Helpful Hints on Packing Your Children's Lunches!

If you pack school lunch for your children or have been debating on whether to start, then this is a must read!

We know that typically, packing a lunch for your children is a healthier and less expensive alternative to purchasing lunch at school. A lot of people don't do it however, due to the time and energy it takes.

Being a mom that has to make lunch for four boys everyday, I've learned quick and easy ways to make my job a lot easier. Follow the tips below to make packing your children's lunches more simple than ever before:

1. Create a Lunch Basket
Purchase a basket that is big enough to hold individual snacks, yet can still fit into your pantry. Use the basket to store all of the non-perishable snacks that you consider healthy choices for your children's lunch. In our basket, I keep pretzels, granola bars, individual applesauce cups, packages of crackers, bags of trail mix or popcorn and other similar snacks. Make it clear to your family that this "lunch basket" is for school lunches only and not to be eaten at home. (I'd like to say that my children follow this rule completely, but then I'd be lying. I've learned that I have to put the basket on the top shelf of my pantry so the boys aren't tempted to eat its contents.) However you have to do it, just make sure that the snacks are there when you need them so you aren't left empty handed when it's time to make lunches.

2. Buy in Bulk
Determine how much your children need for their lunches and buy enough to last them the whole week. It's simple math that a lot of moms forget to do. If you have two children who take their lunch, then a package of crackers that contains 6 servings isn't going to last you through the week. Calculate how much you need ahead of time to prevent you from having to run to the store at the last minute.

I'm not a big fan of individually wrapped snacks because they cost more and aren't as environmentally friendly as buying in bulk. Some items, such as applesauce, might be worth it, but otherwise it's so easy to put Goldfish or pretzels in individual plastic containers or even a resealable bag that can be used again.

3. After Returning Home From the Grocery Store, Separate Your Snacks
If you've bought a large bag of an item, go ahead and separate it into individual servings. My children love to help do this. It's a great way to involve them in the process and can be used as a teaching opportunity by having them count and divide up the snack for each person. It can be fun, educational, and take some of the burden off you.
If you bought grapes or strawberries, go ahead and wash them and put them in individual containers so they're ready when needed. I have an extra refrigerator in my laundry room and have designated a drawer for school snacks only. This is great for those items that need to stay chilled.

4. Pack Water Bottles or Have Your Children Purchase Milk at School
Get rid of those costly, messy, and environmentally-unfriendly juice boxes and just pack water. For those who have read my book, Managing Life with Kids, you know I have an issue with juice boxes. I just don't get why parents feel their children need them. They drive most teachers nuts because they're so messy and 95% of them are full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup or artificial colors. They can also be a mess for you if your child just tosses it back into his lunch box instead of throwing it out. Water is such a better alternative because it's free, it's not messy, and it's a much healthier choice of drink. If your child just can't fathom drinking water for lunch, let him purchase milk or if you must, get the boxes that are real juice or are of a variety without "all the bad". (I have found Caprisun to be the best of the fruit punch drinks because most don't have artificial ingredients or colors.)

5. Have Your Children Pack Their Own Lunches
No matter what the ages of your children, they can be a part of the lunch making process. With all the individual servings you and your children have put together, all they have to do the night before school is pick out what they're in the mood for. The key here is to have only healthy choices available so you know that no matter what they choose, you'll approve of it. I just make sure that they've packed a fruit and/or vegetable (usually baby carrots or celery) and have a good protein whether it's nuts, yogurt, a sandwich, a bagel with cream cheese, etc.
To satisfy my boys' sweet tooth, I allow them to pack a little treat for after lunch if they've had a good morning that day. This is great way for us to have a smooth morning because if they do as they're supposed to, they get something fun to take in their lunch.

Try these tips and make homemade lunches more nutritious for you children, easier for you, and easier on your wallet!

An Organized Start to the New School Year!

The lazy days, or for some of us, the crazy days of summer are about to come to an end! The start of new year can either bring tears of sadness from a mother sending her little one off to kindergarten for the first time, or eager anticipation of getting back into a much needed schedule and routine. Either way, the beginning of school is inevitable and starting it off right can make the transition much smoother and enjoyable for you and your children.

