Lunch Box Inspiration is always needed by parents. Whether you are the parent of a kindergarten-er or a teenager. What will they eat? What is nourishing? What do I shop for? Read on for Lunch Box Inspiration which is good, affordable, and simple.
Lunch Box Inspiration
When it comes to lunch box inspiration, I think you need to mix it up. No one likes to eat the same thing over and over again. So I use “categories” (more on that below) to guide me…but then mix up the items within the categories. One day crackers. One day cookies. One day pasta. One day bento box style lunch. Everyday fruit (but I mix up which fruits go into the lunch box…one day apple slices with cinnamon, one day strawberries, one day a 100% fruit snack, etc…).
These makes lunch box inspiration a little easier because you have a formula to follow but some room to offer a rainbow of foods to your children.
Think Annie’s Homegrown for lunch box ideas.
Annie’s uses 70 – 100% organic ingredients, and all products are created with the promise of no artificial flavours, no synthetic colours, no synthetic preservatives and no GMOs.
Annie’s isn’t just mac n’ cheese either.
- Organic Chocolate Bunny Grahams (a handful in a reusable container is a great treat)
- Gluten Free SnickerDoodle Bunny Cookies (this is something, I as a gluten-free Mom, can take for us all to snack on)
- Cheddar Bunnies (these crackers are paired with carrot sticks pictured here) a good alternative to a sweet treat.
- Berry Patch Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks (for those times you don’t have a reusable container on hand – bunny fruit snacks are individually packaged for on-the-go convenience).
And on browsing the Annie’s Homegrown site…I stumbled upon Annie’s Homegrown pizza poppers. I think my kids would LOVE pizza poppers as an after-school treat. Or I could keep these in the freezer for the Thursday night “I have nothing for school lunch tomorrow” quandary I experience weekly.
My 3 Lunch Box Inspiration Categories:
- Snack : fruit or dairy
- Lunch: bento style of protein, raw vegetables, and carbs
- Snack: cookies or granola bar
These 3 “categories” are included in every lunch box I send with my kids. They like a bento style lunch most days (however, will take pasta in a thermos as well).
I have also decided to bulk prep some items for school lunches this year. I am going to package up crackers in containers. Cookies in containers. Cut fruit in containers. And then create a grab-n-go #LunchBoxYum area in my fridge. This should save me time in the mornings getting the kids’ lunch boxes packed. And I know these are nourishing, real, foods which will power my kids throughout their days.
Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Annie’s HomeGrown.
i would be grabbing the cheddar bunnies first! 🙂
My kids would love those cheddar bunnies. Heck, I would love those cheddar bunnies. These are all great ideas to kick up lunch time.
I have a few friends who love Annie’s organic foods. My daughter and I had their organic squeeze yogurts and I loved the creaminess of them.
Love the cute bunny shapes as it makes snacking a little more fun! I think the fruit snacks are already calling my name!
These are really good lunch box choices. It’s nice to have a couple of different snacks to rotate in. The bunny grahams and cookies are perfect.
Snack rotation is so important!
We just love the products from Annie’s! My kids could eat the Cheddar Bunnies all day long!
Easy to go through a box quickly
These are such great ideas! I love the idea of bulk prepping some items to make it easier. And those cheddar bunnies look yummy!
I’m kinda loving the gluten-free cookies myself 😉
My kids just enjoyed some Annie’s Mac & Cheese. They love the Bunny Crackers, and fruit snacks too!
Sounds like you know them well! 🙂
We buy Annie’s a lot. My son loves the packaging and I love the ingredients! 😉
Annie’s is such an awesome brand! I use them all the time!
The crackers are quick becoming a favourite
We use Annie’s all of the time! My kids love it and I love that it’s one of the healthier options for them.
So good to hear!
Used to enjoy the Annie’s gummy snacks, such cute shaped things to add some fun into lunch boxes!
Annie’s gummies are a treat
This is a great idea! I will try this with my kids!
My kids and I LOVE Annie’s products. That white shell mac n cheese is our favorite!
I want to find the Annie’s frozen pizza bites now to try them
Their cheddar bunnies are bomb, so good.
I always like finding healthy snack ideas for the grandkids lunches.
healthy snacks are good for everyone
I absolutely love Annie’s pasta! I will definitely pick up their snacks to pack in my son’s lunch.