Whether you’re packing a lunch for yourself, your spouse, or your kids, it can be a challenge deciding what foods to pack and how to pack them. Here are some tips (and a great giveaway!) to help you through it.
I try to make litterless lunches whenever possible. When I pack food in reusable containers and bags, it’s better for the environment and it’s usually cheaper and healthier than pre-packaged foods. You’ll also save a lot by not using as many plastic sandwich bags. I’ve been loving my reusable sandwich and snack bags that I found from Anytime Sacks. I got Spongebob bags for Cole and Diego bags for Bennett (or Dabodee bags, as Bennett would call them). They’re really easy to wash too, you just wipe the nylon liner with a damp cloth, or for tougher messes just toss them in the washing machine and hang to dry.
Here are the boys’ lunches from the other day:
This time I put granola bars in the little snack bags, and a whole apple in each of the larger bags. At daycare I need to label everything or it’ll end up in someone else’s lunch, so I like sticking the apple inside a bag with their name on it. Purchasing a label-maker was one of the best investments I’ve made, because I sure need a lot of labels!
I also like using the little round Ziploc containers, Rubbermaid juiceboxes, and Corningware dishes. The Corningware is super handy for putting leftovers in and reheating them, if you have access to a microwave. If you don’t, then a thermos is great. I prefer not to reheat foods in plastic, so that’s why I like these dishes.
As for foods to put in your lunch, here are a list of my favorites:
- Fruit (grapes, apples, strawberries, blueberries, mango, melon, oranges, etc)
- Cheerios mixed with raisins or dried cranberries
- Homemade bars (Fruit-filled Cereal Bars, Mini Fruit-filled Cereal Bars, Energy Bars, Fruit and Seed Bars, Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars, Fruity Granola Bars, Apple Date Bars, Strawberry Yogurt Squares, Apricot Orange Squares)
- Granola Balls
- Cereal Crunchers
- Muffins (Triple-Hitter Muffins, Lunchbox Muffins, Banana Yogurt Muffins, Oatmeal Carrot Muffins, Tropical Mini-Muffins)
- Peanut butter and Jelly Roll-ups
- Quesadillas (Shredded Chicken Quesadillas, Black Bean and Pepper Quesadillas)
- Yogurt
- Homemade Bear Paws
- Applesauce, Berry Applesauce
- Whole grain Goldfish crackers
- Sesame Flaxseed Crackers
- Veggies (baby carrots, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes) and dip
- Cheese cubes
- Homemade Fruit Leather
- Sandwiches (ham and cheese, peanut butter and honey, peanut butter and jelly, cream cheese and cucumber, cream cheese and jam, cream cheese and avocado, egg salad, tuna)
- Pizza
- Weelicious Pizza Pinwheels
- Mini Crustless Quiche
- Pasta salad
- Quinoa Greek Salad
- Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
- Pita Pockets with Greek Salad and Hummus
- Leftovers!
Now I’m sure you’d like to hear about this giveaway, so here it is.
Anytime Sacks Giveaway:
You can win a snack and sandwich sack of your choice from the listed on their Etsy shop. It can be a matching set or different fabrics.
To enter, just leave a comment mentioning one of your favorite things to pack in lunches. Make sure I have your email address so I can contact you if you win.
You can receive bonus entries by doing any of the following (just make sure to leave a separate comment to tell me each bonus entry you do):
- Add Anytime Sacks to your Etsy Favorites
- Share this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or blog
- Follow us on Google Friend Connect
- Subscribe to us by Email
- Follow us on Twitter
- Become a fan on our Facebook page (by clicking ‘Like’)
This contest will close Thursday January 27 2011 at midnight PST.
Winner will be chosen by http://www.random.org/. I’ll contact the winner by email, and the sacks will be sent by Anytime Sacks.
Good Luck!
Food and Whine 
One of my younger son’s favorite lunch items is grilled chicken wings. I marinate them overnight in an Asian marinade, then grill them until they are nice and crispy. At first he got them as leftovers, but now I’ll make a big batch for lunches all week long.
