With 3 kids of varying ages, and everyone with slightly different likes and dislikes, my meal prep is extensive. As I make dinner and get prepared for the next morning, I also pack lunchboxes at the same time. I am already in the kitchen, and many times, I use the leftovers from dinner or cut extra veggies & fruits to save a bit of time.
To keep it simple, I typically include a protein, a fruit and/or veggies + dip, a yogurt, applesauce or superfruit pouch, a starch or carbohydrate and a small treat, like REAL Cookie Poppers, Fairytale Brownies (bite-sized goodies!) or the new Organic Snack Bars from Dave’s Killer Bread.
My kids love bento style lunches, so I try to make different variations throughout the week to keep it interesting. Our favorite styles include Dearest Grey (easiest for the toddler to open by himself), EasyLunchBoxes Bento Snack Boxes (great for homemade lunchables + snacks), Miniware GrowBento (easy to pack) and the 2-Tier Bento Box from Melii Baby (can hold a lot!).
True Story Foods has organic deli meats that are a game-changer for packing lunchboxes. Their organic turkey and ham taste fresh and do not contain antibiotics, carrageenan, nitrates/nitrites or artificial preservatives. My kids love their Ham Snack Packs, which are cut into perfect little circles and fit nicely into any homemade lunchable! For older tweens and teens, check out their Protein Toppers, too!
True Lemon Kids drink mixes are designed with your child’s health and taste buds in mind. Place a packet in your child’s lunch box and they can easily mix it into their water bottle for a fun beverage option with their lunch. Made with simple non-GMO ingredients, each convenient packet flavors 8 ounces of water and has 92% less sugar* than many other popular kids’ beverages like juice and soda for a healthier choice without sacrificing flavor. Plus – each packet is packed with 25% of a child’s daily Vitamin A, C & E. Kids (or the whole family!) can choose from 7 delicious flavors including Pink Lemonade, Blue Raspberry and Groovy Grape, available on Amazon.
Dave’s Killer Bread Organic Snack Bars
These grab-and-go Organic Snacks Bars from Dave’s Killer Bread taste like a sneaky treat, but each bite is packed with the perfect balance of fiber, protein, and whole grain goodness — a better-for-you option for busy parents battling kids over snack choices. Available in 3 flavors, including Cocoa Brownie Blitz, Trail Mix Crumble, and Oat-rageous Honey Almond. You can find these yummy bars on Amazon.
Sargento has debuted their newest lineup of grab-and-go snacks combining the best of sweet and savory by the country’s leading cheese brand Sargento in partnership with confection giant Mondelez. Each package combines a mixture of FUN, kid-favorite treats (and let’s be real, adult favorite too) like CHIPS AHOY! or Teddy Grahams (both classic and cocoa), rounded out with chunks of all-natural Sargento cheese and fruit snacks. Kids love them for obvious reasons, and adults reach for them for giving a taste of sweetness alongside a more balanced serving of good-for-you protein. Fun! Balanced Breaks can be found in most any grocery store across the country, including Walmart, Publix, and Meijer.
Delicious, bite-sized cookies created for those on-the-go, REAL uses only clean non-GMO ingredients like almond and coconut flours, real fruit and decadent chocolate chips – simply sweetened with Vermont maple syrup. No junk, or long list of ingredients. REAL Cookie Poppers are made without gluten, soy, corn, grain, dairy, eggs, artificial sweeteners or tapioca starch. Available in three delightful flavors in a resealable pouch, including Lemon Blueberry, Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Available on Amazon.com, as well.
Perfect for lunch box packing, Gina’s Table offers Merries, freeze-dried strawberries, and Happles, freeze-dried apples in four delicious flavors, just apples, strawberry-blasted apples, raspberry-blasted apples, and mango-blasted apples. Each variety comes in convenient 0.6 oz. snack-sized packages – a fun little treat at lunch or after school!
Brighten the start of their academic year with an irresistible back-to-school gift basket of individually wrapped treats! Fairytale Brownies features fudgy, bite-size brownies in six flavors, and cookies in four flavors, individually wrapped making them ideal for packing in lunchboxes or sharing with the class. These tiny treats won’t last long… the whole family will enjoy the brownies! The brownies do not contain trans fats, artificial ingredients or preservatives. Certified Kosher.
We love these free-range mini meat sticks from Chomps that are better-for-you, sustainably sourced meat snacks to fuel your body anywhere, anytime. Chomps make healthy eating an easy choice with a versatile, quick protein boost. The mini Chomplings are perfect for back-to-school! Chomplings are mini meat sticks that combine convenience, nutrition, and tantalizing flavor. Each mini meat stick offers a robust 4-5g of protein per serving, and zero sugar. Available in Original Beef, Italian Style, New Jalapeno Beef, New Sea Salt Beef, and Free-Range Turkey.
Naturally juicy and chewy, dried apricots are known as nature’s candy! A fiber-rich, vegan and gluten-free treat packed with vitamins and minerals, dried apricots make an excellent treat packed in lunchboxes or offered after school. Nuts.com has Dried Apricots that come in a resealable bag and can be found on Amazon.com.
Pack some crunchy pickles in their lunchbox to change things up! SuckerPunch offers convenient, individual snack pouches that contain already sliced pickles that make a fantastic addition to any lunch. The pickles come in a few varieties, including Classic Dill, Three Pepper, Bread n’ Butter, and Red Chile Spicy Dill. Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Non-GMO and Vegan. You can find the individual pouches on Amazon.com.
Ready Go! Bento Mealtote & GrowBento Set
This combo set has everything your child needs for meals and snacks at preschool, school or while away. The Meal Tote with insulated inner liner keeps foods hot or cold for longer, while GrowBento is so versatile – with space for up to 4 silipods creating endless configurations! The silipods are great for at home snacking, too!
Double the tiers, double the fun! The BPA-free 2-Tier Bento Box is not just a lunchbox; it’s a canvas for creativity. With two spacious compartments, it’s perfect for creating lunchtime masterpieces with plenty of space for all their favorites. Whether it’s a sandwich in one tier and snacks in the other, or a main course and sides, this bento box is ready to take lunchtime to new heights. Plus, it comes with its own spoon and fork that stay put when not being used!
About the Author
Ms. Johnson is a Mom of 4, a Seasoned Freelance Journalist, Publicist and Lifestyle Expert with a career spanning almost 20 years in the industry. She is passionate about fitness, health and wellness. She has written her own website, Tiny Green Mom, since 2010, which highlights parenting and all things ‘green,’ from tips on living a healthier lifestyle to the latest eco-friendly products for the entire family.
As a Freelance Journalist, Ms. Johnson has written for a multitude of publications, including Medium, SheKnows.com, Tiny Beans, and more! In addition, she can be found on TV stations across the country as a Lifestyle Expert, speaking about all of her favorite brands and companies.
You can follow her on Instagram and X at @TinyGreenMom.
*Companies generously gifted samples and images for this article. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.*
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