7 Tips for School Lunch Prep
Updated August 2022
7 Tips for School Lunch Prep!
Being a parent takes organization and patience… and quite a few other things! Ha! Looking forward to the 1st day back to school 2022? Today we are sharing with you a list of our favorite meal prepping tips to help you get ready for school in the morning! If you have a plan in place for each of the meals, you will spend much less time trying to figure out what to feed your kids, and you will be able to spend more time with them!
Back to school 2022 is here! Get ahead of this busy season with these helpful lunch meal prep tips so you have more time to spend with your family.
The Tips:
Pack lunches the night before while you’re cooking dinner.
Chopping up carrots to put in a soup? Throw some in their lunch, too! Packing their lunch while you are making dinner will not only free up time in the morning, but it also allows you to get some of the work done (like cutting up a vegetable) while your cutting board and other kitchen utensils are already out.
Simplify breakfast routines.
While you’re cooking dinner and prepping lunches, you can also make things like overnight oats, chia pudding, or even mini frittatas (using a cupcake tin!). Then you just wake up in the morning, grab a healthy bite, and you’re out the door! We like to prep breakfast while our dinner is in the oven!
Create a snack station for your little ones.
We love using a divided turntable and letting our kids choose 1-2 snacks. This lets them feel in control, and also allows you to monitor what they are choosing based on what you include in your turntable!
Create a meal plan for several days at a time and don’t overthink it!
Meal prepping should be included in your get ready for school list each week. Set your meal plans for 3-4 days in advance: however long you think the food will keep, depending on what you buy. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to meal prep all on one day, but plan ahead so you already have the items in your refrigerator and you aren’t heading back to the store every day.
Order your groceries online!
Instacart allows you to order from tons of local grocery stores - most will deliver now for no to low fees. I often order groceries while I’m waiting in line running errands, etc. If you’d prefer to pick them up because you are on a time crunch and need the food right away, you can also order for curbside service at most stores! Order your groceries on your phone, drive up, and they will bring it all out to your car.
Create a lunch-making station in your kitchen.
Set a specific place where you house all the lunch boxes, child-safe tupperware, extra bags, water bottles, etc. I’d recommend keeping this area near the cabinet that you store your kids snack foods, so they are easily accessible. Also set a designated spot in your refrigerator for lunch grab and go items!
Prep when you get home from the grocery store.
Spend a few minutes washing and cutting your produce when you get your groceries so that you have ready to go snacks, salad ingredients, etc. This will drastically cut down the time to make your meals later in the week (think step 4, meal planning!).
There you have it! We hope this helps make your meal times a little less chaotic, and more composed!
Originally published 12/12/2019