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September 12, 2016

5 Ways to Take the UGH Out of Packing School Lunches

This post may contain affiliate links. View my disclosure policy for details.

It’s week 3 of school for us and I’m well into the school lunch packing groove over here.

Some mornings go like this:

Me: What would you like with your lunch?
Kid: Um, can I please haaaaaaavvvvveeeee……

The ‘have’ is drawn out while they decide what their answer is. It’s fun at 6:30am! For the most part though, I’ve figured out a pretty fool-proof system to take the sting out of packing school lunches on what seems to be an endless rotation. Here are my tips and tricks.

Are we sick of packing school lunches yet? I've got 5 simple tips to take the UGH out of the morning routine and make it easy and tasty for kids!

Have the Right Tools

This makes all the difference so you’re not hunting for what you need every day. Of course the kids need an insulated lunch bag, a water bottle, and some small containers for sides. (My lunch menu formula is a main dish and 1-2 ‘sides.’)  Have a few slim ice packs on hand, too.

The lifesaver every day for us is a thermos. This allows me to pack virtually anything for lunch, including leftovers. So if the kids love what you’re making for dinner one nice, make a little extra and bam, there’s lunch the next day.

Menu Plan

Sunday morning during breakfast is my time to do this. Not only do we plan our dinners for the week, but this is when each of my kids gets out their school lunch menu and chooses when they’re buying and when they’re packing. Then we decided what they’re going to want for lunch and I add those items to my grocery list.

When you’ve got a busy family, kids running to sports every night, etc., nothing will derail your week like not knowing what’s for dinner. And your mornings will be a mess too, if no one knows what to pack for lunch. Take the time to do this step each week before Monday morning.

Batch It On Sunday

On Sunday I make a batch of something the kids can take to school for lunch. That could be a pasta salad, a pot of vegetable soup, or chili. (This is where the thermos comes in!)  It’s a bonus that I can use this food for my lunch too.

That takes care of my ‘main dish’ for lunch. Now for the sides…

Simple Sides with DOLE Mixations

dole-logo

Once you’ve got the  main dish you have to supplement with a side or two. I always try to throw in healthy options like fresh fruit and veggies. My kids’ favorite right now are DOLE Mixations. These are a brand new DOLE product that just hit stores in August.

dole-mixations

DOLE Mixations combine two of kids’ favorites: smooth fruit sauces with juicy chunks of fruit. They come in four delicious flavors:

  • Apple Raspberry
  • Apple Strawberry
  • Pineapple Peach Apple
  • Pineapple Mango

dole-mixations-snacks

I had the chance to try all of these flavors when I met DOLE at the Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC a few months back. They’re all good and the Pineapple Mango is my FAVORITE! So refreshing and delicious.

mixation

DOLE sent my family a couple of boxes of these two varieties, Apple Strawberry and Pineapple Mango. I’ve been throwing these in with the kids’ school lunches and it’s a total win. They love them, and I love being able to give them something that’s super quick for me and also a healthy choice.

DOLE Mixations are non-GMO, have no high fructose corn syrup, and artificial flavors, and are naturally gluten free. 

back-to-school-snacks

The really fun thing about DOLE Mixations is that the lids give you the perfect place to write a little note to the kids!

notes-for-lunches

Sometimes I just draw faces and sometimes I write little messages. They think this is such a fun treat to open up each day and I love surprising them!

mixations-by-dole

You can learn more about DOLE Mixations and how to #MixInImagination on their website, and by following along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Some great foodie ideas on their Pinterest page, too!

Put the Kids in Charge

I have no idea what took me so long to start doing this. Believe it or not, the kids are capable of packing a lot of their own lunches and snacks. What a revelation! I tell them that I’ll take care of the main dish and they are in charge of the sides. Lunch is packed in no time!

So what are your best tips for taking the UGH out of packing school lunches?

The Giveaway

The generous folks at DOLE are offering my readers a delicious giveaway! One of you will win an assortment of DOLE Mixations! This giveaway is open to US residents only, ages 18+, and will end at 11:59pm ET on September 24, 2016.

One winner per household, email address, or home address. If you have won this prize on another blog you are ineligible to win again. Winner must have a U.S.-based address to receive the prize. 

Good luck!

 

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Filed Under: Back To School, Giveaways, Parenting, Product Reviews Tagged With: Back To School, Giveaways, Product Reviews

About Lindsay Frank

Lindsay is the Owner/Editor and Content Creator at See Mom Click, a family travel and lifestyle blog based in Central Pennsylvania. She is a wife and mom of two kids and a handful of fur babies.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica To says

    September 12, 2016 at 16:08

    I would like to try the Apple Strawberry.

    Reply
  2. Cindy Merrill says

    September 12, 2016 at 16:10

    The Pineapple Mango cup is something I really want to try!

