Sunday, August 14, 2016

K.I.S.S: My Mantra When It Comes To School Lunches + A Gift From Igloo For You!


I'm sure you've all heard of the acronym "K.I.S.S." In case you haven't, it stands for "Keep It Simple Stupid" and I couldn't think of a better mantra than that when it comes to packing school lunches for my boys. 

If you're the kind of person who can bang out those artsy-fartsy, cutesy-tootsie Pinterest-perfect lunches for your kids day in and day out, believe me, my mom-hat is off to you. For a while I wanted to be you. I even went so far as to order all of the supplies off Amazon and within days of the silicone cupcake liners and cartoon toothpicks arriving on my doorstep, the dog ate a liner, my kids took off to the bathtub with the rest and I somehow managed to lose 36 brightly colored animal-shaped toothpicks in a matter of hours. 

It was never meant to be. 

Instead, keeping it simple has been the answer to calming the morning chaos and preparing lunches for my kids that they'll actually eat. After all, I think all of us moms begin the school year with a passion and zest for packing school lunches that can't be beat, however, it's a zeal that quickly tapers off around the end of the week of school- Am I right?

Without all of the lunchbox accouterments, I also don't have to worry about them not returning home with all of the odds and ends used to, do what, exactly? Make they're lunch more edible? Hardly.

By keeping it simple and packing lunches for my kids filled with common favorites from home, I'm also also giving them a sense of comfort while in a new surrounding. This will be huge for helping my middle little assimilate to the school environment for the very first time. After all, they don't call it "comfort food" for nothing!

A few favorites in constant rotation around these parts can be seen below. They include hot dogs and mac n' cheese, English muffins with raspberry jam, vanilla yogurt with chocolate chips and everyone's favorite tried and true lunchbox staple, the peanut butter sandwich (hold the jelly!). 





Some other great (read: simple) favorites around here include turkey and cheese roll ups, french toast or waffle sticks (with syrup, yogurt or jam for dipping) as well as English muffin or mini bagel pizzas. 

Now that I've given you permission to relax and keep it simple when it comes to school lunch ideas, let me let you in on another secret: how to pack them. 

These kid-friendly bento boxes can be found on Amazon and if you have prime shipping, they'll be on your doorstep before you can spell FDA-approved and BPA-free backwards. Not to mention, they're easy to open for little hands and they're so cheap comparatively ($14 for 9!). Most importantly, however, they're microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe! 

Can I get an "Amen?!"

If I haven't sold you on the bentos yet, they're also the perfect size to stack not one but TWO inside of my favorite soft-sided lunch bags by Igloo. If you're like me and your kids are often bottomless pits of energy and hunger, I love that I can always include a second bento full of they're favorite snack-type foods (pretzels, popcorn, fruit snacks, baby carrots, string cheese, etc.) 

All lunch bags by Igloo are PVC, BPA and phthalates-free and lined with antimicrobial, puncture resistant and heat-sealed liners. The uniquely thick insulation is also designed to keep lunches cooler longer.




Isn't that gingham print lunch bag the cutest you've ever seen? If that's not your sort of thing, then check out my other favorite print featured: the convertible brushstrokes bag. Backed by a brand name known for its quality and durability, any print you choose will certainly stand up to the rough and tumble nature of little hands, backpacks and the school cafeteria. 

As we gear up to send our little ones back to school, my friends at Igloo want to give one of you a soft-pack cooler of your choice! This giveaway is open to US residents only, 18+ years or older.  Easy entry via the Rafflecopter widget listed below: 


a Rafflecopter giveaway



 
  
Instagram
Follow on Bloglovin

10 comments :

  1. I love making lunches for about a week. And then I don't xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. My kids usually get their choice of sandwich, fruit, veggies, something salty and occasionally a treat. They also like mini pizzas on bagels or small pita breads from trader joes. I definitely try to K.I.S.S!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. These look perfect! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. We've been in school a week and I'm already feeling the burnout! Thanks for the mantra & motivation 😄

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you so much for sharing. Just what I needed to see before sending my baby to kinder.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love these boxes! Will have to order some for my soon-to-be kindergartener!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I freeze the yogurt tubes so by the time the kids eat their lunch they are thawed. It is a favorite they always ask for.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We tend to go with crackers, cheese, meat. And then fruit and yogurt and a drink. I need more ideas!! Love this post.

    ReplyDelete
  9. awesome ideas for lunches. FOREVER looking for new lunches for my 2yr old.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for reading ILYMTC. If you have any questions about a post or want to get in touch with me (or any of the cast of characters here at ILYMTC) email me at iloveyoumorethancarrots(at)gmail(dot)com.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...