamon in the middle, a cheese stick, diced papaya, some leftover crock pot chickenA variety of sandwiches (hummus/cheese/spinach, PB&J, leftover panini), popcorn, and fruitLeftover homemade chicken noodle soup, a whole-wheat zucchini muffin (from the freezer), and a plumField Day Lunch (had to be disposable): Sunflower butter & “jelly” (an organic all fruit spread) on a whole-wheat pita (from Trader Joe’s), strawberries/blueberries, grapefruit slices, Kettle baked chips and a Clif twisted fruit leather (some very rare “treats”).Whole-wheat banana/walnut muffin, apples, deviled eggs, and a frozen smoothie pop (made with plain yogurt, berries, bananas and swiss chard leaves)Apple/PB sandwich, leftover whole-grain cornbread, TJs raw nut/raisin packet, and fruit (mango/kiwi/strawberry)Leftover whole-wheat cheese pizza (from dinner), a fresh organic apricot, 2 carrots, and some grapesTriple-decker waffle/cream cheese sandwich, fruit (mango/grapes/blueberries), and a little homemade trail mix (sunflower seeds/pumpkin seeds/dried apple rings/dried mango)Homemade tomato bisque soup (defrosted from freezer – it’s her fav), whole-grain zucchini muffin (from freezer as well), and an apple/sunflower butter sandwichCream cheese and strawberry jam whole-wheat waffle sandwich, oranges, and leftover spinach salad topped with cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, and homemade ranch dressingMy lunch on a roadtrip (not a school lunch!)… caprese salad with pesto, popcorn, and a whole-wheat banana walnut muffin
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Please feel free to share your lunch packing ideas in the comments below! –
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Lisa is a wife, mother, foodie, blogger, and New York Times Best-selling author who is on a mission to cut out processed food.
154 thoughts on “School Lunch Roundup II”
Christa
This isn’t the place that I first saw it, but I don’t know which page it was, and I had to send a THANK YOU comment. My son opted to go to the local school last month, after his entire school career being in a virtual school. So, I had to start packing lunches. And then, he threw me a loop today, and reminded me of a field trip tomorrow, and oh, the lunch has to be disposable. EEP! I would have been frantic, if i hadn’t read some of your ideas on that recently! Instead, I shrugged, said “ok”, and proceeded to pack the exact same planned lunch in disposable plastic containers (That I pulled out of my recycling from yesterday’s lunch and washed). I even refilled a cheap plastic water bottle that I had in the car, and turned it into lemonade. Real food, and everything from the plastic fork to the water bottle can go in the trash (if it has to… I wish they had the option to recycle).
Hey there! I’m in my first year of dental school and trying to find healthy lunches to bring with me to school (instead of getting on the bus back to my apartment every day) — I absolutely love your ideas, and plan on using many of them.. thank you for sharing. I wanted to know what brand/type of whole wheat pitas you are using? I’d love to find a healthy option! Thank you!
Sabrina, I hear ya! My son is 14 months old and would devour this yummy lunches and expect 3 more. Boys really eat a lot. My question is, how do you keep sliced apples from turning brown?
Those all look good. But here’s the thing, not a one of them actually looks like enough food to keep my sons full til school’s over. THAT is the biggest issue I have when packing lunches is they’re hungry in another few hours… Lunch is at 11am, they don’t come home til 4. Ideas?
Thank you so much for these ideas!!! I LOVE the smoothie pops and I know my kiddos will too!! Just curiously, do the smoothie pops stay frozen, become slushy, or what by lunchtime??? Do you have to send a cooler pack?? Can’t wait to try some of these ideas??
I noticed a lot of plastic ziplock bags. Have you ever thought of reusable bags? I get compliments on mine. They’re an awesome Eco friendly solution to plastic bags. I linked my Facebook bag for you to check them out. http://Www.facebook.com/kaylasecochicboutique
I have a question about the apple peanut butter sandwich you show several times in the kids lunches section. How do you keep the apples from browning during the day (or do you)?
Thanks!
Hi! This site is awesome. I’m trying to move my family towards whole foods, non gmo, organic and all that good stuff. Slowly but surely we are getting there. I see that you use whole wheat pitas from TJs. I’ve recently learned that we don’t know if the TJ products are non gmo as they are a private label. Do you have any thoughts on that? Is it best to just then get organic? Thanks again!!!
Hi there. I know it can be a difficult and confusing when trying to navigate this subject. I think it has to be a personal decision about how far to trust a store’s claims when they aren’t willing to be fully transparent. I shop TJ’s a lot and enjoy it but not without a little reservation because Con Agra does own one of there big suppliers. I do look for organic their products whenever possible. ~Amy
I just wanted to say thank you! I recently have become vegan due to the fact that I have Crohns disease and this seems to help me. I also eat mostly raw unprocessed foods as this helps too. I don’t make my kids eat this way, but I still didn’t want them to eat all processed foods either. I was overwhelmed about what to feed everyone. So your blog has helped me so much!! Now packing lunch isn’t a chore, it’s really fun! My girls are excited to help me at night. They were so excited about the freezer pops and the thermos for soup, thank you!!
Hello Stacy. Lisa doesn’t use anything. Her girls don’t mind the color. :) However, several readers have said that pineapple juice work well while others say a salt/water bath. Good luck. ~Amy
I like the apple rings idea for a sandwich. When I do apple wedges, I sprinkle them with cinnamon, which adds a flavor my daughter likes. I tell her that’s why the apples are brown, and she eats it all up.
Question about the apple/peanut butter sandwich: do you put lemon juice on the slices of apples or do you have a better hint to prevent them browning? I don’t think that my son likes apples once I’ve added the lemon juice or maybe I put too much? Any help would be appreciated.
Hello Sarah. I usually wrap my muffins individually and put them in an airtight container or bag. Be sure they are cooled before you wrap and freeze them. I typically thaw in the fridge overnight and use them the next day. Often they are gone by breakfast time. :) ~Amy
I’m wondering how the muffins are frozen. Do you wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them individually or freeze them all in one container? How do you de-thaw them? Do you put them in the refrigerator the night before and then pop in the lunch box in the morning? Thanks for any tips!!
I love this blog! I have based some of my own lunches at work on the school lunches you have posted, if you could post suggestions for adults packing lunches for work that would be really great!
I actually have mentioned this and even wrote a post recently that showed my daughter’s lunch after she ate it: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/04/12/school-lunch-life-cycle/
My kids usually provide input on what I pack for them, which means they eat all of it about 80 – 85% of the time.
I was looking for the potato/vegetable soup recipe. I made your tomato bisque soup for my family and it was a huge hit!
