Packed lunches can sometimes be sad, soggy, and unsatisfying — but they don't have to be.
With a few clever tricks, you can make sure your kids' lunches are both delicious and exciting. Here are 12 of our favorites hacks for upping your lunchbox game:
1. Pre-make and freeze sandwiches in Ziploc baggies — then just pack 'em in the morning, and they'll thaw before lunch time.
2. Use rubber bands to hold pre-cut fruits (like oranges or apples) together. It'll prevent them from drying out or turning brown.
3. Freeze juice boxes to keep things cold — or freeze a damp sponge and throw it in a Ziploc baggie for a quick DIY ice pack.
4. Utilize a thermos to keep foods hot or cold — perfect for pastas, soups, and whatever else your kid likes to snack on.
5. Use cookie cutters to cut fruit, veggies, and sandwiches into cute shapes.
6. Meal prep some components on Sunday to make packing lunch during the week so much easier.
7. Use muffin liners or empty baby food containers to keep snacks separated.
8. Write secret messages on bananas that'll magically appear by lunch time.
9. Transform your kid's favorite sandwiches into skewers — because everything tastes better on a stick...
10. And if your kids are crust haters, make them DIY Uncrustables that are totally freezer-friendly.
11. Make DIY Lunchables so your kids can build their own lunches to their liking.
12. Get your kids to help you pack their lunches. That way, they're invested in the process and can pick out exactly what they want.
Looking for more clever cooking tips? Check out these posts:
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