Lunchbox Hacks For Fun School Lunches

Buy pre-made Lunchables at the store. You can also make your own version, which will cost less and be healthier. Get a divided lunch container. Pack your chosen crackers, meat, and cheese inside. Use leftover spots for fruit or other snacks.

You and your kids can have a fun lunchtime snack.Make your own homemade trail mix.Mix whole grain cereal, raisins or other dried fruit, chocolate chips or M&M's, nuts, sunflower seeds, and any other snack food you like. Put a cupful in a bag. It is ready for lunch.

Add variety to your lunch box by packing pinwheels instead of a regular sandwich.Pack pinwheels instead of a traditional sandwich.Put the ingredients on a flat tortilla. Roll it up. Then slice it. You can also flatten bread slices with a rolling pin, then do the same thing.

Packing a juice box for lunch means you drink warm juice by lunchtime.No thank you.You can solve that problem by storing the juice box in the freezer the night before.Store the juice box in the freezer the night before.This lets the juice box thaw during the day, keeping it cool for lunch. It also acts as an ice pack if you pack a sandwich with lunch meat you don't want sitting at room temperature.

Give kids control over their lunch by setting up a snack station.Set up a snack station.Set aside counter space and a fridge section for snack options. Kids can pick one each day, happy that it was their choice.

Some kids prefer eating apple slices over one whole fruit. However, the slices often brown and lose crispness during the day. To stop this, cut the apple into slices and organize them.Organize the apple slices into their original shape with a rubber band.Keeping the insides covered keeps the slices fresh until lunchtime.

Thermoses are a forgotten food accessory. They keep food warm without a microwave or heat source, which isn't always nearby. Using a thermos lets you pack a full hot lunch.Pack a full hot lunch.Pack anything that needs to stay warm, like pasta, stew, chicken nuggets, or other foods, and avoid it being ice cold at lunch.

When making a sandwich with meat, cheese, and/or veggies, you often add condiments. Putting them directly on the bread lets ketchup or mayo make the bread soggy after a few hours. Instead, spread the condiment between two layers of the sandwich.Spread the condiment between two sandwich layers, like between lettuce and cheese, or cheese and meat, to stop it from soaking the bread.Put things like lettuce and cheese, or cheese and meat, between layers to stop them from soaking up liquid.

Sandwiches do not have to look like sandwiches. Use cookie cutters.Cookie cutters reshape sandwiches.Use cookie cutters to turn sandwiches into fun shapes. This adds whimsy to a school or adult lunch.

Kebabs are not just for grown-up meals. You can make them too.Skewer kids' favorite foods as a fun sandwich alternative.Load skewers with meats, cheese, veggies, berries, or anything they like. Present them in an offbeat way; variety helps.

Eating regular bread sandwiches daily gets dull. Try something different instead.Make sandwiches using waffles as bread.Toast waffles in the morning. Put peanut butter and jelly in the middle. Try Nutella, ham and cheese, or anything else. Experiment!

Need to keep food cool until lunch? Use an ice pack, but don't make your kid carry it.Soak a sponge in water and freeze it.Put the frozen sponge in a plastic bag. Place it in the lunchbox. You now have a cheap, light DIY ice pack.