Tips to make lunchbox prep stress free
To make a healthy lunchbox every day of the school year, being organised is essential. Here, I share my top tips on how to keep school lunchbox making stress free.
Between getting yourself ready and the kids up and dressed for school, mornings are busy. Unless you want to be throwing together a lunchbox or spending precious time in the kitchen, lunchbox prep is essential.
I aim to spend no more than 10 minutes in the morning preparing healthy food for my own lunch and school lunchboxes. The following tips will help you deliver healthy lunchboxes daily without feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
1. Clean and organise your kitchen
The start of a new school year or term is the ideal time to tidy and organise your kitchen. Give your fridge and freezer a good clean out, restocking it with fresh veggies and fruit. Do the same with your pantry, checking expiry dates and removing any junk food items that have snuck in over the school holidays.
Tackle the drawer that houses the containers, lunchboxes and water bottles.
Give everything a thorough clean.
Make sure the seals, locking mechanisms and inserts of the lunch boxes are all in working order.
Label everything that you plan on sending to school so there is more chance of it coming home at the end of the school day.
2. Write a lunchbox meal plan
A lunchbox meal plan is so helpful, especially if you're new to making kids' lunchboxes or you're transitioning to a more whole-food lunch. Write a meal plan that outlines the main meal of the lunch as well as the snacks, fresh fruit and veggies. Not only is this the most efficient way to make school lunch boxes, but it also means you're going to spend and waste less and the lunch will be nutritionally balanced.
There are plenty of healthy school lunchbox ideas online and in cookbooks. Spend some time collecting a range of easy, healthy and affordable recipes and writing your shopping list. Recipes that you can batch cook in advance and freeze are ideal. If you don't enjoy this process, write two weeks worth at once and then rotate or mix and match throughout the term. Two meal plans, two shopping lists, one afternoon's work for the whole term!
3. Keep a list of pre-packaged foods
The reality is you can't make everything and buying some pre-packaged snacks can save you time and stress. Unfortunately, finding snacks that tick the nutrition boxes can be a challenge. It also can be a time-consuming process reading food labels when you have a lengthy shopping list to get through.
I recommend keeping a printable list of pre-packaged foods that you're happy with the ingredients. Come time to shop, you can easily navigate the aisles without stressing over the ingredients on a box.
4. Wash and sort fresh fruit and veggies
While unpacking your shopping, wash the fresh fruit and veggies ready to put away. You can even sort the produce for your child's lunch box from the rest of your food into a separate container or area of the fridge so it's easy to grab and go.
5. Batch cook and freeze
One of my main tips when it comes to making healthy lunchboxes without stress is batch cooking and freezing items before the kids go back to school. This means in the morning you only need to grab the items out of the freezer and add the fresh foods knowing that your child will be eating a nutritious meal at lunchtime.
There are plenty of suitable healthy food items to batch - veggie muffins, zucchini slice, seed crackers, biscuits, energy balls...the list goes on. Aim for 2 main lunchbox food items, 2 savoury snacks and 2 sweet treats which you can rotate throughout the term.
6. Repurpose leftovers
During your meal prep, consider cooking a couple of dinner dishes that enable you to use leftovers as part of the lunch. Again, this means less time in the kitchen making lunches but doesn't compromise on the nutrition content.
Items like chicken drumsticks, casseroles, veggies, rice, pasta can all be repurposed and packed into the school lunchbox the next day.
7. Get your kids involved
Too often packing lunches is left to the responsibility of the parent. However, there are plenty of ways you can get your kids involved in the meal prep or making their own lunchbox in the morning. Ways your children can get involved will depend on their age and skill set, however, starting them young will be worth the effort. Here are some ideas for you to try:
Putting prepared ingredients into their own lunchbox
Helping bake muffins or cookies
Making one dish to freeze on the school holidays
Cutting up carrot sticks
Unpacking and washing up their lunchbox after school
Taking 2022 Bookings.
Do you or your child need added nutrient and lifestyle support? Book a consult to start your year on the right note.
We have a team of nutritionists and naturopaths here to help support your child and the health of your family.
Find out more about our consultations here