How To's-Day: {Bulk Prep} School Lunch Foods

I think I'm ready....I hope I am....

Here's my tips for bulk prepping foods for lunch boxes. This is what keeps me sane during the school year while carpooling, varying schedules, kids activities, working part time and running a household on a food budget. I try to do about 2 weeks worth at a time.

These tips save time in the morning, reduce wasted food for us and make it easy to balance meals.

I started by getting into my stockpile and opening a can of pineapple, one of oranges and one of pears and putting them in containers.

I also had a large jar of whole pickles I needed to slice, so I did that and then made a few cups of those as well.

Things like carrots and celery go well in these too. I have some slightly smaller containers that I put dressing into and stack in the fridge next to them.

When we have dinner leftovers, they get prepped and put in the fridge. Thanks to the awesome containers I found at Meijer this year, my kids can take and enjoy warm food! They took spaghetti today, looks like it's chicken tomorrow!

You can see the Jell-O in there.....I sliced bananas up into it. So they get a treat and nutrition.

I haven't found too much you can do with apples, but having a bag of snack size ones on hand makes it easy to grab and pack. Same goes for full bananas.

I've talked many times about my freezer sandwiches. Bread, meat and cheese then freeze in a zipper bag. Pack in the lunchbox in the morning and it thaws by lunch time.

My daughter loves cottage cheese, so these make it a bit quicker to pack it for her. We also do peanut butter like this and send celery or pretzels with it.

These little snack size bags of grapes are great for my son who is a picky fruit/veggie guy. By having the items he likes ready to go, it makes it easier for all of us.

We also freeze Capri Sun and Kool Aid pouches that act as ice packs, but thaw by lunch time for the kids (we just try not to send them frozen the same day as the frozen sandwiches, they tend to not thaw in time).

Tips:

• Buy quality reusable containers. Things that won't warp in the dishwasher. Or that are designed to keep foods hot/cold.
• Don't do so much that it will spoil before used. A couple to three weeks at a time works well here.
• Keep it balanced. A good guideline is 1 protein + 1 grain + 2 fruits/veggies, then add drink and dessert/snack.
• Put your time where it matters. If having the warm food is important, plan for the time to heat it (heat, not cook...if you have followed many of my other bulk prep suggestions or save your leftovers, you shouldn't have to cook in the morning).
• Switch it up. By having several options, you don't send the same old thing every day.
• Let the kids pack it. My kids are 7 & 9 and now know what an acceptable lunch menu is. They know to pack a "main dish" (protein + grain) and 2 "sides" before they can pack their juice and snack (third fruit/veggie TOTALLY acceptable).

What other foods to you prep or pack to make quick options and balanced meals for school lunches?

This post is linked to: