A look Inside The School Lunch Box

Ahhh normality has returned. Well, sort of. It was short week here in Queensland with school returning on Wednesday, and what a delight it was to see so many happy small humans embracing each other, like they had not seen each other in years. I know my small human is more than excited to embark on the adventures of year 1 and all its glory.

So, I mentioned last week in my blog that I would talk about what I send in my small human’s lunch box and what I like to keep handy in the freezer for those not so prepared days and few items I do use from the store. Well, I am all about being honest I almost did not write this blog after somethings I have seen online lately involving the stigma around lunch boxes and what is good and what is bad. Let me tell you that there is no good and bad, there is no right or wrong way to pack a child’s lunch boxes, fed is best. It’s about knowing that your child is going to eat and have the energy they need to thrive through the day, and if that’s a mars bars and can of coke then that’s what it is, because seeing these mums being shamed for what they send their child to school with is horrible and definitely not ok. I am not perfect, and I definitely own that as a mother. I have even myself sent my small human to school with items I would consider too high in sugar, but I know that there’s no way that my human is going to sit down and eat some broccoli and carrots. That just not who they are, and I want to know that food has been consumed. So, for all the mums this week that did get mum shamed on lunch boxes you have done your best and feeding your child is best so keep on going. Screw the stigma.

So, moving on I have provided 3 days of lunch boxes below. I use a Stuck On You large bento and small bento boxes and I use a replay container for munch and crunch. If you have not heard of munch and crunch it a small fruit break before lunch to keep the kiddies going.

When I go to the store it’s normally about getting the best of a bad bunch. There is no perfect way to pick things for a lunch box but sometimes you must just go with what you know your chid will eat and find one that maybe has little less sugar or is baked not fried. Sometimes you will win, sometimes you won’t. So, a few I items I use.

1. Sunrise rice snacks mini bites

2. Sweet William Rice crackles chocolate Koalas

3. Mixed berry yoghurt drops

5. Vegetable straws

6. Avocado chips

7. Packet seaweed salt and vinegar is a big hit.

8. brown rice crackers

I also purchase items from them serve yourself section either at Coles or Flannery’s. Some of these items include

rice crackers

1. yogurt covered cranberries

2. dried mango

3. chia and passionfruit pieces

Item I prepare at home for lunch boxes include

1. family friendly protein LCM bars (recipe coming soon)

2. pure fruit juice Jelly gummies (recipe coming soon)

3. savory type muffin

4. banana bread or muffins

It changes each week on what goes into the lunch boxes. I always try for 2 pieces of fruit. Watermelon and grapes are currently my humans go to, so I am rolling with that. My small human is a creature of habit when it comes to sandwiches or wraps, and he most days has chicken and avocado or chicken and BBQ sauce. I freeze the chicken and take a small amount out at night before bed. Once a week I do have tuck shops for small human and it is normally a hot dog and cheese and a juice. A total creature of habit lol.

I hope this has helped and I hope that no mums feel shame in what they pack in a lunch box. It’s about what works and what your child will eat. Fed is best on any level.

If you have any question reach out and let’s chat.

Next week on the blog I am going to be talking about a little thing I like to call frugal February. This will run over the month of February and I'll be showing you tips and tricks all while saving a few extra dollars and keeping those food bills low.

Xo Tieana