Thanks for sharing your recipes and ideas!! I love your website! I think I visit it a few times a day. I’m also going to try the apple peanut butter sandwich.
WAFFLES for sandwich bread! I LOVE this! I always use the 100cal sandwich rounds, but I want to get my kids eating less wheat flour, so I can make almond flour waffles for the bread!
I came across your blog while searching for a crock pot whole chicken recipe (which is cooking right now). I am going to try this out with my husband and kids. However, some of the lunch suggestions I know for a fact my kids will not eat. My daughter has a peanut allergy and my son is a rapidly growing 12-year-old. These lunches will be a mini snack for him. Any suggestions on filling lunches for preteens as well as a substitute for the nuts and peanuts?
Wow! This blog is truly inspiring and educational! I absolutely adore the recipes and creative ideas for picky eaters. It has really been a tremendous help!
How do you keep the fruit fresh until lunchtime? It seems like so much of this stuff would get mushy and “yucky” by the time they got to eat it.
On a seperate note, I think you are doing a great job and am so thankful for your blog. My daughter just started preschool and I have just started reading up on clean eating. I’m so disgusted by what is in our food and so motivated to make a change. Thank you for your work and for making it seem like such an attainable goal.
Hi Amber. I cut all of my fruit right before they walk out the door so that it stays fresh. For apples, I squirt a little lemon juice on them. We are so glad you are enjoying the blog…thank you for reading. Jill
Hey there! I just wanted to say that I am really happy that there are moms like you taking the time to help show other moms ways to help their families, but especially their kids, eat healthier and with portion control in mind. I am in high school and I think this is a really great site because it is so accessible! Also, I would like to let you know that I found your blog through a college’s pinterest page that thought you were doing a great job too! Keep up the great work Jill :)
These ideas are so wonderful! I have slowly been eating clean and my kids lunches and snacks not so much…..I want to incorporate less processed snacks for them and stumbled on this site!
Is there a safe version of tofu? I know edamame is ok, but are there brands that arent overy processed? Im still new and worried about getting the wrong kind. Thanks!
Thank you for all your thoughtful posts. It has blessed me and my family as we work to eat healthy in tasty and creative ways. I’m so glad I found your blog!
Great great suggestions. I love the flavors presented here and the healthy alternatives that are shared. I’ve been a big carnivore since I was a kid but found that eggplant is a great alternative in helping me to transition into a healthier eating habit. However, if I do eat beef now) grass fed beef. Anyways, glad that I found this blog.
My kids are not in school yet but I am pinning this so as to remember these ideas. I’m also passionate about serving my kids the most real food possible. Right now they are preschoolers, so I give them snacks like this: http://www.creativekidsnacks.com/2012/09/grover.html
Wondering what other green items to send. I find that many of our lunches don’t have a really green green. Creative ideas? We put kale in our smoothies and chard in our salads. I include cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, spinach in our lunches. What else?
Hi Samira. You could always send a salad with some dressing on the side. Or, you could try and get more of the greens in at home if you think that might be too messy for school. Jill
I’d love to know your recipe/how you made the caprese salad, that looks SO tasty :) Getting lots of tomatoes and fresh basil in the farm share box this week so it’d be a lovely way to use some of that up. Can you share?
Love these posts. Was really upset/disgusted to see this blog on Pinterest: http://crazy–maybe.blogspot.com. It is the exact opposite of your wonderful, healthy recipes! All red colored food for lunch? Ummmm someone doesn’t know how bad food coloring is.
Obviously you can substitute in your own choice of sides. There are some fun ideas though, to make food more fun and appealing to kids, which is what you should take away from the pinned ideas.
For the longest time I couldn’t afford fresh fruits and veggies. And it didn’t even occur to me to use canned or frozen instead. (Plus I dislike cooked fruits/veggies anyway, unless mixed into other foods.) Luckily my daughter loves fresh fruits and veggies, as well as frozen ones (still frozen, of course!) But not everyone can get their kids to do it.
My attitude generally is: are they feeding their kids? Yes? Fantastic. MOM OF THE YEAR! Healthier feeding is just gravy on top!
Upset & disgusted, wow, that’s harsh! Cheetos & food colouring are not child abuse. I agree with Ludicrous Mama. Hooray for people who feed their kids, hurrah for those who care enough to take the time to make the food fun! Save your disgust for those who are starve their kids and be upset for kids who don’t have ANY food healthy or otherwise.
I ordered the freezie pop molds and made smoothies to freeze in them. By the time it is my daughter’s lunch time the smoothie is defrosted but all the liquid is at the bottom and the fruit chunks (and kale or spinach) are at the top. Even after shaking it up it still taste awful! Any suggestions? When i make the smoothies at home and serve them they are instantly slurped up by the whole family. Why do the defrosted ones taste so gross? What am I doing wrong????
HI Melissa. I’ve not heard of that happening before. Is your blender actually chopping everything up? It may be that the consistency is not right before freezing it. Hope they turn out better for you next time. Jill
Thanks for this great post. I sat down with my kids and scrolled through the lunch options. We picked out a few new things to try. I hope it will add some variety to their lunches. I also loved some of the products you used and ordered the ziploc trays and smoothie pouches. Thanks again.
Wondering if any Canadians out there have managed to find or order the ziploc containers. I love the look of them, but haven’t been able to find that container in the store and amazon.com says I can not have it shipped to my address. HELP!
Hi Erin — I’m not Canadian, but I did find the Ziploc containers on Amazon for a great price. They’ve worked wonderfully for my daughters’ lunches so far!
Jennifer, thanks for the reply. I wish it was that easy!!
I tried amazon… they wont ship them to Canada. I also called ziploc. They said they used to sell them in Canda, but don’t anymore (they weren’t sure why)…when I contacted Amazon about not being able to get them shipped here they said that ziploc had put a block on shipping to canada for “warranty reasons”. Ugh. I am now looking for a family or friend who can hit up a target store when they make a trip south of the border.
Amanda
They do ship, go to amazon.ca and search Ziploc
Erin CF
They wont ship the ziploc divided rectangles though (apparently b/c ziploc has blocked shipping to Canada). I haven’t ever had this problem before. I have a friend making a trip to the states who will look for some for me there. If you find a link to the container on amazon.ca let me know. I didn’t see it when I looked there. I think I’ve spent far too much time and energy trying to figure out how I can get these containers.
