This post is sponsored by Nature’s Bakery but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
1st grade, wow, it’s hard for me believe we’re already here. It was just last year I was so anxious, buying up the school supplies, picking out the clothes and praying my sweet baby would make friends in Kindergarten. Turned out, he loved school, made tons of friends and I’m feeling less anxious and nervous going into this school year. Although it does hurt to see summer go, both he and I are ready to start this school year off running. Starting with a little lunch box planning on my end.
1st Grader Approved Packed Lunches
Let’s talk about last year’s ambitions that quickly fizzled out a few months into the year. I started out meticulously packing his lunches, trying to keep them well balanced (as much as I knew how to) and cutting things in cute shapes, trying to pull a full on super mom move. Then after a few months of lunch boxes that had been barely picked through by my little guy and fruit I couldn’t salvage the next day, I lost all my mojo and started sending an easy PB&J every day. It worked, but this year I’m going to try and make his lunches a little more interesting, with a little more variety, without going into the effort of the crazy shapes. Let’s be real, I can’t keep up with that year round. So far, these are my plans:
1. Mini Turkey Bagel Sandwiches
My husband is the maker of the bagel sandwiches in our house. His mom used to pack them for him in his lunch growing up, so he passed that love down to our boys. I keep them simple mostly with a little mayo, turkey and cheese. If I’m making them for myself I’ll use avocado instead of the mayo. I paired this with a few sweet potato chips, fresh berries, star fruit and a Nature’s Bakery Blueberry Fig Bar.
These Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars are a favorite in our home, my husband and I eat them too. They’re the perfect little bit of sweetness, without being overly sweet. We personally really like Raspberry and Blueberry, but they have several really great flavors. I like that they’re made with real and recognizable ingredients, they’re Non-GMO verified, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free and made without high fructose corn syrup. I also like that he can easily save these for snack time if he doesn’t make it to them at lunch, which seemed to be a common theme last year. Momma knows he was just too busy playing with his friends to eat his lunch.
2. Mini Bagel Bears
Ok, I said I wouldn’t go crazy on the shapes, but these are pretty easy, and still fun. I take those same little bagels from the turkey bagel sandwiches and just top them with peanut butter, sliced banana and a few chocolate chips.
This box I’m thinking would be good with sliced apples, carrots or sweet potato chips and a Blueberry Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar.
3. Pizza Bagels
Notice a theme? Bagels and Fig Bars! Reality is I tried to plan this post out as if it was the same week, so I’m using the same ingredients from one shopping trip. Pizza bagels are another thing my husband brought to our family from his childhood. I don’t know why I never had them before meeting him, but they’re are an easy dinner and leftover lunch meal in our house now.
For this box, I plan out pizza bagels for dinner the night before and then pop a few of the pre-baked left overs in his lunch for the next day. This box I would add in a few yogurt covered raisins mixed with mandarine oranges, carrots and a Raspberry Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar. Carrots are one the few raw veggies my son will eat, so you can tell it’s the veggie of choice in his lunch boxes.
4. Pinwheels
These you can make with just turkey or you can add a tortilla around it, however your little prefers. My guy prefers the tortilla. I start by shredding a little carrot, super fine, as fine as I can, and mixing it in cream cheese. Then I spread a little on the wrap, top with turkey and cheese and roll it up.
I use leftover cream cheese and carrot in between cucumbers for the veggie and add mandarine oranges, and a Blueberry Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar.
5. Cheese Quesadillas
These use the same tortillas as the pinwheels! I just melt a little cheese in the tortilla the slice it up. I add in a little guacamole for dipping because it’s his favorite.
I pair this one with kiwi and strawberries, and carrots. The finishing touch, a Raspberry Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar.
Just a few notes
I bought these little stainless steel containers for this year because not only are they reusable and the perfect size, I’m hoping they will help keep food extra cold, with a little ice pack underneath. I plan to add a little milk box, or just have him buy milk from the cafeteria. I’m not in any way shape of form a nutritionist and we don’t follow any particular diet, so I can’t even speak to whether or not this is a perfect balance of anything. I’m just aiming to give my guy a little variety, a lot of flavor and a lunch box full of wholesome goodness.
Y’all wish me luck that I can keep up with making a variety of lunches. I may even document more here, just to give myself a little accountability and inspiration to look back on. What do you pack in your kid’s lunches?
-Brooke
Now, let’s…get…linking!!
NEW! I’ve started a collaborative Pinterest board for the Oh, Hey Girl! Link-Up. I would love for you to join and share your looks there too! Just send me a message on Pinterest or at [email protected] if you would like to be added.
Link up any post you would like to show off; your outfit, home decor, recipe, workout. Anything at all! Because, oh, hey girl! I want to see it!
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1. Follow me on Bloglovin or Instagram
2. Link back to my site from your post, you can grab a button if you like!
See who I link with here! (p.s. – if you have a new link up on your blog, leave it in the comments, so I can add to this list!)