    Reply
  3. Lauren says

    September 12, 2016 at 18:28

    I would like to try Apple Raspberry.

    Reply
  4. Renee Walters says

    September 12, 2016 at 20:31

    I would like to try the Pineapple Mango cup!

    Reply
  5. Elena says

    September 12, 2016 at 20:44

    I want to try the Apple Strawberry

    Reply
  6. elizabeth miller says

    September 12, 2016 at 20:47

    My daughter really wants to try the apple strawberry. She say these are cool looking.

    Reply
  7. jeremy mclaughlin says

    September 12, 2016 at 20:51

    Would like to try the apple raspberry.

    Reply
  8. Marci says

    September 12, 2016 at 22:56

    All of them sound wonderful! But I am leaning towards the apple raspberry!

    Reply
  9. Karla says

    September 12, 2016 at 23:33

    Pineapple mango sounds delicious!

    Reply
  10. Joy says

    September 12, 2016 at 23:56

    I’d like to try the Pineapple Mango flavor the most.

    Reply
  11. Maralea says

    September 13, 2016 at 05:07

    I would love to try Apple Strawberry!

    Reply
  12. Heather Hayes Panjon says

    September 13, 2016 at 09:14

    I Would Like To Try The Apple, Strawberry.

    Reply
  13. Dana Rodriguez says

    September 13, 2016 at 11:06

    Apple Raspberry sounds really good!

    Reply
  14. KENNETH OHL says

    September 13, 2016 at 13:25

    apple raspberry sounds really good

    Reply
  15. Kristen says

    September 13, 2016 at 16:15

    I’d like to try the Pineapple Mango.

    Reply
  16. Alyssa says

    September 13, 2016 at 18:48

    We love easy lunch time and usually have a game plan here too.

    Reply
  17. Ty says

    September 13, 2016 at 20:27

    I would love to try the Pineapple Peach Apple

    Reply
  18. Jason says

    September 13, 2016 at 20:40

    I would like to try Apple Strawberry

    Reply
  19. latanya says

    September 13, 2016 at 21:13

    I like the apple strawberry

    Reply
  20. Alan Saxon says

    September 13, 2016 at 21:29

    I would like to try the Pineapple Mango.

    Reply
  21. Danielle Day says

    September 13, 2016 at 22:34

    Pineapple Mango looks good.

    Reply
  22. Edye says

    September 14, 2016 at 11:27

    I’d love apple strawberry!

    Reply
  23. Cheryl B says

    September 14, 2016 at 18:33

    I would like to try apple strawberry first.

    Reply
  24. Vunda V says

    September 15, 2016 at 07:46

    i definitely want to try mango pineapple!

    Reply
  25. Vera K says

    September 15, 2016 at 08:16

    I think I would go for the apple raspberry flavor.

    Reply
  26. Jennifer Rote says

    September 15, 2016 at 08:31

    I would like to try the Apple Strawberry flavor.

    Reply
  27. Jeanna says

    September 16, 2016 at 10:15

    I’d like to try the Apple Raspberry!

    Reply
  28. Carol w says

    September 16, 2016 at 22:07

    I am excited to try the pineapple mango first. Thanks for the chance

    Reply
  29. Leigh Anne Borders says

    September 17, 2016 at 15:19

    I would love to try the apple strawberry flavor.

    Reply
  30. marie yoon says

    September 17, 2016 at 19:43

    probably apple strawberry

    Reply
  31. Angelica Dimeo says

    September 17, 2016 at 20:29

    I would most like to try the Apple Strawberry flavor

    Reply
  32. Jackie says

    September 17, 2016 at 20:56

    I would love to try the Apple Strawberry flavor.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  33. pu ye says

    September 17, 2016 at 21:31

    I would like to try the Pineapple Mango cup

    Reply
  34. Nancy says

    September 17, 2016 at 23:46

    All their varieties sound delicious. I think that first I would try the Apple Raspberry variety.

    Reply
  35. amanda hardesty says

    September 18, 2016 at 02:36

    I prefer Apple Raspberry but my kids like them all

    Reply
  36. allyson tice says

    September 18, 2016 at 23:58

    I think that my kids would love to have Apple Raspberryin their lunchboxes! They all look super yummy!

    Reply
  37. Julie says

    September 19, 2016 at 03:56

    I want to try Pineapple Mango!

    Reply
  38. Joni Mitchell says

    September 19, 2016 at 09:56

    They all look so yummy. I would say pineapple mango would be the one we were most interested in trying.

    Reply
  39. Stacie H says

    September 19, 2016 at 10:10

    I would love to try the apple strawberry .

    Reply
  40. Kristin McCall says

    September 19, 2016 at 11:09

    The apple strawberry looks so good. I will be buying this the next time i go to the grocery store.

    Reply
  41. Megan says

    September 19, 2016 at 11:21

    Pineapple mango looks awesome!