Diane
Hey Mom, can you pack my lunch? ;) haha Those look so great! I always love what you come up with. I just wish my son would eat that kind of food. He’s so picky. I did get some ideas for my own food at home, however. I’ve gone dairy free (lactose intolerant) and grain free (fibromyalgia). Just trying to see what works with that but I think I will stay off gluten if I can manage it. My son is in psychological treatment for up to a year and I want to change everything with his diet when he gets home. Now I just need to convince them to change it at the boys ranch where he’s being treated. He just got there a couple weeks ago so I haven’t addressed it yet but I plan to. I wish more of these places and hospitals would understand what diet can do to behavior. I’ve talked to parents that have had success in changing things but it’s real hard with an already picky eater.
I’ve started sending my son to school with the Ziploc containers, but I need to know…what lunch boxes do you all use? I can’t find any that are the right size. I’ve been looking and have not found anything, any recommendations are appreciated. Preferably something with the ability to keep cold. Even though I am sending an ice pack or smoothie pop inside, I’d like to know it’s cold enough, the teacher keeps the lunches outside the classroom and I’m worried.
the Land’s End lunchboxes fit the ziploc containers, plus usually a drink and a fruit and snack. I think it is the “classmates” lunch box. And with an ice pack, they stay cold.
I’ve been using your site for some time (thank you so much!) and since school started tried the lunch containers you use, but the yogurt or fruit juice gets all over the other food, making the bread or whatever else is in there soggy. How do you prevent the lunch from moving around in a kids backpack? I bought separate containers with lids for the fruit and yogurt now, but it would be nice to know how you deal with it? :) Thank you!
Hi Melissa. You are using the Ziploc ones? I put yogurt in one compartment and as long as the lid is sealed tight (so that the inner pieces that separate the compartments locks down) you should have no issue with food transferring between sections. We have been fine. Jill
I am trying so very hard to get my 5-year-old son to eat more of a variety. For now, we have been sticking with only the real food that he likes, otherwise, he simply will not eat. I would love to serve him that quiche. He loves eggs and I could even puree the vegetables I choose and hide them in there. I wish there were a magic trick to get my child to eat what I want him to eat.
Don’t know how my comment for the website author got placed under your comment – I screwed up somewhere!
I *was* looking at your comment, however, and thinking that parents just have to be persistent and offer NOTHING but the healthy foods they want their child to eat. Keep bringing out this food when the kid complains about being hungry. Next day start over with new healthy food choices. Soon, he’ll have to eat!
Michelle
Hi,
Help! I made the smoothie freezer pops for my kids lunches yesterday and they exploded all over the lunch sacks. Any recommendations on how to pack these w/out the explosion? I ordered them on Amazon and also ordered the Ziploc tupperware shown above. It doesn’t seem to fit in the large compartment.
It helps to fold the bottom part up a bit(you may need to ‘break’ up the ice inside a little). I’ve found the key to doing it is not overfilling the contents inside the pop mold.
We had the same problem! Try leaving 3/4 in space at the top, so there’s room to expand and then freeze them upright, not lying down. Double check that the lids are on tight in the morning and you should be good to go!
Hi Michelle. Make sure you don’t fill them all the way. You also have to fold up the bottom just a little to fit in the large compartment of the Ziploc container. Jill
If you can’t bring nut butters, try sunflower seed butter (keep it in the fridge though), it tastes wonderful and doesn’t stick to the roof of the mouth! My whole family loves the stuff.
Shannon
Our school doesn’t even allow sunflower seed butter. No seed or nut products period. I was wondering if anyone has any information on whether or not those with nut allergies can have seeds (like an article or your own personal experience) that could help me understand why they have this rule. Thanks!
Leslie
I love your waffle sandwich idea. Do you make waffle batter and freeze it? Do you make waffles and freeze them? Please explain how you are able to make such small portions. I SO want to use that for my daughters’ lunches.
Thanks!
I don’t know how everyone at Real Food does it, BUt for our house when I make them on the weekend, I double and sometimes triple the batch and freeze them with parchment paper layered between them. When needed I defrost over night and to crisp them up I toss them in the oven at 350 for about 5 minutes and they turn out great everytime!
look for a waffle maker that divides it into four small quarters. My old one didn’t so two black fridays ago I got a flip kind that does. That way I can do quarters or halves. I took the classic waffle recipe and changed it to use the king arthur white whole wheat flour and either applesauce or coconut oil for the oil. I always add lots of cinnamin, and then drop fruit in (bluberries, strawberries or bananas at our house) when I pour the batter onto the waffle iron so I can make one batch of batter and several different kinds of waffles.
I make them every weekend for breakfast and they freeze beautifully. Just make sure they are totally cool before stacking and putting in freezer bags. No more eggos for us.
christy, can you write out what ingredients are on the king arthur white whole wheat flour bag, please? i’m interested in finding a similar product here in australia, thanks.
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
Hi Leslie. I make the waffles and freeze them. Usually though, if we have waffles one morning for breakfast, the next day they take the leftovers for lunch (and then I just store them in the refrigerator for the day). I’m not sure I understand your question about the portion sizes. Jill
I think she was trying to ask how Lisa can have just two small waffles to make a sandwich. So I think you answered her question by saying you freeze and/or use leftovers.
Karen
I made vegetarian mini-quiches for lunches for the first time. My daughter was psyched, and they can go in the freezer for later.
Some great ideas there, even for us big kids :) I would love to find the little peanut butter packets in Australia, but haven’t managed to yet.
I love reading your school lunch posts, it looks like so much thought and care goes into them. When I was a kid we made our own lunches which, for me, involved grabbing an apple, some nuts and some kind of processed sweet. I’ve come a long way since then :)
We find our peanut butter/Almond Butter/Sunflower Butter packets by Justins at Jewel Osco in the Organic aisle :) They’re great for when you’re on the road or snacks at the zoo!
Love the blog, love the lunch ideas! I bought some similar containers this year and love them. I pack most of my husband’s lunches in them and always pack myself one if I’m going to be out-and-about at lunchtime.
I bring a binto (Thai for bento, I guess) for lunch often. It’s a stacking canister and I’ve brought everything from rice and beans to curry to cereal and milk in it.
We’ve always known those as tiffins, and I believe they are of Indian origin. You can get them in 2 or 3 (or more) deep. The one we have is stainless steel and three deep, Rice, curry and samosa/pakora ;)
I can’t get enough of your lunch box ideas. My oldest is going into first grade tomorrow and I just made your banana bread recipe into muffins for his first school lunch. I can’t wait to try your zucchini muffin recipe! Thanks for all your great ideas.
My kids love dumplings in a thermos container with edamame on the side.
I post the lunch notes that I make for my kids as free printables on my website http://www.littlelunchnotes.com/. They are illustrated jokes, fun facts, etc. Please take a look and feel free to print them out for your own kids.