Thinking ahead is your best plan of attack to a great school year. It's more effective if you start immediately rather than waiting until "the school year settles in". Many times by the time your family gets into the routine of a new school year its almost Thanksgiving, then Christmas break and then the next thing you know it's spring break and then the year is over. I'm sure you moms know the drill. This is the year to change that by taking charge of your time and energy just by implementing some of the simple tips below:

A Successful Start to the New School Year:

1. Create a Family Calendar

If you haven't already created a calendar for your entire family to reference, put that at the top of you to-do's list right now! This simple tool is critical in staying organized and reducing stress in your family. I love using an extra large dry erase board that I have hung in my laundry room. This is where I record any activity, appointment, school activity, etc. I even like to use different colors for different activities for easier reference. It can be used to record the due dates of major school projects for older children - preventing any last minute surprises - or what the "color of the week" is for preschool aged children so they can dress accordingly.

2. Assemble Homework Boxes

There's nothing worse than finally getting your children to settle down to start their homework only to discover that they don't have the materials they need. Start the school year off with a homework box for each of your children and fill them with age appropriate materials. Even if you have younger children that don't have homework, you can create them their own box that they can use to make crafts or practice writing their names while the older siblings complete their schoolwork. This has worked like a dream for me because it keeps the younger children occupied so they don't distract other siblings from their work, it allows them time to practice skills they need when they do start school, and it gets them into the routine of an established homework time. Creating homework boxes now is also an ideal time because it allows you to take advantage of the great sales stores run on school supplies. I love stocking up on everything this time of the year because you can't beat the prices.

3. Establish a Set Bedtime and Wake Time

Kids and parents for that matter, who've had the luxury of being able to sleep in and go to bed late, are in for a real shock when they have to set the alarm at 6:00am to get everyone ready and off to school. If you haven't already adjusted your family's schedule, do it now to help ease the adjustment.

4. Make a Breakfast the Kids Love

To help motivate my kids to get up during that first week of school, I always make their favorite breakfast. This trick helps make the mornings for everyone a lot more enjoyable even though it does requires a little more time and effort on my part. Of course you can always buy their favorite breakfast items to make it even easier for you; that works well too!

5. Establish a Homework Routine

Don't let your kids wait until the end of the day to start on their homework unless you want to be a part of a lot of late nights and a lot of nagging. Depending on the ages of your children and the activities they participate in, you should determine the ideal time for them to work on homework. I've discovered that after we all get home from school and have eaten a snack, having everyone complete their assignments before they're allowed to go outside and play
works well. They know that as soon as they finish their work, playtime begins. If you have older children, you can forbid them to talk on the phone, watch TV, play video games, or whatever else your children enjoy doing in their free time until after they complete their assignments. This creates a great incentive for finishing homework without having to constantly nag them about it.

6. Make a Library Bag or Box

If you have younger children who have set library visits, having a designated spot to keep the books they check out will save you a lot of frustration. My children also know they cannot take the books upstairs because they'll get lost in all the other books we have. Keeping them in one location allows the kids to enjoy reading the books and makes them easy to find the night before they're due to be returned.

8. Lay Out Everyone's Clothes and Book Bags the Night Before

This tip is crucial in having a smooth morning and getting everyone to school and work on time. All papers should be signed, checks written, notes to teachers prepared, lunches packed, etc. Clothes for the children and adults should be laid out so there are no last minute surprises. The goes for the shoes too. Finding that one lost shoe is a sure way for your kids to miss the bus or earn a tardy slip.

7. Create a Schedule for YOU!

Coming off a summer with four young and very active boys, having a little time to myself once school starts sounds really good to me right now. I must admit that I'm ready for the routine of school to start back and the little time I get alone while they're at school. My youngest is going into kindergarten this year and it will be the first time I've had all four in school full time. I realize that if I'm not organized, all the time that I think I'll have will be wasted. Don't let that happen to you by looking at your calendar and setting a routine for yourself. By this, I'm referring to when you go to the store, clean your house, run errands, set appointments, go to the gym, etc. I've heard so many moms complain that they thought they were going to have all this extra time since their kids were going to be in school, yet they can figure out where it went. That's what happens if you're not careful about how you spend your time. The more organized you are, the more time you have for yourself and your family.


Following these tips will give you a great jump start to a successful school year. For more ideas on how to make the school year less stressful check out my book Managing Life with Kids.


Being organized and efficient is so important but always remember, you want to be organized so you can live your life - not live your life just to be organized!