This works really well for younger kiddos, preschoolers or families with 1-2 kiddos.
We know use an entire cabinet for our 4 boys, ages 5 to 13. 😉
I have a new drawer in my kitchen.
Well, okay. It’s not a new drawer. But I’ve revamped all the drawers in the kitchen so that I can have a “lunch packing drawer.” It’s now right next to the silverware drawer, right in the middle of my kitchen…for easiest access.
In my lunch drawer…
- Reusable containers
- Snack plastic baggies
- Premade snack packs (think pretzel bags and trail mix bags)
- Prepackaged snacks for the lunchbox
- Lunchbox Love notes
- Washable lunch napkins (under the lunchbox notes)
- Reusable juice or water boxes
So now I won’t have to open 3 different drawers and 2 cabinets to get the lunches packed. And on Sunday nights, I can reload the drawer with prepackaged goodies and water boxes, etc.
What time saving tips do you have to share that will make packing a lunch a snap?!
Need lunch ideas? Be sure to check out our highly popular 31 Days of School Lunchbox Ideas series!
Great idea! I have a box in my pantry similar to this. I had never thought of using a drawer. 🙂
I am the mean mom that makes my kids pack their lunch the night before school. They make what they like, peanut butter and jelly, etc.
Nothing mean about that Tamara!
I concur, I have my teens make their own lunch. I was tired of the complaints, and they are learning life skills.
I homeschool, but have a tub in the pantry & the fridge that hold healthy snacks I have pre-packed into individual servings. Big time saver!
I’m always trying to think about what we can have for lunch other than sandwiches – my kids still think lettuce is poison, so salads are not too popular. If I can double dinner and have some lunch options it is a big help.
I love those ziploc divided containers! I used them all last year to pack my daughter’s lunches. I found some purple ones at Krogers this year that we are excited to use. I have a whole section of sandwich cutters and cookie cutters that I use to make shaped sandwiches.
Great idea! I like the reusable lunch napkins idea. I’m just now starting to use cloth napkins for family meals instead of paper and I hadn’t thought about using them in my kids’ lunches. I also am always trying to think of different lunches. My kids and hubby like leftovers so I try to plan dinners for the next day’s lunches. Spaghetti, chicken legs, and tacos are big hits and often cheaper than sandwiches made with lunch meat. I use tortillas a lot and sometimes do quick quesadillas in the morning for lunch. Lunch at my kids’ school is $3.75 so the only day I’ll let them buy is sometimes on Friday, which is pizza day.
I have a 2nd grade boy who really doesn’t need to be teased because of love notes – instead, to show him how much I heart him, we use kid’s jokes. All his friends loved it over the summer @ daycamp. Also, we’ve made empanadas together for his lunch, and got this cute idea for sandwich on a stick here (http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/sandwich-on-a-stick-687359/) which looked like a supercute idea.
On Sunday I make enough sandwiches for one or two weeks (with 4 kids, it’s quite the job) and throw them in the freezer. I have one bin in the fridge to hold their snacks, fruits, and drinks.
Jamie, How well do they like them after they were frozen? Or is it just PB&J?
what kind of sandwiches? i have 4 kids also and this would make a difference.
This is a great idea. I love the thought of having everything in one spot. And my 8-year-old who I haven’t yet trained to make his own lunch everyday might really like the one-stop shopping.
When I do my meal planning the kids do something similiar for their lunches. They write up a week’s worth of meals at once.
This is awesomeness! I have one starting all day kindergarten and a five month old. I need all the help I can get being organized. Now, to implement this in the next week and a half before school starts.
I love your daily email!!!
I am so glad my girls are older so they pack their own lunches but I remember what a chore it is to pack lunches every day…yuck.
I buy the bulk boxes of individual serving size Horizon organic 1% milk. So much easier than cleaning cups and thermos bottles every night, and I have had too many instances of milk in the lunchbox where something wasn’t sealed up right! Hate the cleanup!
Also, I start planning out lunches when I make my dinner menu for the week. That way we don’t have conflicting lunches/dinners and the kids don’t get bored.
Problem with lunch? Packing lunches that all my children like to eat!
I attempted to tweet your message, but it was too long! I had to edit it to make it short enough! still used all the correct hashtags and such.
I’m already a facebook fan.
Yes, yes, yes! Love this idea! I only have 1 lunch to make for now, but next year I will have 2 and this tip will definitely help scale down the time it takes to make them!
What happened to the cars sandwich you had on your site? I went to look at it again today and I couldn’t find it. Thanks.
LOVE this idea!! I cleared out a drawer just to do this today. 🙂 Only problem is, I can’t leave any kind of snacks in the drawer or they’ll “disappear” before I can put them into lunches. SO, I have to hide them and pack lunches when the kiddos aren’t looking. LOL!
Love the idea of getting the trail mix and snacks ready for the week all at once. I find myself rushing to get those things done before heading out the door. I am going to try this!! I am a sahm with 3 kids and we like to go places. This should help me pack the diaper bag much easier and faster!!
I gotta know how you keep your little one out of this drawer?! My almost 2 yr old dug in our snack drawer every 5 minutes until I finally moved everything back to the pantry lol
My son has the same lunchbox!
I try to put all the fridge stuff together, the left crisper is for lunch stuff, the right one for dinner stuff. I still have the meat and cheese in a different drawer, and the dry pantry stuff in it’s own drawer, the little bitty containers in their own place…its’ not too bad, but it could be better ! We spend a lot of time making two lunches each night. And a lot of money on portable food and containers! Hoping to get some good ideas here! Thanks for the website.
Sounds pretty organized to me Helen! Good for you!
Great idea! I will use and try. :))
1: I prefer using tupperware as opposed to baggies. Reuse and saves environment.
2: Freeze juice boxes/waters if you use them. My girls do not eat until 1:00 so it works great as ice packs too.
3: Cut oranges, put in fridge. Apples/bananas for snacks. (since they eat so late)
4: I ALWAYS send a bottle of water. Fountains are nasty.
5: Carrots and other veggies work. Thermoses are awesome, change of pace from sandwiches.
6: Limiting sugar and snacks. Going for more healthy options. They don’t seem to mind.
I do have a thingy that takes crust off, but only do it on special days. One daughter does not eat a whole sanwich usually anyway…Sometimes no bread works too…
Exploring is fun…Only a few more weeks of school…THEN they will be eating all the time. lol.
I just love those Ziploc containers with the 3 dividers. I have been using them for 3 years with two kids daily, and have not had to replace the original 6 that I bought. They work great, wash great and make packing lunch so much easier. I started out with the Easy Lunchboxes but they just did not hold up compared to Ziploc which is made on the US by the way.