I wish my kids would eat like this. We are trying.. but it is hard. mostly becuase everyone else in the exteneded family eats so badly. That is about to change though.. my dad had a triple bypass and I think it scared my in laws. Everyone is working on getting healthy now!
I love your site. It seems that all the lunch blogs are focused around school lunches. What kinds of lunches do you and your husband eat. I’m interested in how you plan adult lunches. I pack a lunch and a couple snacks everyday for work normal I just have a sandwich with lunch meat and a salad. I’m looking for ways to turn it into a real food lunch. Any suggestions on adult lunches?
I make a “Dippy” Lunch. I give them a container of dip: cream cheese with garlic & fresh herbs, organic peanut butter, organic homemade hummus (basically food processed TJ organic garbanzos, tahini, garlic, lemon and salt),organic greek yogurt with pureed fruit. I purchased spreaders (not sharp ones) and then give them all kinds of things for the dips. They LOVE using the spreaders!!!
Love the apple sandwiches and the waffle sandwiches. Haven’t talked my 9 year old into them yet but I may just surprise her one day :-) Question, how do you keep the apple’s looking so pretty, no oxidation or discoloring?
I keep lemon juice on hand for making buttermilk substitute in recipes and have taken to using a pastry brush to brush the juice on the exposed apple flesh.
I use the Ziplock containers almost every day. We just bought a Pack-it freezer lunch bag and I love it. Very roomy and keeps everything cold all day without any extra ice packs.
The Ziploc three-compartment containers fit perfectly in a lunch bag that I picked up at Target for $4 about a week and a half ago! I can’t find it online, sadly, but my daughter’s is shaped like a ladybug and other options included a frog and a monster. They aren’t the SkipHop brand that can be seen on the Target site.
It’s must more expensive than the Target one, but in the event that your Target is completely out of the bags I mentioned, it’s an alternative. Good luck!
the old navy ones work well for the ziploc plus an organic milk or individual v8 fusion, ice packs silverware and napkins. I could get two for less than one lands end, so I can wash one when the lid doesn’t get back on and the applesauce she didn’t eat ooze out before getting it home.
we eat the ak-mak crackers all the time at home for lunch. however, when i packed them in my daughter’s lunch, she complained they were soggy by lunchtime. have you had this problem at all?
Hi LeAnn. Glad you’re enjoying the blog. I get the same complaint from my older 2 but my little 2 don’t care about the sogginess. But, yes, it’s hard to avoid them getting soggy if there is anything on them. Jill
How do you freeze your leftover soup? Do you just defrost it the night before to put it into a thermos? My problem is I usually wait until the last minute (which is 4:30am for me when I leave for work), so if I forget to take it out he will have cold half-frozen soup.
I store leftover soup/chili in those glass canning jelly jars. Then while the kids are eating breakfast, I screw off the metal lids and microwave them in the glass until hot and then dump into the thermos.
I dont fill the glass jars all the way full before freezing so they dont crack.
Hi Dawn. Yes, I usually defrost it in the refrigerator the day before and then put it in the thermos. I know it’s so easy to forget to take it out. Jill
Love these ideas! Keep them coming! Price dropped again on the Norpro ice pop molds on Amazon so I ordered a set. Looking forward to making him some yogurt pops too. Thank you for your inspiration. Also, I never would have thought to pack hot foods but I’m going to get one of those Thermos containers so I can pack dinner leftovers too.
I love your lunch ideas! I want to make your apple sandwiches one day, soon. I’ve been so excited over making lunches for my kindergartner, I’ve been blogging about it too. It’s very new, but I’ve got about 3 weeks worth of lunches on there now. It’s not completely “real” food, but I try to keep it healthy. Thanks for all the inspiration. stayathomegoddess.blogspot.com
Hi Vicki. I find that it’s more that people are interested in what my kids are eating. One of my son’s classmates asked him if his mom was a chef and his teacher asked him if I could make her lunch. At the end of the day, I’m glad the other kids are curious, it will hopefully help to educate them as well. My kids like their lunch, so, that’s what really matters. Jill
I’ve been LOVING these posts! They are so motivating and fun for me to read. Thank you also for allowing us to share our ideas here! I have a list of HOT CEREAL muffins and other make ahead freezer muffins recipe for back to school breakfasts here: http://www.mooreminutes.com/2012/09/muffins-in-morning-collection-of-make.html
This isn’t the place that I first saw it, but I don’t know which page it was, and I had to send a THANK YOU comment. My son opted to go to the local school last month, after his entire school career being in a virtual school. So, I had to start packing lunches. And then, he threw me a loop today, and reminded me of a field trip tomorrow, and oh, the lunch has to be disposable. EEP! I would have been frantic, if i hadn’t read some of your ideas on that recently! Instead, I shrugged, said “ok”, and proceeded to pack the exact same planned lunch in disposable plastic containers (That I pulled out of my recycling from yesterday’s lunch and washed). I even refilled a cheap plastic water bottle that I had in the car, and turned it into lemonade. Real food, and everything from the plastic fork to the water bottle can go in the trash (if it has to… I wish they had the option to recycle).
Thanks, Lisa, for making my panic not appear. :)
Where do you get those cute little frozen smoothie holder pops?
:)
Hi Liz. You can find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/03/19/real-food-tips-4-hints-for-using-freezie-pop-molds/.
Hey there! I’m in my first year of dental school and trying to find healthy lunches to bring with me to school (instead of getting on the bus back to my apartment every day) — I absolutely love your ideas, and plan on using many of them.. thank you for sharing. I wanted to know what brand/type of whole wheat pitas you are using? I’d love to find a healthy option! Thank you!
Hi there. Lisa usually gets her whole wheat pitas from Trader Joes. ~Amy
Sabrina, I hear ya! My son is 14 months old and would devour this yummy lunches and expect 3 more. Boys really eat a lot. My question is, how do you keep sliced apples from turning brown?
Hi Angelique. Lemon juice does the best job but lots of people prefer pineapple juice for the taste. :)
Great ideas! Most of these look like something my kids would eat or at least try.
Those all look good. But here’s the thing, not a one of them actually looks like enough food to keep my sons full til school’s over. THAT is the biggest issue I have when packing lunches is they’re hungry in another few hours… Lunch is at 11am, they don’t come home til 4. Ideas?
Hi Sabrina. Just pump up the serving sizes for lunch and see if you can sneak in a hearty afternoon snack. :)
Thank you so much for these ideas!!! I LOVE the smoothie pops and I know my kiddos will too!! Just curiously, do the smoothie pops stay frozen, become slushy, or what by lunchtime??? Do you have to send a cooler pack?? Can’t wait to try some of these ideas??