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I pack my lunch every day and normally take leftovers. I love to use carrots and celery left over from making soups to eat with hummus for lunches. I also sometimes make brownies and put them in individual bags to freeze. It’s nice to have a little something sweet in my lunch! (katrinavernon@gmail.com)
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Great ideas! I’m really excited about trying your fruit filled bars.I love packing my lunch and most of the time my brother (who is renting a room in my apartment) trades doing the dishes for me to pack his lunches too! I love making really quick granola out of a whole grain cereal, nuts, and dried fruit. If I’m in a hurry I’ll make a huge salad with everything tasty I can find in my fridge and cupboards.
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I love to pack some baby carrots for my lunch which forms a perfect side for all kinds of dishes..thanks for this giveaway…ramvinayak_81@rediffmail.com
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I subscribe via email…ramvinayak_81@rediffmail.com
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I follow via GFC…ramvinayak_81@rediffmail.com
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I cant wait to make my indy her lunches!
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I love these reusable wraps but haven’t made or bought any yet. Perhaps I can win some with you! My boys are all for sandwiches when we pack lunches!
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I just added you to my faves on etsy. My boys will be wanting Spongebob all the way!
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Added Anytime Sacks to my Etsy favourites!
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Followed your blog with Google Friend Connect!
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Shared your giveaway on Facebook!
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AND, I’m already a “Liker” on Facebook :)stephanie.jones30@gmail.com
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Oh, I forgot to mention my fave things to pack in lunches.- A whole apple with natural peanut butter in a small ziploc container- Plain yogurt sweetened with honey, and berries in a small bag- Cheese strings- Cut up bell peppers and hummus- Your Quinoa Coconut Granola Bites (SO tasty!)- Kashi granola bars- Leftovers! stephanie.jones30@gmail.com
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My kids favourite is carrots,celery and broccoli with a simple dip made of plain yogurt/low fat mayo and fresh dill. It’s always the one thing I can be guaranteed is empty when he brings it home from school.Teresa R.
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String cheese! I don’t think my husband could live without it!Kristenket1023@sbcglobal.net
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I like on facebook…Kristenket1023@sbcglobal.net
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…and on etsy!!Kristenket1023@sbcglobal.net
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I pack my lunch every day! Yesterday’s was leftover tomato bulgur soup, veggies (green pepper, radishes, celery, carrot), rice cake, apple, clementine, granola, and wasa flatbread with laughing cow cheese. I require many snacks throughout my day 🙂
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When I am actually packing lunches, I love yogurt, sandwiches, fruit, muffins, cheese.
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I added Anytime Sacks to my Etsy favourites.
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I follow your blog on GFC
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Following you on Twitter
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Shared on my blog (and sort of on FAcebook too).
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Fan of your Facebook page!
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My favourite snack items to pack for lunch are fruit, granola bars, and muffins.
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Added to my Etsy favourites!
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Subscribed on email!
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I’m following you…
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And I like you 🙂
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One of my favorite things to pack in lunches is fresh fruit – especially raspberries and blueberries when they are in their prime during the summer months!sbabij2 at shaw dot ca
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I’m following you on GFCsbabij2 at shaw dot ca
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I added Anytime Sacks to my Etsy Favorites sbabij2 at shaw dot ca
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One of my favourite things to pack in my lunch is pita and hummus and some green pepper and cucumber on the side.jenncousineau@bell.net
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Added Anytime Snacks to my Etsy Favourites!jenncousineau@bell.net
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Subscribed on email!jenncousineau@bell.net
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I don’t pack lunches often for the boys since they’re in half-day preschool, but they LOVE the Horizon Organic Milk boxes. I know it isn’t a reusable container, but I do like that they don’t require refrigeration and are more healthy for them than juice boxes.
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I subscribe by email (and link to you on my blog 🙂 AND cook with your recipes ALL the time 🙂 Paul says thank you, btw!
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I like you on Facebook, of course.
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Anytime Sacks is an Etsy favourite.
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I follow you on Google Friend Connect.
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I shared the giveaway on Facebook.
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