It’s a new school year and that means back to making school lunches. This can be a pretty overwhelming task; did you pack too much, did you pack enough, are they going to like it, is it healthy enough, is it school-approved? It’s enough to make any parent crazy! Here are some ideas to help make school lunches more manageable and less stressful:
- Know school restriction: Many schools have restrictions based on allergies and cleanliness, depending on where kids eat snacks/lunch. Knowing what is and isn’t allowed will help you plan accordingly when making lunches.
- Don’t overthink it: Pinterest can bring great ideas but also make you feel less than adequate when your kid’s lunch isn’t “Pinterest Perfect”. Don’t overthink school lunches and just start with a Simple Formula - Protein + Veggie + Fruit + Carb.
- Plan out lunches for the week: Going into the week with a plan will make lunch-making so much easier and ensure that your kid is getting a good variety.
- Prep what you can ahead of time: Taking time at the beginning of the week to make individual containers will save time when packing lunches during the week.
- Pack lunches the night before: Ever feel like the morning is complete chaos trying to get everyone up, dressed and ready to go? Make your morning a little less stressful by packing lunches the night before so there’s one less thing to do during the morning rush.
- Give yourself grace: As long as your kiddo is fed and happy, it doesn’t matter if their lunch lives up to the lunches on Pinterest.