Hi Sandra. Lisa packs them with ice packs but they do not stay frozen and are like a slushy yogurt tube. ~Amy
I noticed a lot of plastic ziplock bags. Have you ever thought of reusable bags? I get compliments on mine. They’re an awesome Eco friendly solution to plastic bags. I linked my Facebook bag for you to check them out. http://Www.facebook.com/kaylasecochicboutique
Do you use a specific deviled egg recipe that you can recommend?
Hi Trista. Lisa uses a traditional deviled egg recipe but replaces the mayo with sourcream. ~Amy
I love your site – thank you!
I have a question about the apple peanut butter sandwich you show several times in the kids lunches section. How do you keep the apples from browning during the day (or do you)?
Thanks!
Hello Beth. Lisa doesn’t do anything. Her girls don’t mind the browning. Many readers use lemon or another acidic citrus to keep the brown away. ~Amy
Hi! This site is awesome. I’m trying to move my family towards whole foods, non gmo, organic and all that good stuff. Slowly but surely we are getting there. I see that you use whole wheat pitas from TJs. I’ve recently learned that we don’t know if the TJ products are non gmo as they are a private label. Do you have any thoughts on that? Is it best to just then get organic? Thanks again!!!
Hi there. I know it can be a difficult and confusing when trying to navigate this subject. I think it has to be a personal decision about how far to trust a store’s claims when they aren’t willing to be fully transparent. I shop TJ’s a lot and enjoy it but not without a little reservation because Con Agra does own one of there big suppliers. I do look for organic their products whenever possible. ~Amy
I just wanted to say thank you! I recently have become vegan due to the fact that I have Crohns disease and this seems to help me. I also eat mostly raw unprocessed foods as this helps too. I don’t make my kids eat this way, but I still didn’t want them to eat all processed foods either. I was overwhelmed about what to feed everyone. So your blog has helped me so much!! Now packing lunch isn’t a chore, it’s really fun! My girls are excited to help me at night. They were so excited about the freezer pops and the thermos for soup, thank you!!
Hello Stacy. Lisa doesn’t use anything. Her girls don’t mind the color. :) However, several readers have said that pineapple juice work well while others say a salt/water bath. Good luck. ~Amy
I like the apple rings idea for a sandwich. When I do apple wedges, I sprinkle them with cinnamon, which adds a flavor my daughter likes. I tell her that’s why the apples are brown, and she eats it all up.
What do you use to prevent the apple from turning brown. I have tried lemon squeezed but my kids say it tastes funny.
Question about the apple/peanut butter sandwich: do you put lemon juice on the slices of apples or do you have a better hint to prevent them browning? I don’t think that my son likes apples once I’ve added the lemon juice or maybe I put too much? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Hello Sarah. I usually wrap my muffins individually and put them in an airtight container or bag. Be sure they are cooled before you wrap and freeze them. I typically thaw in the fridge overnight and use them the next day. Often they are gone by breakfast time. :) ~Amy
I’m wondering how the muffins are frozen. Do you wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them individually or freeze them all in one container? How do you de-thaw them? Do you put them in the refrigerator the night before and then pop in the lunch box in the morning? Thanks for any tips!!
There is not nearly enough vegetables, especially greens, in these lunches!
These recipes look nutritious enough for picky eaters. If you have suggestions, please post them!
I love this blog! I have based some of my own lunches at work on the school lunches you have posted, if you could post suggestions for adults packing lunches for work that would be really great!
All well and good, but do your kids ACTUALLY finish their lunches? You never mention this point in all your posts. . .
I actually have mentioned this and even wrote a post recently that showed my daughter’s lunch after she ate it: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/04/12/school-lunch-life-cycle/
My kids usually provide input on what I pack for them, which means they eat all of it about 80 – 85% of the time.
I was looking for the potato/vegetable soup recipe. I made your tomato bisque soup for my family and it was a huge hit!
Thanks for sharing your recipes and ideas!! I love your website! I think I visit it a few times a day. I’m also going to try the apple peanut butter sandwich.
WAFFLES for sandwich bread! I LOVE this! I always use the 100cal sandwich rounds, but I want to get my kids eating less wheat flour, so I can make almond flour waffles for the bread!
Where did you find your flexible frozen smoothie holders.
Hi Lynne. You will find them here: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/. ~Amy
I came across your blog while searching for a crock pot whole chicken recipe (which is cooking right now). I am going to try this out with my husband and kids. However, some of the lunch suggestions I know for a fact my kids will not eat. My daughter has a peanut allergy and my son is a rapidly growing 12-year-old. These lunches will be a mini snack for him. Any suggestions on filling lunches for preteens as well as a substitute for the nuts and peanuts?
Wow! This blog is truly inspiring and educational! I absolutely adore the recipes and creative ideas for picky eaters. It has really been a tremendous help!
How do you keep the fruit fresh until lunchtime? It seems like so much of this stuff would get mushy and “yucky” by the time they got to eat it.
On a seperate note, I think you are doing a great job and am so thankful for your blog. My daughter just started preschool and I have just started reading up on clean eating. I’m so disgusted by what is in our food and so motivated to make a change. Thank you for your work and for making it seem like such an attainable goal.
Hi Amber. I cut all of my fruit right before they walk out the door so that it stays fresh. For apples, I squirt a little lemon juice on them. We are so glad you are enjoying the blog…thank you for reading. Jill
Where can I buy the containers? Are they rubbermaid Bento?
Julie – Here is some information on the Bento boxes…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/08/09/product-review-lunchboxes/. Jill
Hi Lisa! I’m looking for a hummus and guacamole recipe. Can you help? Thank you!
Hi Jamie. Here is a hummus recipe – https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/08/04/recipe-traditional-hummus/. Sorry, but, we don’t have one to share for guacamole. Jill
Hey there! I just wanted to say that I am really happy that there are moms like you taking the time to help show other moms ways to help their families, but especially their kids, eat healthier and with portion control in mind. I am in high school and I think this is a really great site because it is so accessible! Also, I would like to let you know that I found your blog through a college’s pinterest page that thought you were doing a great job too! Keep up the great work Jill :)
How do you keep your apple sandwiches from browning by lunch time?
Hi Jennifer. Just squeeze some lemon juice on them. Jill
Can you post a recipe for the whole wheat donuts? Coulnd’t find one on your blog. THanks!!
Hi Jennifer. It’s under the donut machine on this page here…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/#appliances. Jill
These ideas are so wonderful! I have slowly been eating clean and my kids lunches and snacks not so much…..I want to incorporate less processed snacks for them and stumbled on this site!
How do you pack the toothpicks in a closeable container?
