Picture this: you spend precious morning minutes carefully crafting what you hope is a nutritious and delicious school lunch. You pack it with love, picturing your little one happily munching away at lunchtime. Then, they come home with their lunchbox nearly untouched, and your heart sinks a little.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone in this. You can say that it’s a common problem that almost all moms in the world have encountered one way or another. And trust me when I say it’s not you or your cooking!
From one mom to another, I’d like to share with you some of the school lunch packing tips and tricks I have learned while preparing for my child’s meals.
It’s Not Enough That It’s Healthy
I know that it can be infuriating to see half-eaten food or food that wasn’t touched at all, but make sure to moderate your reactions and encourage your child to still bring home their leftovers. Instead, take it as a chance to learn more about your child’s food preferences, so you’ll be more informed on what to prepare for next time.
Moreover, as much as we wanted to give our kids all the healthy lunch options, especially veggies for a good fuel for their busy school day, it isn’t really doing anyone any good if that healthy lunch just goes to the bin.
So, aside from making sure that their lunch is nutritious, make sure that it also looks yummy and spoil-free. Nobody wants to eat a soggy sandwich, or, worse, food that’s gone bad by lunchtime, anyway!
My 5 Go-To Tips for Packing Food Safe School Lunch
Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tricks that have made packing school lunches a lot less stressful and a lot more successful. Here are my top 5 school lunch packing tips to help you prepare food that your kids will actually eat, and that you can feel good about sending!
1. Go For Airtight Containers
Airtight containers aren’t just for keeping food fresh in the fridge. They’re actually great for packing school lunches! They prevent leaks (no more soggy backpacks and ruined books!). They also keep food from drying out or getting stale, so kids can enjoy their meals in their best state during lunchtime.
2. Avoid Making Food Touch Each Other
Some foods just don’t play well together. Grapes can make the crackers soggy if they’re put together. The sauce can be seeped out by pasta or everything else if you put them together.
Using bento-style lunchboxes with dividers or small individual containers within a larger one can really help. This keeps textures and flavors separate, so everything tastes exactly as it should.
3. Avoid Wet Ingredients
This tip goes hand-in-hand with the others. If you can, try to pack wet ingredients separately or avoid them altogether for certain items. For example, if you’re sending a sandwich with mayo, you might want to pack the mayo in a tiny separate container for your child to add just before eating. This can also prevent that dreaded soggy bread situation!
4. Keep Cold Foods Cold (and Double Your Efforts!)
After much reading, I came across what they call the Temperature Danger Zone (TDZ), which was around (40°F to 140°F). It’s the temperature range that food should stay out of, as doing so can encourage the growth of bacteria that cause foodborne diseases.
While keeping track of the temperature may be too complex, it’s easy to apply it in practical situations. We just have to remember to keep cold foods cold (and hot foods hot, although we’ll just focus on keeping foods cold here). Here are some of my go-to hacks to remember this rule without having to remember the TDZ:
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Use Insulated Lunch Bags: This is a must-have. A good insulated lunch bag will keep temperatures regulated for longer periods of time.
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Store With Ice Packs: Make sure to use two instead of one just to be sure! Placing one on top and one on the bottom of the food containers creates a little cold zone.
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Freeze a Drink: Freezing a juice box or a water bottle overnight is a great way to make your kid enjoy a cool, refreshing drink during lunch. Plus, it acts as an extra ice pack that could also keep their other food safe!
5. Keep It Clean!
This one might seem obvious, but it doesn’t hurt to always mention this, because this is really important. Keep your child’s belongings clean by following these general rules:
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No Reusing Single-Use Containers: Those plastic containers from the takeout are often meant only for single-use. While some, like the microwavable ones, can be reused, it’s best to think of them as disposable containers that aren’t designed for repeated use. The plastic can break down and harbor bacteria. It’s also hard to clean off the oil or grease that stayed on its corners!
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Wash and Sanitize Properly: For all your reusable containers, wash them thoroughly with hot, soapy water after each use. Better yet, if they’re dishwasher safe, run them through a hot cycle. For an extra layer of cleanliness, consider sanitizing them periodically.
Labeling With InchBug Can Help Keep Your Child Safe!
School lunch packing can be made safer with labeling. InchBug labels and tags are a fantastic choice for this, making sure everything gets home, and, more importantly, helping to prevent cross-contamination or accidental exposure to allergens.
InchBug Orbit Labels® Personalized Water Bottle Labels
The InchBug Orbit Labels® are brilliant bottle name tags perfect for securing your little one’s bottles (or even small containers!). They’re reusable and stretchy silicone bands that can be personalized with your child’s name. They’re durable and dishwasher safe labels, so you’re rest assured that there won’t be drinking mix-ups at school for a long time.
InchBug Waterproof Sticker Labels
InchBug offers a wide range of waterproof name labels that come in different shapes and sizes. They can be customized with your child’s name and you can also choose sports labels for your active kids! You can stick these dishwasher safe labels on lunchboxes, Tupperware lids, Thermos bottles, and utensils. They stick well, so you don’t have to worry about reapplying them every other week (because you don’t have to!). Kids love them, and they’re parent-approved, too!
InchBug Allergy Alerts
InchBug offers Allergy Alerts circle or rectangular bag tags and labels that are perfect for us moms with kids who have allergies, dietary restrictions, or medication needs!
InchBug Allergy Alerts are super bright, easy-to-spot labels and tags that can be customized with your child’s name and can clearly state their dietary restrictions, like “No Peanuts”, “No Dairy”, or “Nut Allergy”. You can stick them right on the outside of the lunchbox or on individual containers, or hang them on your child’s lunch bag or backpack.
Being able to use them really gave me so much peace of mind knowing there’s a bold, clear warning for any teacher or lunch monitor who might be helping out.
Keeping Your Child Safe and Healthy Need Not Be Stressful
Packing a safe, healthy, and eaten lunch doesn’t have to be a source of daily stress. It’s all about creating a simple system that works for you and gives you one less thing to worry about in your busy mom life. And make sure to stay organized with InchBug labels as you set up this system!
It was really a game-changer for me to find their good labels. I felt like I was losing my mind with Sharpie washing off after one trip through the dishwasher, so their dishwasher safe and waterproof name labels are really great finds. InchBug’s durable Orbit Labels® are also worth all the hype they get as awesome and waterproof labels for bottles.
If you’re tired of the lost-and-found bin, I can’t recommend InchBug labels enough, as they’ve saved me so much hassle (and money from lost items!). You can browse through all the InchBug labels on their shop.
And through all of this, always remember to breathe and take a break if you need to. We’re rooting for you! You’ve got this!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Should I Put in My Kid’s Packed Lunch?
I find it easiest to think in categories: a “main” (like a sandwich, wrap, or even leftovers), a fruit, a veggie, and a little something fun. But honestly? For me, the best packed lunch is one that your kid will actually eat. So don’t feel bad about sticking with their tried-and-true favorites!
Can I Make Lunch the Night Before?
Absolutely! It’s a morning lifesaver. Most things hold up perfectly fine overnight in the fridge, so you can definitely prepare them ahead of time. Just make sure to keep anything that could make your kid’s packed lunch soggy in a separate container, like dressings and sauces.
How Do I Keep My Child’s School Lunch Hot?
Insulated containers are your best friends in keeping your kid’s lunch hot. Make sure to pre-heat the container before adding the food. For example, before you add soup, chili, or pasta, you can fill the Thermos with boiling water first and let it sit for about 5 minutes with the lid on.
Then, just before you’re ready to pack, pour the water out and immediately add the steaming hot food. It really makes a huge difference in keeping everything toasty warm!
