Cold Lunch Ideas

Back-to-school comes with so many perks: less kids in the house means less messes, and it also means earlier bedtimes. Now, it does also come with downfalls, like that early morning don’t-miss-the-bus-shuffle and packing cold lunches for not one, but two picky eaters.

One thing that’s making that daunting lunch-making task a little less intimidating are these adorable lunch bags and bento boxes we received from Stuck on You. Everything is completely customizable, from color, to design, to font! If you’re kids are like mine, they get excited when their name is on things – and how cute are these? I love the bento boxes, because the girls can open them by themselves (which is a huge bonus), and the compartments keep dry food dry, and wet stuff from…well, “spreading”. And again, if your kids are like mine, then you know the importance of no food touching…ever.

It might sound silly, but I’ve been “practicing” this summer with lunches for the girls, seeing what they will eat, what they won’t eat, and what will travel well. One thing that’s a hit for everyone is Pics Peanut Butter. This stuff is amazing, we love the crunchy so much that Peyton eats it by the spoonful! Anyway, here’s what I’ve come up with:

Lunch 1 is a hit for both girls. You can find my easy, and very kid-friendly pasta salad recipe here. Peanut butter on celery is another favorite for everyone, and I got crazy with cutting cheese into star shapes – which really wow-ed London!

Another easy way to sneak some healthy goodness into their lunches is with a muffin. This is an almond poppy seed muffin, and the girls are convinced the poppy seeds are sprinkles and that it’s a cupcake. I’m not telling them any different. London is a huge fruit fan, so adding a few fruits is sure to get her eating. (side note: anyone else’s kid put raspberries on each of their fingers before eating them?! haha)

Peyton always gets excited for a “surprise sandwich”, when I take a cookie cutter, and cut out one side of the bread, so she can see what kind of a sandwich it is. I’m also very excited about these personalized lunch notes, that Peyton CAN ACTUALLY READ!!!!

Peyton mowed on cheese, summer sausage, and crackers at every cookout this summer, so that’s a very low-maintenance lunch. Bonus: I can cut it up Sunday and it’ll last through the week! She also loves dipping carrots in peanut butter, so the dip section of the Stuck on You bento box is perfect for that – nobody likes soggy crackers!

I hope you found some lunch inspo in this post. Somedays, I wish I had the patience (and the precision with a knife) to make those intricate scenes inside my girls’ lunches, but then reality strikes!

If you’re feeling lucky, head on over to my Instagram (@heyitsjenna) and enter for a chance to win a $30 gift card to Stuck on You and two jars of Pics Peanut Butter!! Good luck!

 

*Thanks to Stuck on You and Pics Peanut Butter for sponsoring this post. All photos, words, and opinions remain my own.