Hi Maggie. I just lay them on their side and they’re fine. Jill
Love love love your lunch presentations. And the Apple pb sandwich is brilliant. Think I’m going to try that today !
Is there a safe version of tofu? I know edamame is ok, but are there brands that arent overy processed? Im still new and worried about getting the wrong kind. Thanks!
Choose organic tofu, to avoid GMO soy. Tofu is made from the whole bean, unlike fake meats that use soy protein isolate.
Thanks for all of the ideas for healthy eating alternatives here, I’ll definitely have to try them out.
Thank you for all your thoughtful posts. It has blessed me and my family as we work to eat healthy in tasty and creative ways. I’m so glad I found your blog!
Great great suggestions. I love the flavors presented here and the healthy alternatives that are shared. I’ve been a big carnivore since I was a kid but found that eggplant is a great alternative in helping me to transition into a healthier eating habit. However, if I do eat beef now) grass fed beef. Anyways, glad that I found this blog.
My kids are not in school yet but I am pinning this so as to remember these ideas. I’m also passionate about serving my kids the most real food possible. Right now they are preschoolers, so I give them snacks like this:
http://www.creativekidsnacks.com/2012/09/grover.html
Thanks for your awesome ideas. I love your site.
Amy @ Creative Kid Snacks
Wondering what other green items to send. I find that many of our lunches don’t have a really green green. Creative ideas? We put kale in our smoothies and chard in our salads. I include cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, spinach in our lunches. What else?
Hi Samira. You could always send a salad with some dressing on the side. Or, you could try and get more of the greens in at home if you think that might be too messy for school. Jill
I’d love to know your recipe/how you made the caprese salad, that looks SO tasty :) Getting lots of tomatoes and fresh basil in the farm share box this week so it’d be a lovely way to use some of that up. Can you share?
Here it is…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/06/02/recipe-caprese-salad-with-basil-pesto/. Jill
I LOVE the fact that Plan to Eat lets you try out their site without giving a credit card number first. Great sponsor and great site. THANK YOU!
You’ve inspired me to pack more healthy food for my kids! I also love the environmental aspect of reusable vs. disposable lunches. For single servings of peanut butter and salad dressing, I like small reusable containers like these:
http://www.amazon.com/Evriholder-D2G-Dressing-Blue-Green/dp/B0076PNQNU/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_3
http://www.amazon.com/Tupperware-Smidget-Container-Each-Assorted/dp/B001E3DMXY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_2
Love these posts. Was really upset/disgusted to see this blog on Pinterest: http://crazy–maybe.blogspot.com. It is the exact opposite of your wonderful, healthy recipes! All red colored food for lunch? Ummmm someone doesn’t know how bad food coloring is.
Wow. Normally I try to give people a pass and not be super judgmental… but that makes me cringe like none other! Funyons? Cheetos?o.0
Obviously you can substitute in your own choice of sides. There are some fun ideas though, to make food more fun and appealing to kids, which is what you should take away from the pinned ideas.
For the longest time I couldn’t afford fresh fruits and veggies. And it didn’t even occur to me to use canned or frozen instead. (Plus I dislike cooked fruits/veggies anyway, unless mixed into other foods.) Luckily my daughter loves fresh fruits and veggies, as well as frozen ones (still frozen, of course!) But not everyone can get their kids to do it.
My attitude generally is: are they feeding their kids? Yes? Fantastic. MOM OF THE YEAR! Healthier feeding is just gravy on top!
Upset & disgusted, wow, that’s harsh! Cheetos & food colouring are not child abuse. I agree with Ludicrous Mama. Hooray for people who feed their kids, hurrah for those who care enough to take the time to make the food fun! Save your disgust for those who are starve their kids and be upset for kids who don’t have ANY food healthy or otherwise.
Packing healthy lunches for my son is a top priority for me. Here’s a link to what I’ve done:
http://lifesabundantadventures.blogspot.com/2012/08/healthy-school-lunches-they-can-be-easy.html
I ordered the freezie pop molds and made smoothies to freeze in them. By the time it is my daughter’s lunch time the smoothie is defrosted but all the liquid is at the bottom and the fruit chunks (and kale or spinach) are at the top. Even after shaking it up it still taste awful! Any suggestions? When i make the smoothies at home and serve them they are instantly slurped up by the whole family. Why do the defrosted ones taste so gross? What am I doing wrong????
HI Melissa. I’ve not heard of that happening before. Is your blender actually chopping everything up? It may be that the consistency is not right before freezing it. Hope they turn out better for you next time. Jill
Awesome ideas! A week into school and I’m already running out.
Thanks for this great post. I sat down with my kids and scrolled through the lunch options. We picked out a few new things to try. I hope it will add some variety to their lunches. I also loved some of the products you used and ordered the ziploc trays and smoothie pouches. Thanks again.
Wondering if any Canadians out there have managed to find or order the ziploc containers. I love the look of them, but haven’t been able to find that container in the store and amazon.com says I can not have it shipped to my address. HELP!
Hi Erin — I’m not Canadian, but I did find the Ziploc containers on Amazon for a great price. They’ve worked wonderfully for my daughters’ lunches so far!
Jennifer, thanks for the reply. I wish it was that easy!!
I tried amazon… they wont ship them to Canada. I also called ziploc. They said they used to sell them in Canda, but don’t anymore (they weren’t sure why)…when I contacted Amazon about not being able to get them shipped here they said that ziploc had put a block on shipping to canada for “warranty reasons”. Ugh. I am now looking for a family or friend who can hit up a target store when they make a trip south of the border.
They do ship, go to amazon.ca and search Ziploc
They wont ship the ziploc divided rectangles though (apparently b/c ziploc has blocked shipping to Canada). I haven’t ever had this problem before. I have a friend making a trip to the states who will look for some for me there. If you find a link to the container on amazon.ca let me know. I didn’t see it when I looked there. I think I’ve spent far too much time and energy trying to figure out how I can get these containers.
Hey Mom, can you pack my lunch? ;) haha Those look so great! I always love what you come up with. I just wish my son would eat that kind of food. He’s so picky. I did get some ideas for my own food at home, however. I’ve gone dairy free (lactose intolerant) and grain free (fibromyalgia). Just trying to see what works with that but I think I will stay off gluten if I can manage it. My son is in psychological treatment for up to a year and I want to change everything with his diet when he gets home. Now I just need to convince them to change it at the boys ranch where he’s being treated. He just got there a couple weeks ago so I haven’t addressed it yet but I plan to. I wish more of these places and hospitals would understand what diet can do to behavior. I’ve talked to parents that have had success in changing things but it’s real hard with an already picky eater.