    Reply
  42. Char says

    September 19, 2016 at 11:24

    I would love to try some apple strawberry, thank you so much! I love your recipes 🙂

    Reply
  43. melanieg says

    September 19, 2016 at 12:49

    My family would like the Apple Strawberry most 🙂

    Reply
  44. chris z says

    September 19, 2016 at 12:57

    i would like to try the pineapple mango

    Reply
  45. Cindy Peterson says

    September 19, 2016 at 13:02

    I would first try Apple Raspberry. I adore raspberries!

    Reply
  46. brittany doerfler says

    September 19, 2016 at 13:28

    I would love to try the Apple Strawberry!

    Reply
  47. Meredith Brooks says

    September 19, 2016 at 13:28

    Apple Strawberry sounds yummy!

    Reply
  48. Tara Darity says

    September 19, 2016 at 15:27

    I want to try the apple strawberry flavor!

    Reply
  49. DOUG GERARD says

    September 19, 2016 at 15:28

    I WOULD like TO try ‘Apple Raspberry’–Smooth Apple-Raspberry Sauce with Juicy Dices of Apple!

    Reply
  50. Nicole Sender says

    September 19, 2016 at 22:16

    I’d like to try the Pineapple Peach Apple Mixations.

    Reply
  51. Mallory Roberts says

    September 19, 2016 at 23:37

    My kiddo would probably love the apple strawberry, so we’ll try that one first. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  52. Candace Miller says

    September 20, 2016 at 10:22

    The pinapple mango sounds good.

    Reply
  53. Heather D says

    September 20, 2016 at 12:17

    I would like to try them all but I’d dig into the Pineapple Mango first. It looks delicious.

    Reply
  54. Rachel says

    September 20, 2016 at 17:50

    I would like to try the pineapple mango first. Yum!

    Reply
  55. Kris I. says

    September 20, 2016 at 19:15

    I want to try the apple strawberry; sounds good!

    Reply
  56. Sue Walters says

    September 20, 2016 at 21:57

    I would love to try the pineapple peach apple cup! Sounds delish!

    Reply
  57. Laurie Nykaza says

    September 20, 2016 at 22:48

    I would love to try them especially the pineapple-mango sounds so good.

    Reply
  58. Veronica G says

    September 21, 2016 at 01:39

    I’d like to try the strawberry apple mix.

    Reply
  59. Michelle StPierre says

    September 21, 2016 at 02:42

    My kids and I would love to try the pinnapple peach Apple. Thanks for a great review & giveaway.

    Reply
  60. jaimeb says

    September 21, 2016 at 21:11

    The pineapple mango looks delicious!

    Reply
  61. holly lawson says

    September 21, 2016 at 22:20

    I think my kids would LOVE the Apple Strawberry one!

    Reply
  62. Lesley F says

    September 21, 2016 at 22:44

    Would love to try the Mango Pineapple!

    Reply
  63. Kathleen S. says

    September 21, 2016 at 22:53

    I’ve tried both! I prefer the Pineapple Mango. I even let the kids try them! 🙂 They couldn’t decide which they liked more..

    Reply
  64. Sheryl says

    September 22, 2016 at 03:03

    I love the pineapple

    Reply
  65. Danielle Magee says

    September 22, 2016 at 11:25

    I would love to try the Apple Strawberry.

    Reply
  66. Kristen Patton says

    September 22, 2016 at 21:14

    I want all of them! I think Apple Raspberry sounds the best though!

    Reply
  67. Celeste Jones says

    September 22, 2016 at 21:28

    I want to try the Apple Strawberry.

    Reply
  68. Wendi says

    September 22, 2016 at 22:15

    pineapple mango or the apple raspberry tough decision

    Reply
  69. Jennifer H. says

    September 22, 2016 at 22:33

    I would like the pineapple and mango.

    Reply
  70. Breanne says

    September 22, 2016 at 23:41

    I would like to try Apple Strawberry.

    Reply
  71. Fiona N says

    September 23, 2016 at 01:12

    I would love to try the Pineapple Mango
    Thank You for the chance

    Reply
  72. Darlene Carbajal says

    September 23, 2016 at 02:31

    I want to try pineapple mango!

    Reply
  73. Sarah Hall says

    September 23, 2016 at 18:54

    I would like to try the Pineapple Peach Apple flavor.

    Reply
  74. jeanette sheets says

    September 23, 2016 at 21:02

    https://dolesunshine.com/products/mixations/pineapple-mango

    Reply
  75. Jessica Whitehouse says

    September 24, 2016 at 00:27

    I think I would like the pineapple peach or pineapple mango blends.

    Reply
  76. Lily Kwan says

    September 24, 2016 at 21:19

    I would like to try the Pineapple Peach Apple flavor the most!

    Reply

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