6 Reasons I Pack My Kids’ Lunches [and Why They Prefer It to School Lunches]
I was listening to a talk show radio program a few weeks ago and they were discussing back-to-school time. They quoted a survey that said the one area of back-to-school time that stresses parents out most is… school lunches!? Say what?! School lunches are probably my favorite part of the girls going to school and today I’m sharing 6 reasons why I pack their lunch box every single day… and how I do it without stressing out.
I know what they are eating.
When I pack a lunch box, I know exactly what my girls eat or don’t eat. I recently had a conversation with another parent and she told me that she found out her daughter was buying 2 full lunches, and 3 desserts every single day for school lunch! While I don’t think either of my girls would do this, it alarmed me that that they could. By packing their lunch, I know what they are eating, that they are getting nutritious options inside their packed lunch.
I know how much they are eating.
Just like I know what they are eating, I know how much they are eating since I pack in reusable containers. They don’t have to throw anything away after lunch, so if I see all of their veggies come back but none of their treats, well, they know they’ll get more veggies the next day and less treats!
I pack what they like to eat.
While I think it’s important for children to try new foods, I know that Moreaya absolutely doesn’t like meatloaf, even when I make it at home. If meatloaf is what’s being served at school, I know she wouldn’t eat it and be hungry the rest of the day and not be able to concentrate on her school work. I give them choices on what they’d like packed in their lunch box daily, but also encourage trying new things.
I get to throw a few surprises in too!
Perhaps my favorite part of packing my girls’ lunch boxes is being able to surprise them with a treat sometimes. I might not get to see their face when they open their packed lunch, but I can imagine it!
One of our current favorite lunch box and after school snacks is TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snacks. The girls love the adorable teddy bear shape and taste, and I love them because they’re made with quality ingredients like eggs and milk and contain no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors or colors.
They come in two flavors – one containing chocolate filling and other containing vanilla filling and can be found in the Cookie and Cracker aisle at Walmart. They are packaged individually making them great for lunch boxes or even on the go. The TEDDY SOFT BAKED Filled Snacks are also the perfect size for a soft treat after school.
I can choose from a ton of lunch options – hot and cold.
With reusable lunch box options like bento boxes, cool packs, and thermos containers, I have SO many options for lunches. You don’t have to pack a sandwich every day. Sometimes I even pack leftovers that I warm up in the morning and then put inside a container to keep it warm until lunch time.
I get to make their lunch boxes FUN!
It’s not hard and it doesn’t take a lot of time to make lunches fun. Throw in a few bento food picks, a personalized note to let them know you’re thinking about them, or a special treat to make your kid’s lunch box more fun.
