Despite my valiant efforts to get my kids to eat the cafeteria lunch at school, both of them prefer a packed lunch every day. While I don’t love packing lunches every night, it’s not my least favorite chore either (that would be laundry).
I’ve also tried to get the kids to pack their own lunches, which 75% of the time means I am either re-packing it after they go to bed or they take a lunchbox full of chips, pretzels, popcorn and crackers. Since the lunchbox battle is really not one I’m willing to fight before bedtime I prefer to just pack them myself (or Matt will pack them) after dinner.
Almost all of our lunchbox items are ordered and delivered weekly for free same-day delivery from Walmart using my Walmart+ membership ($35 order minimum. Restrictions apply.). As y’all know, grocery delivery is one of those gifts to myself that has really transformed our weekends. Our weeks are so busy and hectic and so the last thing I want to do on a Saturday is grocery shop in store between birthday parties, play dates, etc.
Before I share my go to items, I want to be clear that I’m not trying to claim our lunches are the healthiest or 100% organic. Like many of you, I’m just a tired mama trying to tackle 177 lunches a year (per kid) as best as I can. If you’re also looking for some new quick and easy items to add to your rotation, I’ve rounded up some of my favorites that check those boxes…
PANTRY SNACKS: 1. SANDWICH CRACKERS 2. CHEX MIX 3. FRUIT SNACKS 4. POPCORN 5. GRANOLA BARS 6. CLIF KID ZBAR 7. VEGGIE STRAWS 8. ALPHABET COOKIES 9. TO GO PEANUT BUTTER 10. GRAHAM CRACKER SNACKS
FRIDGE SNACKS: 1. APPLESAUCE POUCHES 2. CHEESE STICKS 3. CLEMENTINES 4. SMOOTHIES 5. APPLES 6. YOGURT TUBES 7. LUNCHABLES 8. HUMMUS + PRETZELS 9. BABY CARROTS 10. SNACK PACKS 11. UNCRUSTABLES (*freezer item)
You can join Walmart+ for $12.95/month or $98/year and includes free same-day delivery on fresh, high quality groceries (there is a $35 order minimum and some restrictions apply). Members also receive free shipping with no order minimum (excludes most Marketplace items, location & freight surcharges).
Our Go To Lunchbox Items
Thank you to Walmart+ for partnering with my family on this post and to my readers for supporting my blog. I have made all my product purchases and all reviews are my own.
Paula B.
Thursday 20th of January 2022
Our city's public schools have been doing only cold lunches and breakfasts since the March, 2019 quarantine, also. (And, back then they were delivered to centrally located outdoor locales so folks could still be able to get lunches for their school age children.) There are two daily lunch choices. In addition, the meal is free to any student regardless of their economic situation prior to the outbreak of COVID. There has been much support to keep this free access to two daily meals for all students. I had just assumed as lunch was a federally supported program that any public or non-profit private schools that participated were doing the same throughout the country. Doesn't address the appeal of the menu but your cost for lunch made me wonder about this.
Heather
Friday 21st of January 2022
Our kids are in public school but our district opted out of the national school lunch program, something they are allowed to do because we have a low percentage of low income students. The low income students we do have get a reduced price, but no free lunches for any of the kids.
Emily
Monday 17th of January 2022
One of my girlfriends gave me this hack a few years ago, and it was golden! I have enough bentgos (I don’t like the ones with the hinged lids, I use the plain one with snap on lids) to make two lunches per kid at a time. So, Sunday I make them 2 lunches each (6 lunches for 3 kids), Tuesday night I make them again (6 lunches for 3 kids) and then on Thursdays I make one per kid (or they buy because it’s pizza, and not the school pizza). So, it saves me from having to pack every night! And, the food always is fine because it’s in the fridge!
Heather
Saturday 15th of January 2022
Thanks for the inspiration! Our school hasn’t served a hot lunch since COVID - yes going on almost two years now. So I can pay $3 for a turkey and cheese sandwich or….make it myself for like 25 cents.
Did you do a post on your fridge organization and I missed it? I’m DROOLING over this.
LB
Saturday 15th of January 2022
I would give anything for Walmart to deliver to my area. Also, I love seeing inside other peoples refrigerators!
Christina
Saturday 15th of January 2022
I do too -- always curious how other people keep theirs stocked!! And also, ours doesn't usually look this organized...
Meredeth
Saturday 15th of January 2022
Mine (6) resists the school lunch too! We’ve compromised to review the menu on Sunday and choose one day if there’s an “acceptable” option. Some weeks there aren’t any! Our lunches look similar to yours above. I have a somewhat picky eater, and I expanded our home lunch options a bit when I got a lunchbox with a small thermos-it warms up with hot water inside and I can then pack with pasta, soup or even chicken nuggets. I also have sent breakfast for lunch, we all like breakfast any meal! Waffles, French toast sticks , mini pancakes etc.
Christina
Saturday 15th of January 2022
Love these ideas! Also, ONE TIME the school lunch wasn't what the menu said and now neither of my kids will ever trust the lunch menu again...