This Make and Freeze School Lunches idea has been a game changer for me. Bulk making sandwiches ahead of time is easy organization. PLUS, my kids have the responsibility of packing their own lunches (well, the big kids – I still pack for my 6 year old). It’s all ready to grab n’ go so if the teens don’t take it…not my fault…mom guilt lifted. And it’s super simple…here’s how to Make and Freeze School Lunches…
Make and Freeze School Lunches
Bulk making school lunch is pretty much an assembly line.
- Cut all the aluminium foil into sandwich size squares
- Lay out your sandwich fixings (I use panini buns for my big kids and wraps for my little guy – he has no front teeth so biting into a sandwich can be challenging).
- Assembly line your sandwiches (cut buns, wraps, butter, margarine, mayo, meat and/or cheese).
- Wrap sandwiches
- Label sandwiches (so everyone knows what they are picking)
- Put the sandwiches in the freezer
- Done.
Bulk make school lunch ahead
In under 20 minutes, I can bulk make school lunch for the week. Then, the kids (or I) take a sandwich out the morning you want to eat it and it defrosts in the lunch box by noon.
Now some sandwich ingredients DON’T do well in the freezer…
- Do not freeze sandwiches or wraps with: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cream cheese
Here is what a typical school lunch box chez moi looks like:
- Fresh fruit (like this red fruit salad) for 1st snack
- Sandwich + water bottle for 2nd snack
- Cookie or banana bread slice for 3rd snack
I made this EASY SCHOOL LUNCH LIST to help make school lunches easier. And I have to tell you…my switch to Make and Freeze School Lunches this year has certainly made our school lunches easier!
And I find my kids have different school lunch appetites. My oldest wants simple. My middle child likes complex. My third wants things seperate (so I make a bento-style lunch for him). And I’ll often freeze homemade muffins too – so that when I’m low on groceries…there’s always a breakfast or snack option available.
Aside: I’m thinking about starting to make and freeze dinner ideas too…lasagna, slow cooker meals, stew. After-school is crazy here and I wonder if I made dinner ahead of time and froze it…would it make my life easier. I’d love your recommendations!
SHARE: What foods do you make and freeze?…
Ali P says
November 2, 2017 at 10:00 amWe actually don’t make and freeze anything. Always make it fresh.
NormaJane says
November 2, 2017 at 1:07 pmMy mom had I do this when we went to school. I still love a nice cold peanut butter & jam sandwich. To this day I remember loving a nice cold peanut butter & jam sandwich.
aliyadaya says
November 2, 2017 at 9:19 pmI don’t freeze sandwiches, but I have frozen chili, dal and lentil based meals. The majority of meals are fresh.
Janet M says
November 4, 2017 at 12:09 pmThanks for the hints. Having something ready for those busy nights and mornings is a good feeling.
lyndac1968 says
November 6, 2017 at 4:17 pmI’m so glad I do not have to do this anymore!! but I would do the same thing I had my own little system, much like yours!
hmrcarlson says
November 6, 2017 at 8:33 pmI am big on casseroles. I will make a couple of batches of each and freeze them for weekday use.
Erin N says
November 6, 2017 at 11:31 pmI have never thought to freeze sandwiches before. I am going to try this!
krisha4444 says
November 7, 2017 at 8:19 amwhat a fabulous idea!! I actually didn’t even think of wrapping up sandwiches in tin foil and freezing them. This would save me so much time at night when I am making lunch for my husband as well as my daughter!
lncleslie says
November 7, 2017 at 12:57 pmI like any ideas that save me time!
Carole D says
November 7, 2017 at 2:11 pmWhat a great idea! I will pass this along to my daughter. She runs a day home and that would be handy for her busiest days.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
November 7, 2017 at 2:45 pmFreezing sandwiches is a new idea for me, great for busy times but I do prepare freshly made myself. 🙂
Linda H says
November 7, 2017 at 4:26 pmI have never frozen sandwiches but this is a great idea!
Lori a Galbraith says
November 7, 2017 at 8:56 pmWow, this would have been awesome when mine were is school.
Heidi Pawluk says
November 7, 2017 at 11:26 pmSo nice to have items frozen and ready to use at a moment’s notice. A little prep work ahead of time saves in the end.
Debbie White Beattie says
November 8, 2017 at 3:45 amThis is a great idea if you don’t have time for fresh. I like all of the extras you pack in there to
Tannis W says
November 8, 2017 at 11:31 amGreat ideas. The food ideas list is nice too.
Nicolthepickle (@Nicolthepickle) says
November 10, 2017 at 6:27 amThanks for the ideas. Why does cream cheese not freeze well. I’ve never tried it and now I’m curious.
cgrandy823 says
November 11, 2017 at 7:33 pmWhile I was growing up, Sunday night was lunch night. My mom and dad did assembly-line sandwiches for the whole family for the week. Then each evening, someone would put the sandwiches and fruit in lunch bags with each person’s name on the bag, and leave them in the fridge to be grabbed in the morning.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
November 13, 2017 at 2:09 pmI must admit that I’d be worried that they weren’t defrosted in time for the kids to eat them.
Mike Gismondi says
November 26, 2017 at 1:30 amThese are great ideas!
Ira says
November 28, 2017 at 12:47 pmI never thought about freezing sandwiches, but I always make extra portions of soups and freeze them. I still need to reheat them in the morning, but it’s faster than making anything from scratch.
NathaniaH says
December 3, 2017 at 1:22 amAs a busy parent, this would be amazing to have it all prepared! Thanks for the ideas
Tara Gauthier says
December 3, 2017 at 12:17 pmThese are great ideas. My kids love banana bread and muffins in their lunches (or for breakfast) so we usually bake a bunch at a time and freeze it.
LisaM says
December 5, 2017 at 6:17 amWhat a great idea! I live in hope that someday our son won’t be so picky lol
Sarah Letendre says
December 6, 2017 at 8:55 pmI have never thought about freezing lunches ahead , this is such a great idea and could remove a lot of the morning stress
Guppy says
December 7, 2017 at 3:54 pmGreat organizational system for sandwich eaters! I have a desperately picker eater that only wants hot soup in a thermos lol…..
LILLIAN BROWN says
December 9, 2017 at 3:28 pmGreat ideas, we sometimes are in charge of the grand kids lucch’
Melinda says
December 9, 2017 at 3:44 pmI pre make school lunches but haven’t frozen any yet. Thanks for the tips.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
December 10, 2017 at 1:27 pmI don’t have any school children any more but these are super ideas and would help to avoid the normal morning panic. When I went to school we were provided with freshly cooked lunches, we were lucky.
Nate says
December 12, 2017 at 11:14 pmGood way to save time when you are busy during the week
Rosanne Robinson says
December 22, 2017 at 12:49 pmLove these terrific ideas, thx so much for sharing them with us. We like to make ahead & freeze dinners, but never thought of doing it for lunches!
Brian Hwang says
January 20, 2018 at 6:14 pmGood ideas to save time. I never thought about freezing sandwiches before!