Great ideas! Good inspiration for tricky husbands who take packed lunch too!
I’ve started sending my son to school with the Ziploc containers, but I need to know…what lunch boxes do you all use? I can’t find any that are the right size. I’ve been looking and have not found anything, any recommendations are appreciated. Preferably something with the ability to keep cold. Even though I am sending an ice pack or smoothie pop inside, I’d like to know it’s cold enough, the teacher keeps the lunches outside the classroom and I’m worried.
We found “California Innovations” lunch boxes at Target that fit the ziploc containers well. Not enough room for a thermos in some models, though.
the Land’s End lunchboxes fit the ziploc containers, plus usually a drink and a fruit and snack. I think it is the “classmates” lunch box. And with an ice pack, they stay cold.
Hi Erin. Check out the Lands End ones that we use…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/#kids. Jill
I’ve been using your site for some time (thank you so much!) and since school started tried the lunch containers you use, but the yogurt or fruit juice gets all over the other food, making the bread or whatever else is in there soggy. How do you prevent the lunch from moving around in a kids backpack? I bought separate containers with lids for the fruit and yogurt now, but it would be nice to know how you deal with it? :) Thank you!
I use the same ziplock containers and you just need to make sure each compartment seals tightly and they work great!
Hi Melissa. You are using the Ziploc ones? I put yogurt in one compartment and as long as the lid is sealed tight (so that the inner pieces that separate the compartments locks down) you should have no issue with food transferring between sections. We have been fine. Jill
Printed, thanks for the wonderful ideas. Really helps keep me from packing junk :-)
I am trying so very hard to get my 5-year-old son to eat more of a variety. For now, we have been sticking with only the real food that he likes, otherwise, he simply will not eat. I would love to serve him that quiche. He loves eggs and I could even puree the vegetables I choose and hide them in there. I wish there were a magic trick to get my child to eat what I want him to eat.
Apple sandwiches is a brilliant idea!
Don’t know how my comment for the website author got placed under your comment – I screwed up somewhere!
I *was* looking at your comment, however, and thinking that parents just have to be persistent and offer NOTHING but the healthy foods they want their child to eat. Keep bringing out this food when the kid complains about being hungry. Next day start over with new healthy food choices. Soon, he’ll have to eat!
Hi,
Help! I made the smoothie freezer pops for my kids lunches yesterday and they exploded all over the lunch sacks. Any recommendations on how to pack these w/out the explosion? I ordered them on Amazon and also ordered the Ziploc tupperware shown above. It doesn’t seem to fit in the large compartment.
It helps to fold the bottom part up a bit(you may need to ‘break’ up the ice inside a little). I’ve found the key to doing it is not overfilling the contents inside the pop mold.
We had the same problem! Try leaving 3/4 in space at the top, so there’s room to expand and then freeze them upright, not lying down. Double check that the lids are on tight in the morning and you should be good to go!
Hi Michelle. Make sure you don’t fill them all the way. You also have to fold up the bottom just a little to fit in the large compartment of the Ziploc container. Jill
She uses sunflower seed butter also.
Looks great but we cannot bring any nut products to school. :(
Us either… no nuts or nut products really limits your choices for lunch packing. :(
If you can’t bring nut butters, try sunflower seed butter (keep it in the fridge though), it tastes wonderful and doesn’t stick to the roof of the mouth! My whole family loves the stuff.
Our school doesn’t even allow sunflower seed butter. No seed or nut products period. I was wondering if anyone has any information on whether or not those with nut allergies can have seeds (like an article or your own personal experience) that could help me understand why they have this rule. Thanks!
I love your waffle sandwich idea. Do you make waffle batter and freeze it? Do you make waffles and freeze them? Please explain how you are able to make such small portions. I SO want to use that for my daughters’ lunches.
Thanks!
I don’t know how everyone at Real Food does it, BUt for our house when I make them on the weekend, I double and sometimes triple the batch and freeze them with parchment paper layered between them. When needed I defrost over night and to crisp them up I toss them in the oven at 350 for about 5 minutes and they turn out great everytime!
look for a waffle maker that divides it into four small quarters. My old one didn’t so two black fridays ago I got a flip kind that does. That way I can do quarters or halves. I took the classic waffle recipe and changed it to use the king arthur white whole wheat flour and either applesauce or coconut oil for the oil. I always add lots of cinnamin, and then drop fruit in (bluberries, strawberries or bananas at our house) when I pour the batter onto the waffle iron so I can make one batch of batter and several different kinds of waffles.
I make them every weekend for breakfast and they freeze beautifully. Just make sure they are totally cool before stacking and putting in freezer bags. No more eggos for us.
christy, can you write out what ingredients are on the king arthur white whole wheat flour bag, please? i’m interested in finding a similar product here in australia, thanks.
Hi Leslie. I make the waffles and freeze them. Usually though, if we have waffles one morning for breakfast, the next day they take the leftovers for lunch (and then I just store them in the refrigerator for the day). I’m not sure I understand your question about the portion sizes. Jill
I think she was trying to ask how Lisa can have just two small waffles to make a sandwich. So I think you answered her question by saying you freeze and/or use leftovers.
I made vegetarian mini-quiches for lunches for the first time. My daughter was psyched, and they can go in the freezer for later.
Some great ideas there, even for us big kids :) I would love to find the little peanut butter packets in Australia, but haven’t managed to yet.
I love reading your school lunch posts, it looks like so much thought and care goes into them. When I was a kid we made our own lunches which, for me, involved grabbing an apple, some nuts and some kind of processed sweet. I’ve come a long way since then :)
I’m wondering where you found the peanut butter packet? That would be really handy for the occasional times packing our own is inconvenient. Thanks!
I know that Target carrys the peanut butter packets.
We find our peanut butter/Almond Butter/Sunflower Butter packets by Justins at Jewel Osco in the Organic aisle :) They’re great for when you’re on the road or snacks at the zoo!
Hi Alison. I have seen them at Earthfare. Jill
These are definitely some of my favorite posts as well! Thank you so much for sharing! :)
I pack my work lunch nearly every day and I get lots of inspiration in what you pack for your children. Thank you
Love the photos of great looking yummy, healthy food!
Love the blog, love the lunch ideas! I bought some similar containers this year and love them. I pack most of my husband’s lunches in them and always pack myself one if I’m going to be out-and-about at lunchtime.
I bring a binto (Thai for bento, I guess) for lunch often. It’s a stacking canister and I’ve brought everything from rice and beans to curry to cereal and milk in it.
This isn’t mine but I googled a picture to show what i’m talking about
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25086521@N00/1290899372/
Leftovers are lunch’s best friend.
