Back to School: 7 Lunch Box Tips
Getting ready for another year of school lunches?
We love having a good routine in place to help us pack healthy school lunch boxes, without the stress.
From planning ahead to getting the kids involved and choosing the right lunch box, read on for our top 7 tips for prepping healthy school lunches below!
Plan Ahead
Planning a week's worth of school lunches in advance makes the entire process much smoother. Not only can you provide healthy, balanced meals, but you’ll also save a bunch of time along the way.
Start by collecting your favourite lunch box recipes and keep them together in one central place. This could be a handwritten recipe book, or even in the notes app on your iPhone. This means you’ll always have plenty of healthy ideas at your fingertips.
Once you have a repertoire of healthy recipes, put some time aside on the weekend to create a shopping list and plan lunch boxes for the week ahead (check the fridge first for any produce that needs to be used up). As little as 20 minutes chopping fruit and veggies, baking muffins or whipping up a simple pasta salad will make packing lunch boxes during the week much easier! Read our guide on how to plan and shop for a week of healthy lunches here.
Keep it Simple
Get the Kids Involved
Getting your little ones involved can be a great way to teach them about healthy, balanced meals. Allow your kids to contribute their own lunch box ideas, or even get them involved in the prep. Baking healthy slices, frittatas or muffins together can become a family weekend ritual.
Stock Up On Staples
Having a well-stocked kitchen means you’ll always have healthy options handy for those chaotic school mornings. Cooking in bulk and freezing leftovers is another great way to save time on school lunch boxes. We’ve rounded up the best lunch box staples for your pantry, fridge and freezer here.
Pack Lunch Boxes The Night Before
Use Labels
Labelling your lunchware is always a good idea, especially for your little ones. If you don’t have a label maker at home, personalised labels can easily be ordered online in a range of sizes and designs.
Invest in Good Quality Lunchware
Choosing good quality lunchware makes packing school lunches so much easier! Our go-to list of school lunchware includes:
- 2 x stainless steel bento boxes with compartments (we recommend one bento box each for morning tea and lunch)
- Nesting containers for snacks, dips and “crunch and sip” breaks
- An insulated lunch bag
- Reusable cutlery
Get ready for school with our range of lunchware essentials here at Ela & Earth, with free shipping over $75.
Looking for healthy lunch box ideas? Check out our favourite quick and healthy lunch box recipes here!
