If you’ve taken the Pack Your Lunch Challenge, you have had a chance to start packing lunch this week. Droopy lunch meat and soggy bread sandwiches really are not that appealing. You need to put some adventure and planning into your lunches like you probably already do with your dinners. Whether you eat at home or work, it makes sense to pack and plan your lunches. If you have a plan, you will be less tempted to eat junk food.
I suggest you plan your week of lunches with a combination of hot and cold foods. Leftovers make great lunches and can be packed in a thermos or any other container if a microwave or stove is available. One of my favorite dinners right now is taco/burrito night because I always have leftovers for the next day. Other family favorites include pasta and soups. It is so easy to make a big batch and have lots leftover the next day. Leftovers can also be frozen and saved for another day if you prefer more variety in your meals.
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| Make Your Own Taco Lunch |
If you have been following along with our Facebook page, you are likely familiar with the divided Ziploc containers that I use. I absolutely love these containers for two reasons: They remind me to pack a variety of foods and they don’t leak from compartment to compartment. I can pack yogurt and a sandwich and not worry about the two mingling. I use them to pack lunches most days and they are even good for dinner on-the-go. Just ask my kids about eating dinner in the car on the way to Vacation Bible School this summer. The other supplies that I use include refillable water bottles, washable plastic spoons, thermoses, and cloth napkins. The plastic spoons I collect when I take my family to the frozen yogurt store. I’ve got to save money somewhere and these spoons are perfect for what I need. I like to use cloth napkins because I do laundry almost every day and it is just as easy to throw them in the wash as it is to go to the store and keep paper napkins in stock. I pack it all up in a PackIt lunch bag. They work great for us because you fold them up and put them in the freezer and the whole bag is a freezer pack. I worry about sending yogurt and other dairy and this solves the problem for me. If you don’t use the Pack-Its, make sure you use lots of freezer packs to keep everything cold.
Another favorite tool of my lunch-making trade is the Wexy bag. They are biodegradable and come with these cute little monsters illustrated on the front. They were created by a couple of Moms so that makes them even cooler. I like to keep lunch fun for my kids and this is one way that I can do this. I use the Wexy bags for lunches when I don’t use the Ziploc containers and for on-the-go snacks. I love packaged snacks because they are so easy to grab and go. I just make my own now using the Wexy bags. You can usually find a Wexy bag in my purse. I love to tease my husband by sending him to work with the pink monster Wexy bag.
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| Wexy Bags |
I’m including a collection of some of our favorite lunches to get your thought process going. Start packing your favorite Real Foods keeping in mind that variety is always healthier than eating the same thing over and over. Unfortunately, variety doesn’t work for everyone. My kindergarten son likes variety in his main dishes, but his sides are so repetitious. There are times I get bored packing them. What matters most to me though is that the lunchbox comes home empty and everything he does eat is healthy. I tell my kids to not throw anything away and to just close everything up and bring it home. That way I can see what they are eating and I don’t have to worry about my napkins and spoons hitting the trash.
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| Natural Peanut Butter and Jelly, Clementines and Applesauce |
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| Chicken Sausage Medallions, Grapes and Strawberries |
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| Pizza Mini Bagels, Fruit Mix and Plain Yogurt with Apple Spice Jelly |
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| Peanut Butter Apple Sandwich, Raisins and dried fruit, Mini Bagel with Cream Cheese and Mandarin Oranges |
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| Mini Bagel with Cream Cheese, Raisins, Apple Sauce (no sugar added) and Hard Boiled Egg |
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| Leftover Meatloaf sandwich, Fruit Mix, Chocolate Yogurt with Granola Topping |
Do you have any favorite lunch-making tools of the trade that I should check out? Leave me a comment and I’ll be sure to do just that. I am always on the lookout for affordable, nutritious and fun products to use. Are you making lunches? What is holding you back?
Don’t forget you can join us on Facebook for more fun and support along the way. You can also follow us on Twitter @Jugglngrealfood if you are interested in learning more about the Real Food Movement. You can also follow our boards on Pinterest.
Not relate to the post, but I really have to try out your "Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Soft Tacos" recipe. It sounds so simple and delicious 🙂
-Maria
The Crock Pot Salsa Chicken soft tacos really are delicious. Let me know what you think.
My older kids won't let me make them lunch for school (I guess it's considered uncool :)), but I do this for my hubby. I have been thinking about doing it for me even though I'm a SAHM. I think it will help me cut back on my snacking and help me be prepared for lunch time in a healthy way.
I've nominated you for the Liebster award!
http://ravensorganiclife.blogspot.com/2013/03/liebster-blog-award.html
I only pack for myself, my husband and my 2 elementary school children. My oldest is struggling with making good choices at college and my high school son must be in the too cool crowd. I figure I've got him 2 meals a day and that is a huge improvement over where we used to be. I'd love to hear if packing for yourself at home would help. I remember being home on maternity leave and eating everything I could get to. I think a focus on taking care of YOU could only help your family.
I love the idea of your blog! I can't wait to explore more. Thanks for stopping by my Facebook page! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you visit often.
http://bloggers.com/KalamityJaneKooter
Great reminder "If you have a plan, you will be less tempted to eat junk food." Thanks for linking up at Family Fun Friday.
Sincerely,
Monica
http://happyandblessedhome.com
Hi stopping in from blog hop, those are some great ideals! Got to try em. Planning is the key.
http://fitandbeyond40.com
Thanks for stopping by. I really enjoy your page as well. I hope you come back often.
love these tips!! many of days we are on the go with our toddler and packing the same old lunches get boring. gotta plan, plan, plan! thanks for sharing…stopping by from the blog hop! have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for stopping by Amanda. My kids love a combination of variety and their favorites worked into our weekly meal plan. It works great for us. You are so right…….planning is the key to our success. Without the plan, I am likely to make bad food choices.
Okay, now I am hungry because they all look delicious and so fun that you send the Wexy bags to work with your husband..I would do that too.
Great minds think alike Sue! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you come back often.
Love all the lunch ideas and I too love to mess with my husband's lunch. On a road trip one time, a gas station was selling expired hostess treats…this was years ago….and I bought a bunch and every so often he'd get a special treat, which creeped him the heck out, and made me giggle.
That is hilarious Heather! I could learn something from you. LOL! Thanks for stopping by. I hope you come back to visit often.
My husband and kids take a lunch every day! I refuse to spend 3 times the amount on food I can make. I love the idea of the divided containers, I must get some, thanks for linking with Freaking Awesome Fridays
I don't want my kids going hungry and they would if they bought lunch at school. My youngest is very picky and would throw most of a school lunch out. I make sure to put healthy foods in the lunchbox, but more importantly…..I only pack what I know they like. The Ziploc divided containers are great. They don't leak. I love that. Some of the more expensive ones leak. That doesn't work for me. I look forward to seeing you again at Freaking Awesome Fridays.
Hey Christina! As a first time mom and only being married a few years, I'm sure these tips will definitely come in handy for me. Hubby's lunches are definitely left overs usually. I enjoy the idea of those compartments and the little baggies with cartoon monsters on them! Thanks for the info and for being such a great co-host!
Whether you eat at home or work, it makes sense to pack and plan your lunches. If you have a plan, you will be less tempted to eat junk food. moving company