We’ve always known those as tiffins, and I believe they are of Indian origin. You can get them in 2 or 3 (or more) deep. The one we have is stainless steel and three deep, Rice, curry and samosa/pakora ;)
I can’t get enough of your lunch box ideas. My oldest is going into first grade tomorrow and I just made your banana bread recipe into muffins for his first school lunch. I can’t wait to try your zucchini muffin recipe! Thanks for all your great ideas.
My kids love dumplings in a thermos container with edamame on the side.
I post the lunch notes that I make for my kids as free printables on my website http://www.littlelunchnotes.com/. They are illustrated jokes, fun facts, etc. Please take a look and feel free to print them out for your own kids.
This is so great! Thank you for adding this.
I wish my kids would eat like this. We are trying.. but it is hard. mostly becuase everyone else in the exteneded family eats so badly. That is about to change though.. my dad had a triple bypass and I think it scared my in laws. Everyone is working on getting healthy now!
I love your site. It seems that all the lunch blogs are focused around school lunches. What kinds of lunches do you and your husband eat. I’m interested in how you plan adult lunches. I pack a lunch and a couple snacks everyday for work normal I just have a sandwich with lunch meat and a salad. I’m looking for ways to turn it into a real food lunch. Any suggestions on adult lunches?
Hi Tammy. You may want to check out “A Week with the Leakes” series we did to find some lunch ideas. Here is the link to the post…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/05/17/a-week-with-the-leakes-lunch/#more-2547. Jill
I make a “Dippy” Lunch. I give them a container of dip: cream cheese with garlic & fresh herbs, organic peanut butter, organic homemade hummus (basically food processed TJ organic garbanzos, tahini, garlic, lemon and salt),organic greek yogurt with pureed fruit. I purchased spreaders (not sharp ones) and then give them all kinds of things for the dips. They LOVE using the spreaders!!!
I made up pre-portioned containers of fresh fruit, put them in the freezer. In the morning I put them in the kids lunch bags and by lunch time the fruit is thawed! http://jamespurejoy.blogspot.com/2012/08/school-lunches.html
Love the apple sandwiches and the waffle sandwiches. Haven’t talked my 9 year old into them yet but I may just surprise her one day :-) Question, how do you keep the apple’s looking so pretty, no oxidation or discoloring?
I used to rub them with a piece of lemon I put in the fridge, but I have found when I use an airtight container, they don’t brown up much at all.
I keep lemon juice on hand for making buttermilk substitute in recipes and have taken to using a pastry brush to brush the juice on the exposed apple flesh.
Hi Ked. Try a little lemon juice squeezed onto them. Jill
Do you put the Ziploc divided containers in a lunch bag? If so, what kind do you recommend? Thanks!
I use the Ziplock containers almost every day. We just bought a Pack-it freezer lunch bag and I love it. Very roomy and keeps everything cold all day without any extra ice packs.
The Ziploc three-compartment containers fit perfectly in a lunch bag that I picked up at Target for $4 about a week and a half ago! I can’t find it online, sadly, but my daughter’s is shaped like a ladybug and other options included a frog and a monster. They aren’t the SkipHop brand that can be seen on the Target site.
Sorry, me again! The Ziploc boxes also fit in my daughter’s Laptop Lunches bag. She has this one: http://secure.laptoplunches.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=C711-GARDEN&eq=&Tp=
It’s must more expensive than the Target one, but in the event that your Target is completely out of the bags I mentioned, it’s an alternative. Good luck!
the old navy ones work well for the ziploc plus an organic milk or individual v8 fusion, ice packs silverware and napkins. I could get two for less than one lands end, so I can wash one when the lid doesn’t get back on and the applesauce she didn’t eat ooze out before getting it home.
The ziploc containers are the BEST thing ever
Hi Ammy. The Lands End ones work well. You can find them here…https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/#kids. Jill
we eat the ak-mak crackers all the time at home for lunch. however, when i packed them in my daughter’s lunch, she complained they were soggy by lunchtime. have you had this problem at all?
and, thank you! so much for your blog
Always LeAnn. They get horribly soggy. I buy cheap non-sharp spreaders and give them the spread/dip separately to spread at school.
glad to know it was not just us Cindy!
Hi LeAnn. Glad you’re enjoying the blog. I get the same complaint from my older 2 but my little 2 don’t care about the sogginess. But, yes, it’s hard to avoid them getting soggy if there is anything on them. Jill
How do you freeze your leftover soup? Do you just defrost it the night before to put it into a thermos? My problem is I usually wait until the last minute (which is 4:30am for me when I leave for work), so if I forget to take it out he will have cold half-frozen soup.
I store leftover soup/chili in those glass canning jelly jars. Then while the kids are eating breakfast, I screw off the metal lids and microwave them in the glass until hot and then dump into the thermos.
I dont fill the glass jars all the way full before freezing so they dont crack.
Hi Dawn. Yes, I usually defrost it in the refrigerator the day before and then put it in the thermos. I know it’s so easy to forget to take it out. Jill
Love these ideas! Keep them coming! Price dropped again on the Norpro ice pop molds on Amazon so I ordered a set. Looking forward to making him some yogurt pops too. Thank you for your inspiration. Also, I never would have thought to pack hot foods but I’m going to get one of those Thermos containers so I can pack dinner leftovers too.
I love your lunch ideas! I want to make your apple sandwiches one day, soon. I’ve been so excited over making lunches for my kindergartner, I’ve been blogging about it too. It’s very new, but I’ve got about 3 weeks worth of lunches on there now. It’s not completely “real” food, but I try to keep it healthy. Thanks for all the inspiration. stayathomegoddess.blogspot.com
Thank you. These are wonderful!
Awesome ideas. Thank you!! Just joined your page and love it.
I’m curious about what Reactions you hear from the kids friends, classmates, other parents, teachers, etc.
Hi Vicki. I find that it’s more that people are interested in what my kids are eating. One of my son’s classmates asked him if his mom was a chef and his teacher asked him if I could make her lunch. At the end of the day, I’m glad the other kids are curious, it will hopefully help to educate them as well. My kids like their lunch, so, that’s what really matters. Jill
Thanks for the great ideas!
love these ideas. I just started a similar new lunch system this year with my kids, and they love it. I have used you as inspiration!
You are such an inspiration. THANK YOU!!!
I’ve been LOVING these posts! They are so motivating and fun for me to read. Thank you also for allowing us to share our ideas here! I have a list of HOT CEREAL muffins and other make ahead freezer muffins recipe for back to school breakfasts here: http://www.mooreminutes.com/2012/09/muffins-in-morning-collection-of-make.html
You’ve given me some great ideas. Thank you so much!